We have no rocks (literally, no natural rocks) in our area of Coastal Virginia. So, when we find our way to the mountains, it is like entering an entirely different world. The White Mountains of New Hampshire are a particular treat because of the variation in activities, from amusement parks to waterfall hikes. In our three trips we’ve branched along three main routes; Kancamagus highway in the south; Crawford Notch Road through the central mountains, and Rt 16 Pinkham Notch Rd passing by Mount Washington.
Where we Stayed….
Christmas Farm Inn in Jackson, New Hampshire
Christmas Farm Inn & Spa, Jackson, New Hampshire, 2023
Christmas Farm Inn & Spa, Jackson, New Hampshire, 2023
Christmas Farm Inn & Spa, Jackson, New Hampshire, 2023
Christmas Farm Inn & Spa, Jackson, New Hampshire, 2023
Eagle Mountain House in Jackson, New Hampshire
Eagle Mountain House, Jackson, New Hampshire
Eagle Mountain House, Jackson, New Hampshire
Eagle Mountain House, Jackson, New Hampshire
Eagle Mountain House, Jackson, New Hampshire
Eagle Mountain House, Jackson, New Hampshire
Eagle Mountain House, Jackson, New Hampshire
The White Mountain Hotel in North Conway, New Hampshire
The White Mountain Hotel & Resort. North Conway, New Hampshire
The White Mountain Hotel & Resort. North Conway, New Hampshire
The White Mountain Hotel & Resort. North Conway, New Hampshire
The White Mountain Hotel & Resort. North Conway, New Hampshire
The White Mountain Hotel & Resort. North Conway, New Hampshire
The White Mountain Hotel & Resort. North Conway, New Hampshire
White Mountain Resort, North Conway, New Hampshire
The Glen House in Gorham, New Hampshire
Glen House Lodge, White Mountains, New Hampshire
The Glen Hotel Hotel, White Mountains, New Hampshire
The Glen Hotel Hotel, White Mountains, New Hampshire
The Glen Hotel Hotel, White Mountains, New Hampshire
The Glen Hotel Hotel, White Mountains, New Hampshire
The Glen Hotel Hotel, White Mountains, New Hampshire
The Glen Hotel Hotel, White Mountains, New Hampshire
The Glen Hotel Hotel, White Mountains, New Hampshire
The Glen Hotel Hotel, White Mountains, New Hampshire
The Glen Hotel Hotel, White Mountains, New Hampshire
The Glen Hotel Hotel, White Mountains, New Hampshire
The Glen Hotel Hotel, White Mountains, New Hampshire
The Glen Hotel Hotel, White Mountains, New Hampshire
The Glen Hotel Hotel, White Mountains, New Hampshire
The Glen Hotel Hotel, White Mountains, New Hampshire
The admission fee to Flume Gorge in Lincoln is higher than many of the other state park and forest areas, but it didn’t take long to understand why. The main trail is two miles, and the highlight is a narrow wooden stairway through Flume Gorge. Other highlights included the enormous glacial boulders, wooden bridges, and the short “wolf den” crawl/hike through a cave-like rock formation.
Flume Gorge, White Mountains, New Hampshire, 2022
Flume Gorge, White Mountains, New Hampshire, 2022
Flume Gorge, White Mountains, New Hampshire, 2022
Flume Gorge, White Mountains, New Hampshire, 2022
Flume Gorge, White Mountains, New Hampshire, 2022
Flume Gorge, White Mountains, New Hampshire, 2022
Flume Gorge, White Mountains, New Hampshire, 2022
Flume Gorge, White Mountains, New Hampshire, 2022
Flume Gorge, White Mountains, New Hampshire, 2022
Flume Gorge, White Mountains, New Hampshire, 2022
Flume Gorge, White Mountains, New Hampshire, 2022
Flume Gorge, White Mountains, New Hampshire, 2022
Flume Gorge, White Mountains, New Hampshire, 2022
Flume Gorge, White Mountains, New Hampshire, 2022
Flume Gorge, White Mountains, New Hampshire, 2022
Flume Gorge, White Mountains, New Hampshire, 2022
Flume Gorge, White Mountains, New Hampshire, 2022
Flume Gorge, White Mountains, New Hampshire, 2022
Flume Gorge, White Mountains, New Hampshire, 2022
Flume Gorge, White Mountains, New Hampshire, 2022
Flume Gorge, White Mountains, New Hampshire, 2022
Kancamagus Highway
From Lincoln driving east on Kancamagus Highway we found plenty of easy trails and places to climb on rocks and swim in the river. Each parking area was well marked from the highway and during busy times I would imagine parking could be a nightmare. We self-paid our admission at our first stop with cash. The Rail and River trail was an easy flat walk with interpretation about the ecological history of the region. Champney Falls was a relatively easy hike with wooden staircases and bridges. The highlight of each trip was the Lower Falls recreation area. The water in August was very warm and the natural pools were deep enough for swimming.
Champney Falls, White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire
Pemigewasset Overlook on Kancamagus Highway
Lower Falls, Conway, NH
Otter Rocks, White Mountains, New Hampshire, 2022
Crawford Notch Road, Jackson to Jefferson, New Hampshire
There aren’t as many hiking stops along Crawford Notch Highway as there were along Kancamagus. Attitash Mountain Ski Resort offers summer lift rides with the opportunity to walk along the summit. We attempted to hike the 2 miles to Arethusa Falls, but it wasn’t clear from the trailhead map that the first mile of the hike was straight up a rocky mountain trail. The hike was a bit too strenuous for a 10-year old on the third straight day of hiking, and after a mile we retreated to the river bed area to recuperate at the small waterfalls.
Willey House Parking, White Mountains, New Hampshire, 2022
Willey House Rest Area Crawford Notch, NH
Other easy trails along the way included a pond trail at the Willey House site and the Lower Falls trail.
Attitash Mountain Resort Bartlett, NH
Santa’s Village in Jefferson, New Hampshire
Reindeer, Santa’s Village
Reindeer, Santa’s Village
Reindeer, Santa’s Village
Red Hot Racers, Santa’s Village
Santa’s Village
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, Santa’s Village
Christmas Ferris Wheel, Santa’s Village
Entrance, Santa’s Village
Santa’s Village
Reindeer, Santa’s Village
The Skyway Sleigh, Santa’s Village
Santa’s Village, New Hampshire
Santa’s Village, New Hampshire
Jackson, New Hampshire to Bethel, Maine
Glen Ellis Falls Jackson, New Hampshire
Glen House Hotel Goreham, NH
A drive between Glen, New Hampshire and Bethel, Maine gave us a wide range of activities and landscapes. Traveling as a family with a child between 8-10 years old I’m not sure you could find a better itinerary; visit an amusement park, then hike to waterfalls and then jump in a river for swimming. Finally, we ended a trip in the foothills of the White Mountains in Maine, and touch a piece of Mars at the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum, thus completing our rock-centric vacation.
White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire
Jackson Falls
Jackson Falls
Jackson Falls, White Mountains, New Hampshire
Jackson Falls, White Mountains, New Hampshire
Jackson Falls, White Mountains, New Hampshire
Jackson Falls
Jackson Falls, New Hampshire, 2022
After collecting Alice from the hole, Jackson Falls
Story Land, Glen NH
Hiking near Mount Washington
Emerald Pool, White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire
Emerald Pool, White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire
The Glen Hotel Hotel, White Mountains, New Hampshire
The Glen Hotel Hotel, White Mountains, New Hampshire
The Glen Hotel Hotel, White Mountains, New Hampshire
Waterfall, White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire
Waterfall, White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire