Referral Guide – Mount Washington Valley

Use this document filled with local referrals from Granite State Ambassadors & State Welcome Center attendants as an informational starting point for guest referrals. For business referrals, please reference your local brochures & guides.


Hidden Gems | Covered Bridges | Swimming Holes | Places to Paddle | Hikes and Nature Walks | Bike Trails | Picnic Area Favorites | Historical Sites | Other Favorites | Local Information Resources & Welcome Centers


Hidden Gems

Echo Lake State Park, 68 Echo Lake Rd, North Conway – Swimming, hiking, non-motorized boating, picnicking, fishing.  Cathedral Ledge and White Horse Ledge scenic views.  One-mile trail around the lake.  (https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/echo-lakes-state-park)

Cathedral Ledge, 579 Cathedral Ledge Road, Bartlett – a mile-long auto road leads to the top of 700-foot Cathedral Ledge, great views across the Saco River Valley to the White Mountains. Access to the park is also via Echo Lake State Park hiking trails.  (https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/cathedral-ledge-state-park)

Diana’s Bath, 3725 West Side Rd, Bartlett – Series of small waterfalls in the southeastern corner of the town of Bartlett, near the village of North Conway.  This historic site is within the White Mountain National Forest.  Parking lot, parking along the road is specifically prohibited.  (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whitemountain/recarea/?recid=74963)

Nestlenook Farm, 66 Dinsmore Rd, Jackson – sleigh ride, ice skating, snow shoeing.  (https://nestlenookfarmsleighrides.com/)

Take a ride on US 302 to Crawford Notch for beautiful views, waterfalls, and a great taste of the White Mountains.

White Mtn. National Forest Ranger Station, Kancamagus Highway (NH 112), Conway end –wildlife displays, hiking information, regional information, interpretive displays, and a retail area with maps, books, recreation passes and other items for sale.  (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whitemountain/recarea/?recid=74411)

Profile Rock (aka Washington Boulder, Tin Mine Rd, Jackson – visible from the road at ground level. (http://www.cowhampshireblog.com/2007/01/25/new-hampshire-missing-places-ben-franklin-profile-rock/)

Madison Boulder Natural Area, 473 Boulder Rd., Madison – home to the largest known glacial erratic in North America, and among the largest in the world. Huge granite rock measuring 83 feet in length, 23 feet in height above the ground, 37 feet in width, and weighs upwards of 5,000 tons. Site was acquired by the state of N.H. in 1946 and designated a National Natural Landmark in 1970. Recent work puts the boulder’s age at around 14,000 years old.  (https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/madison-boulder-natural-area)

 

Covered Bridges

Albany Bridge, Dugway Road, Albany – north side of Kancamagus Highway, 6 miles west of Conway and NH 16. Bridge is 120’ long, built in 1858, and the only covered bridge on the Kancamagus.

Bartlett Covered Bridge and Shop, US 302, Bartlett – west of US 302, 4½ miles east of Bartlett Village. Bridge is 167’ long and built in 1851. Bridge is privately owned and is now a gift shop.

Honeymoon Covered Bridge, Village Street, Jackson – at the junction of NH 16 and NH 16A. Bridge is 121’ long, built about 1876, and has a sidewalk on one side of the bridge that was added in 1930.

Saco Bridge, Washington Street and Eastside Road, Conway Village – ¼ mile north of NH 16, near Swift River Bridge. Bridge is 225’ long, built in 1890. The 1850 bridge was destroyed in 1869 when the Swift River Bridge was raised off its foundation by high waters, floated downstream and crashed into and destroyed the Saco Bridge. It was rebuilt but destroyed by fire in 1890, the year the current bridge was built.

