Guide to the Perfect Fall Weekend in New Hampshire
There’s nothing quite like fall in the White Mountains, New Hampshire. The vibrant changing colors, cooler air temperatures and misty mountaintop mornings are what keep this at the top of people’s bucket list. After experiencing it ourselves, we’ve put together this guide that covers everything from when to visit, what to bring, hikes we recommend and crucial details you don’t want to overlook before venturing out.
When to Visit
If you’re looking to go during peak foliage, utilize the foliage tracker on visitnh.gov. It provides weekly updates according to each area of New Hampshire. Foliage depends on many factors such as rainfall and temperature so peak times can vary but in the past it’s usually around early-mid October.
Where to Stay
Conway is one of the main towns near the White Mountains, located on the eastern side. You can find inns and hotels, but be sure to make reservations well in advance during peak season. There’s quaint inns and lodges in the Franconia area as well, located on the western side. We found a cute cabin Airbnb near Franconia which really completed the ‘weekend in the mountains’ vibe.
Things to consider while planning your trip:
Cell Phone Service
There is little to no service around the White Mountains. Make sure you download maps well in advance - this goes for Google Maps as well as your AllTrails maps. This was a lifesaver for us! Most of the trails were very well marked, but we still referenced our maps a few times to make sure we were on the correct path. It also helped with navigating to the trailheads.
Have Flexible Plans
If you’re going during foliage season, expect a lot of other people to be there too. Many trailheads and scenic areas have limited parking so come prepared with a plan B and C. Be advised that you can’t pull off on the road shoulder, so if you want to stop and admire the view (we did many times), find a designated pull off spot and safely stop there.
Be Prepared
The weather is known for being unpredictable, especially during this time of the year. Make sure you’re tracking the weather and packing lots of extra warm and waterproof layers. On top of that - make sure you’re always bringing extra water and snacks - even on the shorter hikes.
Terrain
These mountains are rocky! One of the most concerning things we saw was the sheer amount of inappropriate footwear. You WILL want sturdy hiking boots that offer good support, are waterproof, and have excellent tread on the bottom. Many of the hikes we went on were muddy, rocky, slippery and the stream crossings had swelled from recent rainfall making them harder to cross. We felt well equipped in our Merrell and Wolverine hiking boots but wouldn’t have felt as secure if we were in tennis shoes!
Fees
While some parking is free, many trailhead parking lots require a $5 dollar fee, this adds up quickly if you’re planning to stop at multiple areas. We used our America the Beautiful pass for entrance, just make sure to display it on your dashboard while you’re parked so they know you’ve paid!
Avoiding the Crowds
Fall foliage is a very popular time, so crowds are inevitable. If you’re looking to minimize the amount of people around you, here are some helpful tips we utilize:
Travel during the weekday if possible
Get up extra early for a sunrise hike. (be prepared with first aid, headlamps, etc. since you’ll be hiking up in the dark)
Go for a sunset hike. (you’ll be hiking down in the dark so be well equipped and prepared)
Don’t let the weather stop you (to an extent). On Friday it rained all day. While most people stayed off the trails, we threw on our ponchos and went anyway. There were significantly less people on the trails
***Note: Always use discretion and prioritize safety. We did this when it was just raining but if it had progressed into a storm or worsened in other ways, we would not have gone.
*Always hike to your ability level and prioritize safety. If you’re not comfortable with the trail or conditions, there is no shame in calling it short!
Where to Go
First and foremost, you’ll definitely need a car to get around. Plan on road tripping up or renting a car if you’re arriving by plane. The closest major airport is the Manchester-Boston regional airport. We drove from our home base in Philadelphia and it took about 7 hours on a Thursday afternoon.
Route 302
This road circles the North side of the White Mountains, connecting Franconia Notch State Park with Crawford Notch State Park. While most people drive along the Kancamagus highway, we loved Route 302 the most! The trees lining the highway were phenomenal and there were multiple waterfalls along the road that you can stop and get close to.
Kancamagus Highway
Established in 1959, this highway is 34.5 miles of pure beauty and will take you from Lincoln in the west to Conway in the east. Along this road are plenty of scenic pull-off spots and trailheads. Keep in mind, this is one of the main roads people travel when visiting so expect traffic and full parking lots.
Hikes We Recommend
We visited New Hampshire with the intention of hiking all weekend! We’ve listed some other attractions at the bottom that we thought would make a well rounded weekend, however, we’ll focus mainly on the hikes we went on.
