Western White Mountain Chamber

Basecamp of the White Mountains in New Hampshire

Winery

5 Best Fall Activities in the Western White Mountains

Ready for another beautiful fall foliage season in the Western White Mountains?! Peak foliage is just around the corner, and you’ll want to start planning all your favorite fall activities. Hop in your car and head to the mountains for some fall fun with your family.

 

Fall Scenic Drives

The Western White Mountains are home to some of the best fall foliage scenic drives in the world. There’s a reason thousands of people flock to the region every year to view the incredible kaleidoscope of colors. For the ultimate Western White Mountains road trip, fill up your tank, grab a sweater, lots of snacks, and hit the road.

The Multi-Notch Mountain Ride is approximately 142 miles long and will take you through the best of the White Mountains. Start your journey in Lincoln on I-93 through Franconia Notch State Park and past the former Old Man of the Mountain. Just before Littleton, take the exit to Route 302 and drive through the quaint town of Bethlehem before driving past the majestic Mount Washington Hotel. There are plenty of scenic lookout spots to stop along the way to take your selfies or photos of trees bursting with color. Once past the infamous hotel, you’ll drive through Crawford Notch with the Presidential Range looming overhead. From here, choose to take the Bear Notch Road in Bartlett to the Kancamagus Highway or drive through North Conway and stop for lunch. From Conway, turn west on to Route 112 as known as the Kancamagus Highway, which offers 34.5 miles of breathtaking mountain scenery through the White Mountain National Forest.

The Weeks Act Legacy Trail, a “multimedia driving tour of the White Mountain National Forest guiding visitors to 40 sites across 100 miles”, is nearly the same route as the Multi-Notch Mountain Ride, but includes “an online virtual, mobile, audio or print tour spanning the White Mountains’ famous notches and byways with stops at 40 sites – some well-known signature destinations, others hidden gems”, according to the White Mountain National Forest. Make sure to cross reference these two routes to ensure you don’t miss a selfie-worthy roadside stop!

The Multi-Notch Mountain Ride or Weeks Act Legacy Trail can be broken into a weekend or done in a day. Don’t have a full day? You can just drive the Kancamagus Highway or Route 302 through Crawford Notch. Whatever route you take, it will be beautiful. Keep in mind that parking is limited in areas, and you should avoid parking on the highways or busy roads.

artist bluff

Fall Hikes

If you’re looking to get up close and personal with the changing leaves or views of the White Mountain National Forest from above, you’ll want to lace up your hiking boots and hit the trails. Hiking is a great socially-distance fall activity for the whole family. With hundreds of miles of hiking trails throughout the Western White Mountains, there is no shortage of trails with great fall foliage views. For an easy hike for the whole family, the Lincoln Woods Trail is a flat 2.7-mile trail that meanders along the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River.

For epic fall views of Franconia Notch, take the short yet steep jaunt up Artists Bluff. For centuries, tourists have climbed the well-worn trail to the open summit on Bald Mountain. It is a popular hike, so get there early, and you may want to bring a face mask just in case. For a more challenging hike, the 8.5-mile Franconia Trail Loop will take you over the peaks of Mount Lafayette, Mount Lincoln, and Little Haystack for panoramic views of the White Mountains. Be sure to pack all the essentials, including warm clothes and possibly crampons, since it is not uncommon for it to snow early in the White Mountains at higher elevations.

Wine and Beer Tasting

Over the recent years, tons of breweries and wineries have been popping up across the western White Mountains making it the best destination for craft beer and wine lovers. Start your day off by winetasting at Seven Birches Winery at the RiverWalk Resort. Choose from a variety of in-house made white, red, and everything in between wine. Just a short walk across the parking lot, you’ll find One Love Brewery with their tasty German-style beers and delicious menu of pub favorites.

