Western White Mountain Chamber

Basecamp of the White Mountains in New Hampshire

Zipline

Get Your Thrills On in the Western White Mountains – Summer

Are you an adrenaline junkie or fueled by awesome adventures? The Western White Mountains is the perfect destination to experience year-round adventurous activities. From skiing and dog sledding in the winter to downhill mountain biking and off-roading in the summer, you’ll experience all sorts of thrills that will leave you coming back for more. Choose from a variety of day tours or weeklong adventures to fill your next vacation itinerary.

Loon Mountain Resort

Loon Mountain is a popular place during the winter months, but did you know it’s open during the summer months as well? Enjoy a 1.3-mile scenic ride to the summit of Loon Peak in their four-person Gondola Skyride. At the end of the ascent, enter a high alpine world of refreshing breezes and stunning mountain views encompassing adventure and an array of summit activities. Test your agility, strength and speed in the Wild. Ninja Wild is an outdoor ninja course packed with wilderness-themed obstacles that puts kids (and adults) to the test. Loon also has an impressive downhill mountain biking trail network and bike park!

 

alpine adventures zipline nh

Ziplining (and more!)

A fixture on Main Street Lincoln, Alpine Adventures provides year-round fun for people of all ages. The Thrillsville Challenge Course is a self-guided ropes course designed with bridges, cargo nets, rope ladders, a treehouse, and much more! It’s fun for all ages and a great add-on to the other adrenaline-filled activities that Alpine Adventures has to offer on their private mountain. Alpine Adventures is most known for its zipline courses and unlike other places in the White Mountains, Alpine has two different zipline tours with varying degrees of length and speed. If high flying fun isn’t quite your speed, the Off-Road Adventure Tour in the Pinzgauers is an exciting way to explore Barron Mountain. And don’t miss the new Side x Side off-road tour where you can explore Barron Mountain in your own Kawasaki Teryx KRX 1000s. There are very few places in the world you can ride in a 6×6 Swiss Army Pinzgauer, Zipline across a 1500’ ravine 240’ above the ground at speeds up to 60 MPH, and challenge yourself at an aerial course.

Mt. Washington Cog Railway

The Cog is the first mountain-climbing cog railway in the world and takes riders to the 6,288′ summit of Mt. Washington. With an average grade of 25% (some sections approach nearly 38%), it’s also the second steepest! Motive power is primarily provided by a fleet of seven powerful biodiesel locomotives, each custom designed, built and maintained on site. And with a nod to its steam heritage, the railway also continues to operate a pair of coal-fired steam engines in the warmer months, both well over a century old. The round trip to the summit and back is just under 3 hours!

DirtVentures

DirtVentures offer guests exciting ATV adventures and fresh air – which they say, will make you want to move here immediately! Like their snowmobile tours, there are options for both beginners and experienced riders. Get ready to get dirty!

 

 

 

Downhill Mountain Biking

Loon’s Bike Park is a network of over 7.2 miles of terrain located at Loon Mountain Resort. A work in progress, the mountain plans to offer over 25 miles of downhill and cross-country biking trails once completed. Whether you’re new to the sport or an old pro, this is a bike destination for all riders to enjoy. No gear? No problem! Loon rents equipment and also offers beginner lessons to help you get started.

team oneil rally school nh

Rally School

Live out your Fast and the Furious dreams with Team O’Neil Rally School in Dalton. Founded in 1997, Team O’Neil is an off-road driving school offering courses in rally driving, winter driving, and off-road driving for people looking for a unique experience. The facility has 583 acres with a road course consisting of corners, blind crests, and other features that you’d only see in the movies. Each course lasts approximately one to five days depending on the course and what you hope to learn. As your lessons conclude, you’ll get to take one of the specially designed cars out on the course to test your new knowledge and experience the thrill of a lifetime!

Dog Sledding

Experience the thrill of being pulled by a team of dogs through the woods and fields of the White Mountains. Muddy Paws Dog Sledding provides year-round dog sledding fun for all ages. During the summer and fall months, Muddy Paws offers snowless tours where you ride in a wheeled cart, so no matter what time of year you visit the White Mountains, you can give lots of belly rubs to the hardworking sled dogs!

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

Get Your Thrills On in the White Mountains – Winter

Are you an adrenaline junkie or fueled by awesome adventures? The White Mountains is the perfect destination to experience adventurous activities. From skiing and dog sledding to a professional car rally school and taking a train up the snowy slopes of Mt. Washington, you’ll experience all sorts of thrills that will leave you coming back for more. Choose from a variety of day tours or weeklong adventures to fill your next vacation itinerary.

Ziplining (and more!)