There are many state parks around the White Mountains that are within an hour of each other and offer great hikes, the main ones being:
Franconia Notch State Park
Crawford Notch State Park
Mount Washington State Park
We stuck to hikes mostly in Franconia Notch, Crawford Notch, and those along the Kancamagus Highway since a lot of them were shorter and still promised great view payoffs. If you’re looking for more of an all day trek, consider Mt. Lafayette or Mt. Washington and do your research!
Flume Gorge Trail
Franconia Notch State Park
2.2 mile loop
~500 ft elevation gain
~1 hour to complete
REQUIRES an entry pass ($18 for adults) and you will want to book yours well in advance as tickets sell out quick.
This trail will take you through an 800 foot natural gorge that is sure to take your breath away. The trail is short and we saw many people of all ages and ability levels completing it. Along the way you’ll pass the red Flume Covered Bridge and narrow bridge by the Wolfs Den. If there’s one hike to go on, we recommend this one!
Arethusa Falls
Crawford Notch State Park
2.8 mile out and back
~800 ft elevation gain
~1.5 hours to complete
$5 parking fee
This trail follows a stream uphill and ends with an amazing waterfall. During our visit the waterfall was overflowing and powerful! The beginning is a little steep but after the first ⅓ of the hike the incline become more gradual. It’s very rocky so wear sturdy shoes.
Note: The tracks for the Conway Scenic Railway run through the trailhead area. A local told us the train comes around 1 pm and 4:30 pm each day. We didn’t end up catching it but let us know if you do!
Ripley Falls
Crawford Notch State Park
1 mile out and back
~300 ft elevation gain
~30-45 minutes to complete
This short hike had a GIANT waterfall at the end, the amount of mist that was coming off it made us feel like we were in the splash zone! There isn’t a ton of elevation gain but the trail is narrow along the mountain side so use caution. Parking is VERY limited but it’s right down the road from other trails so you can circle back if there’s not a spot for you.
Champney Falls
Kancamagus Highway
3.1 miles out and back
~700 ft elevation gain
~2 hours to complete
$5 parking fee
This was one of our favorite hikes, it follows a stream up the mountain and passes many cascades and waterfalls. You can get up close to the base of the falls which is an incredible feeling. If you’re inclined, you can continue to the top of Mt.Chocorua which is an extra 3.3 miles including a rock scramble, but we’ve heard the views are worth it!
Bald Mountain
Franconia Notch State Park
.7 miles out and back
~250 ft elevation gain
~30 minutes to complete
A short and sweet hike with massive view payoffs. Start at the Artist Bluff trailhead and go left and follow the signs for Bald Mountain instead of the Artist Bluff loop. There’s a small rock scramble at the top but easy to accomplish. We did our sunrise hike here and had the entire peak to ourselves, it was surreal!
Artists Bluff
Franconia Notch State Park
1.5 mile loop
~400 ft elevation gain
~1 hour to complete
Artist Bluff is one of the most photographed spots. It overlooks a beautiful lake and provides a view of the incredible foliage. You can access the bluff quicker if you start by going right at the trailhead, it’ll only be about .8 miles to get there. Get here super early if you want less people in your view. By the time the sun is up, there will be plenty of others around. Check out our Instagram vs. Reality video we made of being here.
Basin Cascade Trail
Franconia Notch State Park
2.6 mile out and back
~600 ft elevation gain
~1.5 hours to complete
Wear your waterproof boots! This trail winds up the mountain besides a gushing river and will trek you over lots of rocks and tree roots. You’ll have a great view of many cascades and waterfalls along the way.
Other Attractions
Covered Bridges
New Hampshire is home to 60 covered bridges! They’re beautiful and make for great photo opportunities. You can find an iconic one in Flume Gorge and the Albany covered bridge lays along the Kancamagus Highway.
Cannon Air Tram
Legs too tired to hike but still want to see a great view? Ride this air tramway in Franconia Notch! The cable car will bring you up to over 4,000 ft and promises stunning views of New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, New York and Canada. You’ll need to purchase a ticket to ride and prices vary by season.
Conway Scenic Railway
This historical train runs through the Mount Washington Valley and Crawford Notch State Park, which makes for a great scenic trip. There are three different routes ranging from 1 to 5 hours. If you’re not feeling an actual ride, you can always watch it passing by from various iconic viewpoints, or just take pictures along the tracks like we did!
Closing Thoughts
Fall in New Hampshire is a must see! There’s plenty of scenic activities for all types of adventure seekers with huge view payoffs! This will definitely be a repeat trip for us and we already can’t wait to go back!
Have you experienced a New Hampshire fall before? Let us know what your favorite parts are or what you’re most looking forward to in the comments!