White Mountains
White Mountains
The Mt. Washington Valley has something worth doing in every season — from powder days at Attitash to peak-foliage drives on the Kancamagus. Here's where to go and where to eat.
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6 places match your filters
Franconia Ridge Loop
The most celebrated day hike in New Hampshire: 8.4 miles, 3,800 ft gain, two 4,000-footers (Lincoln and Lafayette), and a fully exposed ridgeline with 360-degree views. Ascend via Falling Waters Trail past three waterfalls to Little Haystack, traverse the ridge, descend Old Bridle Path. About one hour from Bartlett via I-93.
Start by 7am on summer weekends — the Lafayette Place parking lot fills completely by 8.
Diana's Baths
An easy 1.2-mile walk to Lucy Brook's cascading ledges and tiered pools — dramatic in spring snowmelt, lovely all summer. Family-friendly, ADA-accessible trail section, and one of the most accessible "wow" spots in the valley. $5/vehicle at the West Side Road trailhead.
Go early on summer weekends. The pools are perfect for wading with kids.
Arethusa Falls & Frankenstein Cliff
A 4.9-mile loop combining New Hampshire's tallest waterfall (Arethusa Falls, 140+ ft) with dramatic cliff-top views from Frankenstein Cliff. Route 302 runs right through Crawford Notch — this trailhead is about 15 minutes from Bartlett. Especially striking in spring when the falls are running hard.
Do the loop counter-clockwise: Bemis Brook Trail up, Arethusa Falls Trail and Frankenstein Cliff on the way out.
Mount Willard
The best views-per-effort hike in the White Mountains. 3.1 miles round-trip, 895 ft gain, and the payoff is a classic U-shaped glacial notch framed between 1,000-foot cliff walls. Free parking at the AMC Highland Center. Outstanding in fall foliage season.
An ideal second-day hike if you've already done something strenuous — or a great choice when hiking with mixed abilities.
Kancamagus Highway
The premier foliage drive in New Hampshire — a 34.5-mile designated American Scenic Byway with no commercial development, following the Swift River through pure White Mountain National Forest. Stop at Albany Covered Bridge, Lower Falls (swimming in summer), Rocky Gorge, and Sabbaday Falls. The eastern end starts 20 minutes from Bartlett in Conway.
Drive east to west (Conway to Lincoln) on fall mornings for the best light. Get off the highway and walk to the river at Lower Falls.
Mount Washington
Two ways up New Hampshire's highest peak (6,288 ft): the 7.6-mile toll Auto Road from Rt. 16 (self-drive or guided van, May–October), or the historic Cog Railway from Bretton Woods (year-round). Both are 30 minutes from Bartlett. The summit has a weather observatory, museum, and views into five states on clear days.
The Auto Road is drama and adventure; the Cog Railway is history and relaxation. They're different experiences for the same summit.
Places to stay
