Western White Mountain Chamber

Basecamp of the White Mountains in New Hampshire

Ski Museum

Franconia Notch Recreational Path: Four Season Fun – Fall

Explore the best of Franconia Notch by bike or foot this fall. Running the length of Franconia Notch State Park, the 8.7-mile paved Franconia Notch Recreation Path passes by several of the Western White Mountain’s best attractions. Take in world-famous autumn foliage and visit some of New Hampshire’s most iconic spots on the Franconia Notch Recreational Path.

Fall into Autumn Foliage in the Mountains

During the crisp fall days of autumn, strap on your helmet or lace up your walking shoes and hit up the Franconia Notch Recreation Path by bike or foot. Take Exit 35 on I-93 N and park your car in the Skookumchuck trailhead parking lot. Head south along the paved trail to take in the stunning views of Kinsman and Franconia mountain ranges in the distance.

At the two-mile marker, you’ll arrive at Echo Lake Beach, where you can take in the views of towering mountains over the 39-acre lake at the foot of Cannon Mountain. Enjoy a few hours at this serene spot where the world seems to melt away with each mountain breeze. You might even catch a glimpse of brave fly fisherman trying their luck at the local trout population.

From the lake, take a short detour to the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway. The legendary 80-passenger cable car is America’s first aerial tramway and brings passengers to the 4,080-foot summit of Cannon Mountain under 10 minutes. Don’t forget your camera as the views from the 360-degree observation deck is out of this world. On a crisp, clear autumn day, you can see all the way across New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, New York, and Quebec.

Don’t forget to check out the New England Ski Museum next to the Tramway on your way back to the path. The small museum is packed with tons of great information on skiing from its prehistoric roots over 8,000 years ago up to modern times. You’ll get a chance to get up close and person with Bode Miller’s five Olympic medals on display plus other items from the local world champion.

If you’re looking for a great view of Cannon Mountain and Franconia Notch, Artist Bluff and Bald Mountain is a short 1.5 mile loop hike with rewarding views that are well worth the effort.

Head back to the Recreation Path and get ready to view one of New Hampshire’s most iconic sites – the Old Man of the Mountain. Unfortunately, the Old Man’s face fell in 2003, but you can still see where the Great Stone Face once resided. The famous landmark dates back to the 19th-century literary works of Daniel Webster and Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Once you pass the Old Man of the Mountain, the Recreation Path starts to descend into the Mt. Pemigewasset trailhead and parking lot, and then gently travels 3.3 miles to The Basin, one of the many natural geological features in Franconia Notch. The Basin is a 30-foot-wide, 15-foot-deep granite pothole in the middle of the Pemigewasset River. Henry David Thoreau once said The Basin is “perhaps the most remarkable curiosity of its kind in New England.”

Just like a rainbow, you’ll find a “pot of gold” at the end of the Franconia Notch Recreation Path. The Flume Gorge and Visitor Center is one of New Hampshire’s most visited state parks. Extending 800 feet at the base of Mount Liberty, the Flume is a natural geological feature first discovered in 1808 by 93-year-old “Aunt” Jess Guernsey. At the time of her discovery, a giant boulder was suspended between the 90-foot granite walls, but a massive rainstorm washed it away in 1883.

Start your journey at the Flume Visitor’s Center before walking through the iconic Gorge or walk the two-mile loop where you can see all the natural features of the park, including the Glacial Boulders, Bear’s Cave, and Liberty Gorge. They’ve even got a scavenger hunt!

Parking

Parking, especially during the busy fall months, can be difficult. Be prepared to get to the trailheads early in the morning or in the late afternoon for the best chance at scoring a spot a parking lot. Parking on I-93 is strictly prohibited, and your car will be towed at your expense.  Remember, many rental shops and lodgings offer shuttle buses to and from many of the trailheads in the area! Here’s a great resource on Franconia Notch State Park and the hiker shuttle.

Fall Foliage Tracker

Are you planning to visit the Western White Mountains during the fall and want to know when peak foliage will hit? Make sure to utilize Visit NH’s Fall Foliage Tracker website for daily updates!

For state-wide information, head to VisitNH.gov

visitnh.gov

An Indoor Winter Adventure: The New England Ski Museum

new england ski museum

During the wintertime, there are many outdoor activities to take advantage of in the White Mountains region. While many of us would like to be outside racing down the slopes or tramping across the woodland trails for hours, there are some times when it’s pleasant to spend part of your day indoors. Located at the base of the Cannon Mountain tram is a special treasure worth putting into your Franconia Notch itinerary – The New England Ski Museum! 