Discover one of New Hampshire’s original craft breweries at the Woodstock Inn Brewery. With a 30-barrel production facility on-site, you can not only taste your favorite beers but see them made. With creative Western White Mountains names like Exit 32 and Pemi Pale Ale, you find something to like. And make sure to stop at Twin Barns Brewing North Taproom for a great selection of local and “proper beer raised in a barn.” Looking to try something different? Head on over to Rhythm Handcrafted Beverages for a delicious mead or cider. Head up I-93 and find even more breweries to try. Remember to drink responsibly.

fall foliage

Scenic Train Rides

Trains were once a primary mode of transportation in the White Mountains, and you can still see the remnants of old railbeds and cars throughout the region. Whether you’re a train enthusiast or just someone who wants to enjoy a scenic ride through the mountains to see the fall foliage, you have several options to enjoy. The Hobo Railroad in Lincoln offers fall foliage rides along the Pemigewasset River region. Due to the coronavirus, the train will be running on a limited schedule and capacity to ensure the safety of the public. The Mount Washington Cog Railway and the Conway Scenic Railroad are also open for fall foliage scenic train rides during the autumn months.

Mountain Biking

Hit the mountain biking trails at Loon Mountain this fall. With trails designed and built in conjunction with Highland Trails, the downhill mountain park has over eleven miles of trails with more to come in the following years. Make sure you check out Loon’s Bike Park with a wide variety of freeride, technical and cross country trails. If you prefer flatter ground, Loon Mountain has six miles of cross-country biking trails as well. Once you’re done ripping it up at Loon, head over to the nearly 9 mile Franconia Notch Recreation Path.

Visit the Western White Mountains This Fall

Fall is a beautiful time to visit the Western White Mountains of New Hampshire. With the incredible changing colors and lots of crisp fresh air, it’s the perfect place to experience the fresh mountain air.

For state-wide information, head to VisitNH.gov

visitnh.gov

Winter Adventures for Non-Skiers

During the winter months, the western White Mountains becomes a mecca for skiers and snowboarders looking for affordable, world-class skiing. Both Loon Mountain and Cannon Mountain are family-friendly ski resorts offering exceptional skiing, but not everyone skis or snowboards, and that’s okay. There’s plenty of winter activities for non-skiers and skiers alike in the western White Mountains. Just bundle up and enjoy!

 

Speed down the Hill on Snow Tubes

Who doesn’t want to relive childhood sledding memories?  The best part – you don’t have to walk up the hill! Lift-serviced snow tubing is available at Loon Mountain. Ride to the chairlift to the top of the Little Sister trail and fly down nearly 1,000 feet of snow tube tracks day or night. For the little ones under age seven, there is a small walk-up Tot Tubing hill.

winter ziplining

Fly High on the Winter Zipline

Winter is a great time to go ziplining! Alpine Adventures, New England’s original zipline company, offers winter zipline tours on two of their courses – the SkyRider Tour and the Treetop Tour. Start your tour with an off-road ride up to the top of the course and finish in the custom-built treehouse offering incredible views of the White Mountains while sipping hot cocoa. After snow tubing at Loon Mountain, fly high across the frozen Pemigewasset River on the Loon Mountain Zipline.

snowshoeing and off-roading

Break a Sweat on a Snowshoe Tour

The White Mountains are home to some of the best hiking in New England, but snow can make it challenging to access some of your favorite trails. Strap on a pair of snowshoes and hit the trails for some exercise. The Loon Mountain Adventure Center offers a variety of snowshoe tours ranging in difficulty and length from the beginner-friendly Riverbank Tour to the adventurous Lincoln Ridge Tour. Alternatively, you can rent snowshoes and hit the snowshoe trails for your own scenic tour. Alpine Adventures also offers guided backcountry snowshoe tours on their private mountain in North Woodstock, Barron Mountain.

Enjoy the Scenic Views from the Tram

You don’t need skis or a snowboard to enjoy the epic panoramic views from the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tram. The Aerial Tram is America’s first aerial tramway that takes passengers to the 4,080-foot summit in under ten minutes. From New Hampshire’s highest lift-accessed point, you can see the White Mountains, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and Canada! Grab a cup of coffee or a beer and enjoy the views at the café and bar at the summit.

