Enjoy autumnal leaves, hikes and mountain bike rides, public campgrounds, a dramatic waterfall cascading into a narrow flume, and Loon Mountain.
The best and worst time to drive the Kancamagus Highway is in the autumn, when you’ll more than expected to be caught in a convoy of tour buses loaded with “leaf peepers,” all appreciating the fury of color along this mountainous road. The west-to-east route winds through New Hampshire’s White Mountains, climbing to almost 3,000 feet up Mount Kancamagus. Be ready to stop as the road has plenty of opportunities for hikes and mountain bike rides. The tour will take you from the Pemigewasset River in Lincoln to the Saco River in Conway. Begin at Lincoln’s Visitor Information Center, and drive the Kancamagus Highway (designated NH 112) east. You’ll see the Loon Mountain Recreation Area, one of the country’s top ski areas and, off-season, a great spot for a picnic. There are also lots of public campgrounds.
The adventuresome may want to try mountain biking on the East Pond route, just off the highway about 8 miles from Lincoln. The first leg of this trail ascends gradually to Pine Brook, where the road gets much steeper until it reaches the top of Scar Ridge. Back on the road continuing east, you’ll see Black Mountain to the east and Big Coolidge Mountain to the north. Beyond Big Rock Campground is the Greely Ponds Scenic Area, where you can take a moderately easy5-mile hike. Continuing east on the highway, you can stop at any of a number of overlooks to watch across at Mount Kancamagus. Here, the Swift River closely follows the path to the Rocky Gorge Scenic Area, where a short path leads to the panoramic Falls Pond.
About 15 miles west of the Saco Ranger Station (near Conway), look for trailhead symbols for the Sabbaday Falls hike, which highlights a series of dramatic cascades in a narrow flume. And near the end of the journey, about 12 miles west of Conway, look for the Russell Colbath House, the area’s last remaining 19th Century homestead, now a U.S. Forest Service Information Center.
Starting Point:
Lincoln, NH
Distance of Drive:
35 miles
Must Eat:
The Common Man
Pollard Rd., Lincoln, NH 03251
Phone: 603-968-9330
Call ahead to confirm hours of operation.
Best Time of Year for Drive:
Spring to fall
Points of Interest on Drive:
Sabbaday Falls
Russell Colbath
Mount Kancamagus
Tagged with: best time:spring and fall • New Hampshire
Filed under: Best Road Trips