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    Kancamagus Highway

    4.8 (43 reviews)

    Kancamagus Highway Photos

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    Emily L.

    Make sure to schedule this in to your trip! We had such a blast driving through! Somehow we got lucky with our trip on the peak tourist October weekend to not hit any traffic on this drive! I think the secret to our perfect timing was hitting this spot around 3 and starting from the Conway side. I am talking 0 traffic. And we got to enjoy so many stops and even hit the end right as it was getting to dark to explore. I do have to say though we did not have time to hike, but that was ok with us because it was our first day and we had many other hikes planned during the trip.

    Leaves, trees, highway
    Avry B.

    The most spectacular views in early October. The colors were so vibrant, the air cool and crisp. New Hampshire and the white mountains gave an experience we won't forget.

    Steff D.

    The Kancamagus runs through the White Mountain National Forest. There's no food or gas the length of the byway, cell service is almost non-existent, and it can be incomprehensibly busy during peak foliage. It had been a couple years since the last time I came, but my most recent trip was overwhelmed by the human imprint. Every scenic overlook was absolute chaos: people double-parked, fights happening as people blocked traffic trying to get a spot, and the litter here? OUTRAGEOUS. CARRY IN, CARRY OUT. IT'S A REALLY EASY CONCEPT. Throughout the years I've discovered similar areas to The Kancamagus, so I don't feel the pressure to visit it every single year like I did when I was younger. It's still gorgeous, I frequently see moose here, but my latest visit reminded me how much destruction humans are doing to natural spots like that. So.... PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE: - Carry in, carry out - Do not poop on the trails - Do not take any thing - Do not disturb the wildlife - Stay on marked trails

    Trail to Madison Boulder off The Kancamagus Highway
    Hannah S.

    If you're in NH for leaf peeping you gotta drive The Kanc (as it is so affectionately known by the locals lol)! It can be a little crowded but it's so worth it. I was there a few days "past peak" and it was still vibrant and full of colors around every corner! It's also an easy drive - road is in good condition, winds gently and has lots of viewpoints and interesting stops! A fascinating little side trip off The Kanc is the Madison Boulder (and since I couldn't find it on Yelp, here's my review for it)! At 4662 tons, 87 feet long and 37 feet high, to say this thing is huge is a tad underwhelming lol. There's a little parking area that was virtually empty on my visit - me and one other couple were there. To get to it, you have to drive a very bumpy dirt road so if you have a low vehicle, be really slow and careful ....had some large, deep potholes and wash boarding! The car behind me didn't even dare it and turned around lol! Trust me, it's worth it tho! There's a short, flat hike to get to the boulder after you park - it's so lovely and peaceful! And during October, the vibrant fall colors make it a marvelous wonderland to meander through! Some of the path is paved and some isn't - mostly just soft, dark dirt. Once you reach the boulder, the sheer size will have you in awe! There's plenty of pathway to walk around it and take photos etc. There are a couple of signs around with info about the boulder. There are no bathrooms and the cell/internet signal is non-existent so plan accordingly!

    Elaine M.

    OMG, so amazingly beautiful. We drove part of this highway the first week of October and saw the most amazing scenes. Babbling brooks, mountain vistas, electric leaf colors and large and small waterfalls. Even the small distance we drove we saw so much. Do make sure to allow time to pull off and walk a bit to see the best views. You must pay to park in pulls offs. It is an honor system so please don't cheat our National Parks.

    Julio H.

    Rating the Kancamagus 4 stars is harsh, considering I didn't hit every point on the road, but there are many roads that truly take your breath away and the Kancamagus falls short in this category. The best thing you can do is go to the visitor/information center in Lincoln and get a map. You can just drive it but there is little reward in this, like I said, the views are not spectacular. But if you plan of spending a day, and you hit several of the trails, this is a very energetic and invigorating drive. You get to see rivers, waterfalls, lakes, and huge mountains if you hike. Phone service is spotty, lots of "No Service" everywhere. Also, you have to make a one time payment of $5/per car to park anywhere in the White Mountains. Take your food and water. Enjoy nature.