The New England Ski Museum debuted in 1982 and has since become a staple for locals and tourists alike. Let’s take a look at all the exciting details. 

Exhibitions

The permanent exhibition that the museum maintains is called “From the First Tracks to the Fall Line: eight thousand years of skiing.” This collection showcases events that have happened in the ski world dating back to prehistoric times but also houses important “firsts” on Cannon Mountain and details on the career of Bode Miller (he’s a local!). 

In addition to the permanent exhibition, there’s an annual show called “Ski Photographers of the White Mountains” that features work from photographers Winston Pote, Christine Reid, Dorothy Crossley, and Dick Smith that were produced from the 1920s through the 1970s. 

Together, the photographs cover everything from American mountain soldiers and the social side of skiing to the ski resort life in the post-war years and flyover storm shots. You can learn more about each of the photographic artists here. 

And, while you can spend quite a long time in the museum’s primary location, you can also continue your skiing education by visiting the 4,400 square foot Eastern Slope Branch that they launched in 2018, which has its own exhibitions.

Collections

The New England Ski Museum has assembled its collections of clothing equipment, films, news clippings, books, magazines, papers, photographs, theses, and other items via individual and organization-based donations. The donated collections are available, either via exhibition or by membership-only appointments. Details outlining each collection’s contents are available here. 

new england ski museum

In-Person & Zoom Programs

Even if you can’t make it in person, you can still enjoy the many programs offered by the experts at the museum. Speakers including Jeff Leich, Executive Director emeritus, Jeremy Davis, Board of Directors, and Dr. E. John B. Allen, Board Historian have offered all of the following options at different times:

  • “Before and Beyond the Lifts: Sketches of Backcountry Skiing”
  • “Over The Headwall: The Ski History of Skiing in Tuckerman Ravine”
  • “Tales of the 10th: The Mountain Troops and American Skiing”
  • “Winter Work: The CCC and New England Skiing”
  • “Historical Highlights of Wildcat”
  • “Lost Ski Areas of the White Mountains”
  • “Lost Ski Areas of Southern Vermont”
  • “Lost Ski Areas of the Southern Adirondacks”
  • “Lost Ski Areas of the Northern Adirondacks”
  • “Lost Ski Areas of the Berkshires”
  • “New Hampshire on Skis” (arranged through the NH Humanities Council)
  • “World Wide Military Skiing”
  • “Women on Skis”
  • “The Skiing World of Leni Riefenstahl”
  • “Ski Mountaineering”
  • “Hannes Schneider: Skimeister to the World”

As you can see, there’s really a topic for everyone to enjoy. And you can have one of these talks presented to you for just a $100 museum honorarium. 

Timelines

The New England Ski Museum staff have in-depth knowledge of ski-based historical timelines. Some of them are outlined here, but you can always talk to them in person during your visit to learn more or to ask questions. Timelines are regularly generated to assist in the creation of their exhibitions and contain incredible historical research.

new england ski museum

Membership

If you’re a local or frequent White Mountains region visitor, consider becoming a member of the museum! Membership (which starts at just $35 for an individual) provides you with a subscription to the Journal of New England Ski Museum, a discount in the Museum Shop and online, access to the by-appointment-only collections, and more. 

Events

We know that we said this was an “indoor adventure” blog, but some particularly exciting times can be had during the events they host outdoors. Their collections may be in the building, but you can help the museum thrive by entering these ones too! 

The first event they are offering this year is the 26th Hannes Schneider Meister Cup Race at Cranmore Resort on March 10-12. The event honors Austrian skimeister, Hannes Schneider, but also includes a vintage ski fashion show, music from Bavarian Brothers Band, a ski history documentary film screening, and more. You can learn more and purchase tickets here. 

Their second 2023 event will be their Annual Meeting and Dinner honoring Kelly Brush Davission and The Kelly Brush Davission Foundation. The exact date hasn’t been posted just yet, but check back here soon as details should be posted shortly. new england ski museum

Ready to Visit?

Would you like a sneak peek at some of the items waiting to be discovered? Watch this recent fan-made video that walks you through the museum. 