Go for Gold on the Skating Rink

Practice your triple axel, or just try not to fall on your bottom at the RiverWalk Resort ice skating rink. Open to the public, the RiverWalk Resort rink is as unique as during the summer months, it’s a swimming pool! Bring your own skates or rent a pair at the rink. The RiverWalk Resort hosts several skating shows throughout the winter, so make sure you check the calendar of events.

ice slide

Bundle Up and Get Frozen at the Ice Castles

Visit Ice Castles to make all of your frozen dreams come true. Whether you visit during the day or at night when the castle is lit up, its an experience you won’t want to miss. Don’t forget the camera! The New Hampshire location also offers sleigh rides and a winter walk through an enchanted forest lined with elaborate ice sculptures. For the little ones, there will be plenty of opportunities to meet real-life princesses at Ice Castles.

Kick Back and Relax at the Spa

Maybe your favorite thing about winter is being nice and warm inside, taking some time for yourself and treating yourself. Put your feet up, grab a tea or glass or wine and enjoy some pampering and relaxation at Balanced Rock Bodyworks, Viaggio Spa or Solstice North Day Spa. Whether you want to melt away your stress with a massage or facial or get a manicure and pedicure, these Western White Mountain spas have a long list of services for you to choose from.

wine tasting in white mountains

Hit Up Happy Hour

After a day outside enjoying the many winter activities in the western White Mountains, head to one of the many wineries and breweries in the area for a drink. Seven Birches Winery makes delicious wine inside the RiverWalk Resort. With two tasting rooms, you can sip on tasty red and white wine varieties. If you like German beer, One Love Brewery brews some authentic (and delicious!) German and European-style beer. Pair a pint with a pretzel on other yummy dishes on the pub menu. In 2022, Twin Barns Brewing Co. North Taproom joined the Main Street Woodstock community. They offer the option to BYOF (bring your own food!) to pair with their awesome beers, cider, and more. Light snacks are also available. Lastly, you can never go wrong with the Woodstock Inn Brewery, which is one of New Hampshire’s oldest and largest craft breweries in the state.

Take a Hike

Looking to slow down and take it all in? Strap on a pair of snowshoes, microspikes or crampons and head the for the trails. While expertise is needed for most winter hiking in the Western White Mountains, there are numerous short, flat, or low-elevation trails that are suitable for all to enjoy. Visit the White Mountain National Forest’s recreation page to start planning your adventure, and get ready to enjoy the forests and trails of the Western White Mountains as they seemingly melt away your stresses, step by step.

You don’t need to be a skier or snowboarder to enjoy all the incredible and fun winter activities in the western White Mountains. Come see what you’ve been missing!

For state-wide information, head to VisitNH.gov

visitnh.gov

Things To Do When You’re Here for the Ice Castles

For Ice Castle ticket information and purchasing please visit their website.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The Ice Castles are back again for its ninth season in New Hampshire. Since 2014, the famous Ice Castles have attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors every winter to explore over 20 million pounds of frozen features. Now located in North Woodstock with a permanent location, Ice Castles are the perfect winter attraction for families and couples. Kids of all ages will love its slides, mazes, thrones, and frozen archways and new this year – an enchanted forest!

There’s a ton of fun things to do with the whole family in the Western White Mountains, so when you visit the Ice Castles, stay for a weekend, or the entire week. The Western White Mountains are home to two of the best ski areas in the White Mountains with Loon Mountain and Cannon Mountain just minutes away. We know that skiing isn’t for everyone, but don’t worry, there’s so much more to do!