A fixture on Main Street Lincoln, Alpine Adventures provides year-round fun for people of all ages. The Thrillsville Challenge Course is a self-guided ropes course designed with bridges, cargo nets, rope ladders, a treehouse, and much more! It’s fun for all ages and a great add-on to the other adrenaline-filled activities that Alpine Adventures has to offer on their private mountain. Alpine Adventures is most known for its zipline courses and unlike other places in the White Mountains, Alpine has two different zipline tours with varying degrees of length and speed. If high flying fun isn’t quite your speed, the Off-Road Adventure Tour in the Pinzgauers is an exciting way to explore Barron Mountain. There are very few places in the world you can ride in a 6×6 Swiss Army Pinzgauer, Zipline across a 1500’ ravine 240’ above the ground at speeds up to 60 MPH, ride down a four-story ramp in a snow tube onto a BigAirBag Stuntzone, and challenge yourself at an aerial course.

Mt. Washington Cog Railway

With multiple daily departures to their recently expanded Waumbek Station throughout the winter, the Mount Washington Cog Railway is now a YEAR-ROUND attraction! Clear-weather panoramic views from the southern Presidentials to the Canadian border are simply spectacular. Comfortable warming huts on elevated decks, a blazing firepit, and hot refreshments round out a truly unique opportunity to experience Mount Washington (and the world’s first mountain-climbing cog railway) in the winter. Schedule, details and much more at www.thecog.com

SledVentures

SledVentures offers guided snowmobile tours suited for every ability from the beginner to the expert. When conditions are appropriate, their tours run every day. They supply you with the newest top of the line Ski-Doo 600cc snowmobiles and protective, new winter gear (please check with SledVentures to ensure they have your specific needs). Their newest tours are Franconia Notch Over The Top Tour and the Mega Midweek Mountain Adventure tour, and their most popular tour is the Bog Pond/ Franconia Notch tour. They also offer private tours and Sled & Stay packages with some of the local hotels and resorts.

Rally School

Live out your Fast and the Furious dreams with Team O’Neil Rally School in Dalton. Founded in 1997, Team O’Neil is an off-road driving school offering courses in rally driving, winter driving, and off-road driving for people looking for a unique experience. The facility has 583 acres with a road course consisting of corners, blind crests, and other features that you’d only see in the movies. Each course lasts approximately one to five days depending on the course and what you hope to learn. As your lessons conclude, you’ll get to take one of the specially designed cars out on the course to test your new knowledge and experience the thrill of a lifetime!

Skiing and Riding

Home to Olympic gold medalist, Bode Miller, Cannon Mountain is New Hampshire’s highest ski area standing at 4,080 feet. With 97 trails and glades and the longest vertical drop in the state, Cannon Mountain attracts skiers and snowboarders from around New England and beyond every winter. Cannon has three terrain parks where you can progressively work on your big air tricks to wow the crowds of onlookers or just your friends on Instagram. Make sure you hashtag Cannon Mountain! Cannon Mountain is located within Franconia Notch State Park and during the warmer months, it’s a great place to hike.

Known as one of New England’s best ski mountains, Loon Mountain is a favorite among families for its skiing and resort amenities. The mountain offers 61 trails and glades of varying difficulties and from atop the 3,050-foot summit, you have panoramic views of the White Mountains. While the resort is geared more towards beginner and immediate trails, Loon Mountain has quite a few black diamond trails that will get your heart pumping. Angel Street is one of the most notorious black diamond trails offering devilish pitches that pass underneath the Gondola. There’s great tree skiing on North Peak with Walking Boss Woods and Bucksaw. For those with goals of competing in the X Games or just like to show off their tricks, Loon has six different terrain parks and the only superpipe in New Hampshire.

Dog Sledding

Experience the thrill of being pulled by a team of dogs through the snowy woods and fields of the White Mountains. Muddy Paws Dog Sledding provides year-round dog sledding fun for all ages. The 1.5 Hour Tour is the most popular – where you’ll have the opportunity to meet the sled dogs and then embark on a five-mile ride. Make sure to give all the good pups lots of belly rubs!

For state-wide information, head to VisitNH.gov

visitnh.gov

Summer Attractions for the Whole Family

Summer Attractions for the Whole Family

There is no shortage of family fun in the Western White Mountains. There are trains, waterparks, and even a bear show to keep you entertained all summer long. Bring the whole family and create memories that will last a lifetime in the Western White Mountains.

Whales Tale Waterpark

waterpark attraction

Cool off this summer at New England’s favorite waterpark located in the heart of Lincoln. Whale’s Tale Waterpark is a family-friendly waterpark where the whole family from baby to grandma can enjoy the cool, clean water.