Swift River Bridge, Westside Road, Conway Village – ½ mile north of NH 16, near Saco Bridge. Bridge is 129’ long and built in 1870. The original 1850 bridge was lifted off its foundation by raging waters in 1869, and went downstream, crashing into the Saco River Bridge and knocking it off its moorings. Both damaged bridges ended up 2 miles downstream. Much of the lumber salvaged from these two bridges was used in building the new Swift River Bridge. It is closed to vehicular traffic.

Wentworth Golf Course, NH 16, Jackson – used for foot and golf cart traffic only. Not registered in the State of New Hampshire’s directory of covered bridges.

 

Swimming Holes

White Lake State Park, 1632 White Mountain Hwy, Tamworth – On the shore of White Lake. Open year-round and offers swimming, hiking, non-motorized boating, camping, picnicking, fishing and winter sports. (https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/white-lake-state-park)

Echo Lake State Park, 68 Echo Lake Rd, North Conway – See Hidden Gems above.

Saco River at Hussey Field, North Conway – West onto River Road, parking along road near the first bridge.  Also popular place to put-in a canoe or kayak.  (https://mtwashingtonvalley.org/media/press-kit-display.cfm?articleid=487)

Lake Chocorua, NH 16, Chocurua – About 10 miles south of Conway.  So scenic, and usually not overly busy. Great walking trails, swimming, and canoeing and kayaking.  Two sandy beaches on the east side of the lake:  one is open to the public, the other is for town residents.  (https://www.chocorualakeconservancy.org/public-access/

Emerald Pool, White Mountain Rd (NH 16), Gorham – Located between Mt. Washington Auto Road and Wildcat Mountain Ski Area. There are three scenic pull offs, the middle one is where you will find this beautiful swimming hole. Several paths lead down to the pool; they are rather steep.

Paradise Pool, Sawyer Brook, Bartlett – Smooth rocks.  US 302 in Bartlett, go 2.6 miles past Bear Notch Road. Park at the trailhead for Sawyer Pond Road and hike into Paradise Pool.  (http://www.swimmingholes.org/)

 

Places to Paddle

Lake Umbagog, Coos county and flows into Maine. Wonderful lake to swim and kayak. Although there are public access spots, parking is not always free or public. You can park, camp, etc. at the state park however there is a fee.

Saco River at Hussey Field, North Conway – See Swimming Holes above.

Lake Chocorua, NH 16, Chocorua – About 10 miles south of Conway.  Great for canoeing and kayaking; no motorboats allowed.  See Swimming Holes above.

South Pond Recreation Area, off NH 110, Stark – tree-lined pond, sand beach, surrounding mountains, great place for family gatherings.  Bathhouse, picnic tables, grills and a carry-in launch for small boats. (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whitemountain/recreation/picnickinginfo/recarea/?recid=74519&actid=70)

 

Hikes and Nature Walks

White Mtn. National Forest Ranger Station, Kancamagus Highway (NH 112), Conway end – great place for all hiking information including maps, conditions, levels of difficulty, parking passes.  (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whitemountain/recarea/?recid=74411)

Boulder Loop Interpretive Trail, near Albany Covered Bridge Campground, Kancamagus Highway – trail passes through boulder fields and various forest types. At its highest point, the trail takes you to 1,000 feet of elevation with ledges that offer spectacular views of the Passaconaway Valley. (https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd573843.pdf)

The Rail N’ River, Russell-Colbath House, Kancamagus Highway, Albany – half mile ADA trail that winds through the forest to the Swift River and back. There are interpretive panels along the way that explain logging and railroading in this area during the 19th century. (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whitemountain/recreation/outdoorlearning/recarea/?recid=74925&actid=119)

Echo Lake State Park, off West Side Rd., North Conway – (https://www.nhstateparks.org/getmedia/a26effa3-9821-4dd3-8abc-6449cd2db197/EchoLakeSP_TrailMap_Web.pdf)

Mount Willard, US 302, Crawford Notch – Trailhead behind Crawford Depot and Macomber Family Information Center, easy to moderate difficulty.

