White Mountain National Forest - Up Close and Personal with Mother Nature
Written: May 13 '07 (Updated Nov 05 '09)
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Pros: beautiful scenery, multitude of great hiking trails, swimming holes, many inexpensive campgrounds
Cons: dangerous wild animals
The Bottom Line: A beautiful day or a week-long vacation can be yours in this beautiful forest that's practically right outside my door.
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| AliventiAsylum's Full Review: White Mountain National Forest |
I’m lucky in so many ways to live where I do. One of the best reasons is that less than five minutes away I have the White Mountain National Forest. Located primarily in central and eastern New Hampshire, with a little bit crossing into western Maine, the forest has plenty to do. From camping, hiking, fly fishing, swimming, to moose spotting there’s something for everyone who wants to spend a few hours or days away from the electronic devices.
Managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the forest is not a pristine area closed off to development. Many people live in “camps” or rustic cabins along rivers or in the backcountry. These can be found to be rented. There are ski resorts within the confines of the forest as well, and logging operations regularly take place in the forest. For anyone who thinks that a national forest means an area is safe from all development, that’s just not so.
However, kudos go out to those who have managed the White Mountain National Forest. They have done a great job keeping the encroachment to a minimum and protecting some of the best spots for any activity.
HISTORY
The public land of the White Mountain National Forest was acquired over the course of many years and now comes in somewhere around 800,000 acres. Back in the 1890’s there were many sawmills and logging operations taking place in the forest area. Most of the land had been cut and burned during this time. The Weeks Act of 1911 helped put the land back in public domain and it has now become one of the most visited forests in the country with over 7,000,000 visitors annually. That’s a lot of tourism!
SCENIC DRIVES
One of the greatest scenic drives in the country is along the Kancamagus Highway which cuts through the White Mountain National Forest from it’s eastern end near the town of Conway, New Hampshire to the western edge in Lincoln. New Hampshire. There’s a Forest Ranger station just as you turn onto the highway from Route 16 in Conway. This provides tons of information about the forest, plus current conditions. Some trails might be impassable, so this is the place to stop before you embark on any hike or backcountry camping.
Along the Kancamagus Highway are plenty of places to stop and get out. There are hiking trails short and long. One of the nicest places to swim is here, too, at the Lower Falls parking area. There are many awesome views and terrific places to stop and have a picnic lunch. There are no services for about 35 miles along “The Kanc” so make sure you have gas and food or you’re not hungry.
If you’ve gone from Conway to Lincoln, once you’re in Lincoln turn north on Route 3 and go up through Franconia Notch. Follow Route 3 up to Twin Mountain and turn right (East) on Route 302. This will take you through Crawford Notch and is another beautiful drive with lots of places to stop including hiking trails. There are some great views of Mount Washington, which has the world’s worst weather. The Mount Washington Cog Railway can also be accessed here and there are some really nice hiking trails.
This route will also take you back down into the North Conway area. Follow Route 16 down to North Conway and you can get right back to where you started out on The Kanc.
The Mount Washington Auto Road is within the boundaries of the White Mountain National Forest as well, north of Jackson, NH. People on the east coast have probably seen the famous bumper sticker for cars that have climbed this road. It’s fun, scenic, not cheap, and can do a number on your vehicle either through the brakes or transmission. There is a tour van service that goes up, but it makes it hard to be on your own schedule and do what you want when you want, especially at the summit of the mountain.
CAMPING
There are no less than 23 campgrounds within the White Mountain National Forest and 3 group camping areas. These are not managed directly by the U.S> Dept. of Agriculture but are sub-contracted out. They are really well taken care of, although the last time stayed in one was about five years ago. Many do no accept reservations and sites are doled out on a first-come, first-served basis. The sites do not have water and electric hookups, so be ready to experience this type pf rustic camping. This is important when you think about the weather conditions in this area. They can change rapidly and Mount Washington has experienced snow every month of the year. Even if it’s in the high 90’s in North Conway, you can be camping that night and have it close to or below freezing in the mountains.
Most campsites allow campfires except when conditions are dangerous. If there’s a fire warning up, and you have no electricity, that means you will have zero chances for heat and have to rely on a propane camp stove for cooking. The highest fee at any of the campgrounds is $20 per night and most are less. That’s very inexpensive when compared to most commercial and privately-owned campgrounds.
Back-country camping is also allowed in the White Mountain National Forest, but it’s tightly regulated. Campfires are prohibited in some places and it’s gently suggested that the best option is to use a lightweight backpacking stove. Be sure to pick up a copy of the current regulations at one of the Ranger Stations. Besides the one on The Kanc, there’s one in Holderness, NH on Route 175; in Bethlehem, NH on Trudeau Road; in Gorham, NH on Route 16; and in Bethel, Maine on Maine State Highway 26.
HIKING
Hiking trails abound in the White Mountain National Forest, and this has become our favorite activity. We try every Sunday to take a hike. There are hikes of every difficulty and length in the forest. I recommend the Appalachian Mountain Club White Mountain Guide, but there are a variety of books available as well as information at the Ranger Stations.