Chutters candy counter

Get Creative with the Family

Too cold for an outdoor activity? Bring your kids to Chutters candy shop in Lincoln or take a drive through the notch to Littleton to their flagship store, holding the world record for the longest candy counter at 112 feet. Make a stop at the New England Ski Museum, located in Franconia Notch State Park, to learn about the history of skiing, the local “firsts” and area native Bode Miller’s ski career, all for free! Afterwards, book a play time at Kids Studio Play so the kids can run off their sugar high and make some new friends!

Experience Winter on the Mt. Washington Cog Railway

Looking to experience the Western White Mountain’s famous winter weather and dramatic landscapes? Look no further than the Mt. Washington Cog Railway, the world’s first mountain-climbing cog railway in the world! Throughout the winter, their trains terminate at their newly redesigned and expanded Waumbek Station. Located in an alpine meadow at roughly 4000’, clear conditions provide spectacular panoramic vistas from the southern Presidentials to the Canadian border. Passengers leave the train for about 25 minutes to enjoy complimentary hot refreshments, warming huts and a fire pit. Round trips to Waumbek are roughly 1 hour, at reduced fares.

Winter tubing

Fly Down the Mountain on Snow Tubes

You don’t need to ski or snowboard to have fun at Loon Mountain! Loon Mountain offers a  lift-serviced snow tubing hill in the White Mountains, so you can spend more time flying down the mountain than hiking back up. The tubing tracks are groomed and fast on the Little Sister Trail. For the little ones under 8, there’s a walk-up Tot Tubing area. Warm up after with hot cocoa at the Octagon Lodge.

alpine adventures winter zipline

Zip Away!

Fly above the trees on one of the three zipline courses at Alpine Adventures. If that’s too much thrill and you’d prefer to keep it on four wheels, sign up for their off-road tour in a six wheeled Pinzgauer. They offer guided snowshoe tours, a Big Air Bag stuntzone and an aerial adventure park. They’ve got all kind of adventures to get your heart rate pumping.

Woodstock Inn beers

Celebrate a Special Occasion

Celebrate your next anniversary, engagement, birthday, or just schedule a romantic date night with your other half at one of the many delicious restaurants in Lincoln and the North Woodstock area. For something different, try tapas at The Depot or something worldly from the Gypsy Cafe. The Woodstock Inn Brewery has been voted the White Mountains favorite restaurant for eight years. With an extensive food and beer menu, you’ll find something delicious to eat. For a post-dinner celebratory beer, stop by One Love Brewery. or Twin Barns North Taproom.

seven birches winery tasting room

Cheers to Wine Tasting & More

Send the kids to ski school or the movies and head over to one of two Seven Birches Winery tasting rooms. The original tasting room is located within the RiverWalk Resort. Overlooking the recently planted vines, you can sip on a variety of red, white, and everything in between wine varieties. The new Atrium Wine Bar is located in the Lincoln Village Shops. The Atrium is open for wine by the glass, wine flights, and New Hampshire-made snacks. And right next door is a newer addition to the area for a fun tasting experience: Rhythm Handcrafted Beverages. Try their locally sourced and produced cider, seltzer and so much more. Once you’re done sipping, make sure you do a little shopping at the Lincoln Village Shops.

riverwalk ice skating

Lace Up Your Skates

Lace up your skates and hit the ice to practice your triple axels. RiverWalk Resort has one of the best ice skating rinks in the mountains. While it may look like any other ice rink on top, underneath, you’ll find miles of specialized tubing turning RiverWalk Resort’s outdoor lagoon swimming pool into a state-of-the-art ice skating rink. The ice skating rink is open to the public, and rentals are available if you don’t have your own skates. Throughout the winter months, RiverWalk hosts several shows, including the popular Skate with the Bruins fundraising event.

This winter, come for the Ice Castles but stay for the dozens of family-friendly fun attractions, restaurants, and activities in the Western White Mountains.