When you’re ready to venture out in person, the primary Franconia location of the New England Ski Museum is located at 135 Tramway Drive, Franconia, NH 03580, and can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at 603-823-7177. Admission is free.

Happy trails! 

For state-wide information, head to VisitNH.gov

visitnh.gov

Franconia Notch Recreational Path: Four Season Fun – Summer

Explore the best of Franconia by bike or foot this summer. Running the length of Franconia Notch State Park, the 8.7-mile paved Franconia Notch Recreation Path passes by several of the Western White Mountain’s best attractions. Break a sweat, dip your toes in the cool waters of Echo Lake, and visit some of New Hampshire’s most iconic spots on the Franconia Notch Recreational Path.

Franconia Notch Bike Path - Echo Lake

Summer

During the warm summer days, strap on your helmet or lace up your walking shoes and hit up the Franconia Notch Recreation Path by bike or foot. Take Exit 35 on I-93 N and park your car in the Skookumchuck trailhead parking lot. Head south along the paved trail to take in the stunning views of Kinsman and Franconia mountain ranges in the distance.

At the two-mile marker, you’ll arrive at Echo Lake Beach, where you can grab a snack to refuel and take a dip in the 39-acre lake at the foot of Cannon Mountain. Enjoy a few hours out on the water with a canoe, kayak, and pedal boat rentals. It’s a great way to take in the incredible views of the Notch while working on your summer tan.

Cannon Mountain Tramway

From the lake, take a short detour to the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway. The legendary 80-passenger cable care is America’s first aerial tramway and brings passengers to the 4,080-foot summit of Cannon Mountain under 10 minutes. Don’t forget your camera as the views from the 360-degree observation deck is out of this world. On a perfect blue-bird summer day, you can see all the way across New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, New York, and Quebec.

Don’t forget to check out the New England Ski Museum next to the Tramway on your way back to the path. The small museum is packed with tons of great information on skiing from its prehistoric roots over 8,000 years ago up to modern times. You’ll get a chance to get up close and person with Bode Miller’s five Olympic medals on display plus other items from the local world champion.

Artists Bluff

If you’re looking for a great view of Cannon Mountain and Franconia Notch, Artist Bluff and Bald Mountain is a short 1.5 mile loop hike with rewarding views that are well worth the effort.

Head back to the Recreation Path and get ready to view one of New Hampshire’s most iconic sites – the Old Man of the Mountain. Unfortunately, the Old Man’s face fell in 2003, but you can still see where the Great Stone Face once resided. The famous landmark dates back to the 19th-century literary works of Daniel Webster and Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Once you pass the Old Man of the Mountain, the Recreation Path starts to descend into the Mt. Pemigewasset trailhead and parking lot, and then gently travels 3.3 miles to The Basin, one of the many natural geological features in Franconia Notch. The Basin is a 30-foot-wide, 15-foot-deep granite pothole in the middle of the Pemigewasset River. Henry David Thoreau once said The Basin is “perhaps the most remarkable curiosity of its kind in New England.”

Just like a rainbow, you’ll find a “pot of gold” at the end of the Franconia Notch Recreation Path. The Flume Gorge and Visitor Center is one of New Hampshire’s most visited state parks. Extending 800 feet at the base of Mount Liberty, the Flume is a natural geological feature first discovered in 1808 by 93-year-old “Aunt” Jess Guernsey. At the time of her discovery, a giant boulder was suspended between the 90-foot granite walls, but a massive rainstorm washed it away in 1883.

Start your journey at the Flume Visitor’s Center before walking through the iconic Gorge or walk the two-mile loop where you can see all the natural features of the park, including the Glacial Boulders, Bear’s Cave, and Liberty Gorge. They’ve even got a scavenger hunt!

Bike rentals and shuttles are available at the Aerial Tramway. If you prefer the ease of someone else planning everything for you, Rodger’s Ski and Sport offers a that includes your bike rental, shuttle services, helmet, and bike lock.

Parking

Parking, especially during the busy summer and fall months, can be difficult. Be prepared to get to the trailheads early in the morning or in the late afternoon for the best chance at scoring a spot a parking lot. Parking on I-93 is strictly prohibited, and your car will be towed at your expense.  Remember, many rental shops and lodgings offer shuttle buses to and from many of the trailheads in the area! Here’s a great resource on Franconia Notch parking and the hiker shuttle.

For state-wide information, head to VisitNH.gov

visitnh.gov