Some of our favorite hikes are:
• Diana’s Baths: This trail is actually a part of the Moat Mountain Trail. It’s a handicapped-accessible trail that goes for 0.6 miles off of River Road in North Conway to a place where there are some terrific cascading waterfalls to climb around in. It’s a popular place to cool off in the summer.
• Sabbaday Brook Trail: This trail begins at a picnic area off of the Kancamagus Highway. It goes up into the mountains and crosses the Sabbaday Brook numerous times before ti reaches the Mt. Tripyramid Trail. A circle can be made by making a right on this trail and then another right on the Pine Bend Brook Trail which leads back down to the Kanc. It’s a long hike that way - be prepared for an all-day affair. We’ve usually gone up to Mount Passaconaway outlook and then turned back and descended the trail. Along the way is a very nice waterfall.
• Arethusa Falls Trail: This 1.3 mile trail goes to the highest waterfalls in New Hampshire at 200 feet. For those who want a challenge, you can continue on the Ripley Falls Trail to those falls, about 2.5 miles away. Coming back, you can descend partly the same way and then pick up the Frankenstein Cliff Trail which joins up at the Arethusa Falls Trail back where you started.
When hiking, it’s very important to plan for any kind of weather. It changes fast and can be quite different above the treeline than where you started. Everyone should have backpacks with warm pants and a sweatshirt, even if it’s ninety degrees where you start out. Water cannot be counted on to be pure, so either purification tablets or bottled water are a must.
In addition, when hiking or camping wildlife is a consideration. The White Mountain National Forest is home to black bear, moose, deer, beaver, fox, turkey, and a variety of smaller animals and birds. Especially the bears can be dangerous, although most will just walk away from you. Always store food properly in sealed containers that have no traces on the outside and change clothes that you have cooked in or spilled food on. Moose present the biggest danger to drivers. Just this week a co-worker totaled hi mini-van driving through Crawford Notch when he hit a moose. Not only is there the damage to the vehicle, but you must either clean-up the moose remains from the road or pay a bill to the Forestry Service to do so.
FEES
This all used to be free, but a parking fee of $3.00 per day has been instituted. A pass can be purchased at the ranger station, or there are envelopes at the various parking areas. A 7-day pass can be purchased for $5.00 and needs to be used for 7 consecutive days. We just purchase the annual pass for a cost of $20.00. Most of the stops don’t have people patrolling, so it’s pretty much on the honor system. However, if a Ranger comes by and doesn’t see the pass on your dash, you will get a ticket. Remember, this very nominal fee does help support the various services available in the White Mountain National Forest.
As with any tourist area, the White Mountain National Forest gets very crowded on weekends, particularly from the period from Memorial Day through Labor Day. From about mid-September through the middle of October it’s peak “Leaf Peeping” time and the fall colors are stunning on those scenic drives.
All in all, you can’t do wrong with a vacation that includes the White Mountain National Forest. We spent so many years enjoying it that we had to move here. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen in the world and a great place to get away from all of the trappings of modern life.
Website for more information: http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/white_mountain/
Other sites to see in New Hampshire:
Attitash Bear Peak Ski Resort ~ Bretton Woods Ski Resort ~ Canobie Lake Park ~ Cranmore Mountain Ski Resort ~ Franconia Notch State Park ~ Kancamagus Highway ~ King Pine Ski Resort ~ Loon Mountain Ski Resort ~ Madison Boulder Natural Area ~ Mount Washington Cog Railway ~ North Conway, NH ~ Polar Express Event ~ Shawnee Peak, Bridgeton ME ~ Six Gun City ~ Story Land ~ Whale's Tale Waterpark ~ White Lake State Park ~ Wildcat Mountain
Some places to stay in New Hampshire:
Attitash Mountain Village - Bartlett NH ~ Comfort Inn & Suites - North Conway NH ~ Hampton Inn - Concord/Bow NH ~ Yankee Clipper Motel
Places to eat in New Hampshire:
Bea's Cafe, Conway NH ~ Cafe Noche, Conway NH ~ Decades Steakhouse, North Conway NH ~ Delaney‘s Hole in the Wall, North Conway NH ~ Harts Turkey Farm, Meredith NH ~ May Kelly's Cottage, North Conway NH ~ Merlino's Steakhouse, North Conway NH ~ Moat Mountain Smokehouse, North Conway NH ~ Muddy Moose, North Conway NH ~ Peach's Restauran, North Conway NH ~ Red Parka Steakhouse & Pub, Glen NH ~ Yankee Smokehouse, West Ossipee NH
Books about the area:
Appalachian Mountain Club White Mountain Guide ~ 50 Hikes in the White Mountains
© 2007 Patti Aliventi
Recommended:
Yes
Recommended for: Anybody
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Member: Patti Aliventi
Location: Mount Washington Valley, New Hampshire
Reviews written: 2125
Trusted by: 692 members
About Me:
Now writing reviews to pay for the "out of network" costs of our health insurance...
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