Adventurous kids will love surfing the big waves at Akua Beach and the dual Plunge slides where you can reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour! For the little ones, Whale Harbor offers shallow waters and lots of fun things to climb on and splash around. Everyone will love spending an afternoon leisurely floating around the ¼ mile lazy river in their bright yellow inner tube. Make sure you bring tons of sunscreen!

Clark’s Bears

Clark’s Bears has been a Western White Mountain staple for over 90 years. Florence and Ed Clark opened their roadside attraction in 1928, and the family-owned and operated business has grown over the decades to include the famous Black Bear Show, the Anaconda Escape, and Merlin’s Mystical Mansion among many other attractions.

Board the whole family on the White Mountain Central Railroad and take a 25-minute train ride along the scenic Pemigewasset River in search of the infamous and elusive Wolfman. His antics will undoubtedly keep you entertained! Along Main Street, you’ll find several museums that will take you back to yesteryear. You’ll find plenty of treasures from our early electrical and mechanical marvels. If you get hungry during your visit, stop by the Whistle Stop Snack Bar for burgers and fries or ice cream and hand-squeezed lemonade.

zip liningAlpine Adventures

Have you ever wanted to fly? Now’s your chance at Alpine Adventures! Home to New England’s first treetop canopy tour, you can test your fear of heights on one of three zipline courses or the Thrillsville Aerial Park. Located at Alpine Adventure’s headquarters on Main Street in Lincoln, the Thrillsville Aerial Park is a ropes course like no other. With bridges, cargo nets, a climbing tower, and the Colossus Stunt Ramp, you’ll certainly get your adrenaline pumping!

If you’d like to see the White Mountains from a birdseye’s view, take a spin on one of the ziplines on Alpine Adventure’s private 300-acre Barron Mountain. If you’re new to ziplining, try the six zipline Tree Top Canopy Tour that will have you flying 80 feet above the forest floor. For the thrill seekers, try the largest, highest, and most extreme tour – the Super Skyrider Zipline. On the “Super White Knuckle” zipline you can reach a speed of over 60 miles per hour!

hobo railroad

Hobo Railroad

Train fans will love the opportunity to ride the Hobo Railroad. Ideal for families of all ages, you can take the historic Hobo Railroad along the twisting Pemigewasset River through the woods of the western White Mountains. The journey will leave you in awe of Mother Nature’s beauty. Love trains? Lincoln is the place for you.

Loon Mountain

Loon Mountain is a popular place during the winter months, but did you know it’s open during the summer months as well? Enjoy a 1.3-mile scenic ride to the summit of Loon Peak in their four-person Gondola Skyride. At the end of the ascent, enter a high alpine world of refreshing breezes and stunning mountain views encompassing adventure and an array of summit activities. Test your agility, strength and speed in the Wild. Ninja Wild is an outdoor ninja course packed with wilderness-themed obstacles that puts kids (and adults) to the test. Loon also has an impressive downhill mountain biking trail network and bike park!

Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves

Located in the heart of Kinsman Notch in North Woodstock, the Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves is a popular natural geological attraction for all ages to enjoy. Formed over 300 million years ago during the last Ice Age, Lost River Gorge is filled with blocks of granite, boulder caves, and waterfalls. Open daily from May through October; there are tons of things to see and do at Lost River Gorge.

While visiting the Gorge and caves during the day is pretty cool, discovering them by night is a whole new experience! During the summer months, you can take a Guided Lantern Tour through the caves. The two-hour tour begins at dusk, and you’ll be guided through the lantern-lit caves and boardwalks ending around the campfire complete with s’mores.

If you’re more of a morning person, consider an 8am Yoga in the Woods in the Forest Treehouse.

Polar Caves

Offering family-friendly adventures since 1922, the Polar Caves are a “can’t miss” stop while in the Western White Mountains. The caves were formed during the last ice age, which through the movement of the glacier forced giant granite boulders to the base of what is now Hawk’s Cliff. Passageways were formed throughout the boulders, which have become even more accessible thanks to the boardwalks and stairs that have been built!

There are a total of nine granite caves to explore – including Fat Man’s Misery and The Lemon Squeeze! Polar Caves also features an animal exhibit, which hosts European Fallow Deer and a huge variety of people-loving ducks. You can even purchase treats in the main lodge to feed them! Lastly, don’t forget to stop in at the gift shop for a memorable souvenir to take home with you.

The Western White Mountains are the ultimate summer destination for family fun. With tons of fun outdoor attractions, you definitely won’t get bored.

For state-wide information, head to VisitNH.gov

visitnh.gov