 

Bike Trails

Red Tail, Hurricane Mountain Rd., Conway Common Lands State Forest – difficult, 2.6 mile mountain biking trail, descends over 1200 feet.

Sawyer River Trail, Sawyer River Road, Hart’s Location to Lincoln – best for mountain bikers.

 

Picnic Area Favorites

Schouler Park, Main Street, North Conway – On NH 16, multi-purpose park.  (https://www.conwayrec.com/parks-facilities/schouler-park-north-conway/)

Glen Ellis Scenic Area, Pinkham Notch – Historic site constructed by Civilian Conservation Corps, short hike to 66’ waterfall, picnicking opportunities, starting point for Glen Boulder and Wildcat trails.  (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whitemountain/recreation/picnickinginfo/recarea/?recid=74455&actid=70)

South Pond Recreation Area, off NH 110, Stark – tree-lined pond sand beach and surrounding mountains, great place for family gatherings. The area provides a bathhouse, picnic tables, grills and a carry-in launch for small boats. – (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whitemountain/recreation/picnickinginfo/recarea/?recid=74519&actid=70)

 

Historical Sites

Russell-Colbath House, Kancamagus Highway, Albany –19th century farmhouse, period furnishings, operates as a historic house museum, with an on-site historic interpreter covering history of the Passaconaway Valley, the families who lived in the house, domestic life in the 19th century.  View artifacts uncovered in recent archaeological excavations. The house, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is open to the public seasonally. (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whitemountain/recreation/outdoorlearning/recarea/?recid=74925&actid=119)
See The Rail N’ River under Hikes and Nature Walks above.

New England Ski Museum, 2628 White Mountain Highway, North Conway – just south of Schouler Park.  Franconia Notch State Park location remains open.  (http://newenglandskimuseum.org/)

Willey House, 2057 US-302, Hart’s Location – site of an historic landslide that happened in 1826. The house survived but the family of nine perished. Restrooms are available in the house and the site also has picnicking areas nearby, hiking trails, and campgrounds. Open seasonally.  (https://hartslocation.com/visitor-information/)

Visit our GSA White Mountains Museum and Heritage Site List

 

Other Favorites

Route 113 – Travel from Shelburne to East Conway, often through the White Mountain National Forest, scenic views.

Mt. Washington Hotel, US 302, Carroll – grand old hotel built in 1900-1902, National Historic Landmark, visitors welcome, self-guided tour brochure available at concierge desk.

Glen Ellis falls, Pinkham Notch, NH 16, Jacksonhttps://nhtourguide.com/glen-ellis-falls-jackson-nh-157.html)

Jackson Pumpkin People, NH 16, Jackson Village – Held the month of October, self-guided tour of more than 80 different locations hosting Pumpkin People displays.    (https://jacksonnh.com/event/return-of-the-pumpkin-people/)

Cog Railway, US 302, Bretton Woods – scenic train rides to the Summit of Mt. Washington, the World’s first mountain-climbing cog built in 1869.  (www.thecog.com)

 

LOCAL INFORMATION RESOURCES AND WELCOME CENTERS TO SEND GUESTS TO WHEN THEY ARRIVE IN THAT AREA

Scenic Vista, Intervale State Welcome Center, 3654 White Mt. Highway, Intervale (603) 356-2769 or https://www.visit-newhampshire.com/state/visitor-information-centers/

White Mtn. National Forest Ranger Station (Saco Region District), Kancamagus Highway (NH 112), Conway  (603) 447-5448

Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce, 2617 S. Main St., #1, No. Conway (800)367-3364 or www.mtwashingtonvalley.org

Conway Village Area Chamber of Commerce, 205 Main St., NH 16, Conway (603) 447-2639 or www.conwaychamber.com

Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce, 18 Main St., Jackson (603) 353-9356 or www.jacksonnh.com

Lisbon Area Chamber of Commerce, 6 S. Main St., Lisbon (603) 838-6673

 

updated October 13, 2020