For state-wide information, head to VisitNH.gov

visitnh.gov

Unique Eats in the Western White Mountains

 

mtn club

The Western White Mountains is quickly becoming a culinary hotspot with lots of unique eateries for various options for the whole family. Choose from traditional après ski spots like the Mt Club or Gordi’s or enjoy a quick breakfast at the local bagel shop or bakery. There are a place and menu for everyone in the family!

common man lincoln

Common Man – Lincoln

After a day of skiing, head over to the Common Man in Lincoln and enjoy an après ski drink while you warm up in front of the massive stone fireplace while playing board games. Opened in 1985, the restaurant and bar have been a popular spot for visitors and locals alike. The extensive menu focuses on American cuisine, including all your favorites like prime rib, homemade mac and cheese, and their world-famous crab cakes. If you’re gluten-free, their special gluten-free menu is one of the best around the White Mountains. Just want to grab take-out and enjoy a meal on your couch in front of Netflix? You can order online and pick up curbside! 

Gordi’s Fish & Steak House – Lincoln

A staple of Lincoln, Gordi’s Fish & Steak House is a Western White Mountain classic. Co-owned by Olympic skiers, Gordi and Karen Eaton, the whole restaurant pays homage to the North Country and the past and present ski heroes of the region. Located in the Depot Plaza, you’re greeted by a large carved lobster and a tank full of live Maine lobsters. Lobsters and seafood in the mountains probably aren’t what you expected, but their seafood is fresh and delicious! Don’t miss their other house specials such as the steak and burgers. No matter what you ordered, you’ll love the atmosphere of Gordi’s.

Mtn Club Loon

Mountain  Club – Loon Mountain

Ski-in and ski-out for incredible farm to table meals at Mt. Club at Loon Mountain. Work up an appetite by spending the morning shredding the fresh pow before heading to a late lunch or dinner featuring bold local flavors and epic mountain views. With a focus on local produce, bread, meats, and drinks, the menu changes monthly, but always showcase mouthwatering dishes. Start your dinner with a salad or appetizer before sinking your teeth into scallops, ribeye, or something else. Don’t forget to leave room for dessert!

White Mountain Bagel Co.

White Mountain Bagel Co – Lincoln

Start your mornings off right with a coffee and bagel at White Mountain Bagel Co. Serving homemade bagels baked fresh daily with the choice of your favorite cream cheese, you’ll have all the energy you need to bag the next peak or ski the glades. If you need something a little heartier, choose from their variety of egg sandwiches or lunch sandwiches. If you’re visiting for the week, purchase a dozen bagels and enjoy them all week for breakfast! Short of time while heading to the mountain, order ahead of time online and pick up curbside.

Woodstock Inn

Woodstock Inn Brewery – North Woodstock

The Woodstock Inn Brewery is one of the legends of the North Country. Featuring four bars in one, the Woodstock Inn truly defines the Western White Mountains spirit. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you can’t go wrong on the time of day you eat at the Woodstock Inn. The extensive menu features an eccentric mix of hearty and delicious dishes from burgers to salads to seafood and just about everything in between. The large restaurant with its multiple pubs consists of several rooms with varying décor focusing on the historic charm of the region.

One Love Brewery – Lincoln

One Love Brewery is a traditional German Lager House. Their beer is Master Crafted by owner and brewer Michael Snyder, who graduated from the The Seibel School in 2000. Michael has been a professional brewer for 20 years. His passion for German Lagers comes with years of experience and dedication. During your visit pair their beer with an item off their delicious menu including options for the gluten free visitors. One Love Brewery has expanded in the Village Shops this winter. Check out their Love Nest company store and enjoy a beverage in their 21+ cocktail lounge. One Love Brewery family has expanded to Plymouth, NH as well where you’ll find  “Blended” a juicery and smoothie shop and “Stir” a one love test kitchen and brewery. Both locations are at 61 Main Street, Plymouth NH.

No matter where you go in the Western White Mountains, there is always a delicious place to grab unique eats that will satisfy your taste buds.

 

 

 

For state-wide information, head to VisitNH.gov

visitnh.gov