    Heather F.

    I love the Kanc, we especially like to take early morning trips to try and catch a glimpse of a moose or two in the summer months. Our most recent trip was just a few short weeks ago to check out the foliage. It was beautiful as ever.

    Jo Ann B.

    Took this route from Vermont to Conway, NH. Such a beautiful drive. Lots of trails and stops along the way. If you were there during the peak fall colors, it would be amazing!

    Tadpole!
    Dani E.

    Love love love! So beautiful. I don't think I've seen one piece of trash on the floor. Signs are very clear about what not to do. One of my favorite places.

    Stream near Lincoln
    Sho R.

    Kancamangus Highway stretches more than 30 miles through White Mountains. Fall is probably the best time to travel through this highway. Both sides of the road will be covered with colorful trees. There are numerous scenic stops along the drive. You can stop and enjoy the beauty of nature. There are camping areas and trails on the way. Sabbaday falls is beautiful. The whole stretch of highway does NOT have a gas station in between. So ensure that you have enough gas before starting the drive.

    Roxanne P.

    Beautiful highway with quite a few scenic peaks and hikes off of it. The highway takes you from Conway to Lincoln and on each end there's a decent amount to do in each town, even in the off season. There are a decent amount of campgrounds off of the highway and a lot of views to see in the highway. (Unfortunately) we didn't get to see a moose but the views made up for it. Windy days get reaaalllly windy in the higher elevations! We made this a daily drive while we were there.

    River in a trail

    This area is absolutely gorgeous If any one is up in this area I would definitely say take an hour or two and spend it on this very scenic highway There is so many trails places to stop for stunning pictures Waterfalls , trails , river it's Gods country for sure If you like this type of outdoor activity This is the place

    Fall foliage along the highway.

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    4 years ago

    Many opportunities for hiking and pictures during Fall. Be sure to leave 1/2 day for Franconia Notch state park at western end. A must.

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    4 years ago

    One of the most beautiful rides I've ever taken. This scenery is awe inspiring , I was amazed.

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    7 years ago

    Overrrated. If you want old barns which of course you do, there are none. Fall foliage might be ok but a lotta evergreens.

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    9 years ago

    We drove it at night, so could not se as many of the views. We did seem some wildlife and it looked so nice with the snow.

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    9 years ago

    Beautiful drive. Love coming here with my girl and pup during the summer and fall for a relaxing ride.

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    Kancamagus Highway Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Kancamagus Highway

    Review Highlights - Kancamagus Highway

    If you're in NH for leaf peeping you gotta drive The Kanc (as it is so affectionately known by the locals lol)!

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

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    Outdoor Escapes New Hampshire - Autumn colors in NH on a custom photo tour.

    Outdoor Escapes New Hampshire

    3.7(3 reviews)
    11.6 mi

    I do not recommend any "Moose Tours" with Lucie. We drove 3 hours to meet her and she was an hour…read morelate to the meeting point(no cell service to contact her), completely unprepared for us as she "pulled the wrong file" "what did I tell you we were doing" We basically drove up and down route 26 for 6 hours looking for moose on the side of the highway. She stopped to asked the locals where to find moose and spoke endlessly about the types of trees in NH. No moose were spotted at all even after a desperate mosquito infested walk through the woods (yes, we had bug spray but it didn't make a difference). We were told "plan B" was to drive up and down the same highway at midnight to see if the moose were out. This was a surprise for my husbands birthday, It was a surprise for both of us! This was a complete waste of time and money.

    What a great experience we had and most of all a beautiful day with a great guide! I booked a one…read moreday trip kayaking for Lisa and I and it couldn't have went any better. Lucy met us in the morning and we went straight to the river. It was such a gorgeous and enjoyable ride and she was so pleasant and relaxed the whole way through. She gave us some simple tips on kayaking and also some nice information on some of the wildlife and history of the area. When we reached Lake Ossipee the wind was very strong which made the lake very choppy and her lead was so assuring in the challenge that lay ahead of us - she was awesome and we made it to the other side of the lake without any issues whatsoever. I would highly recommend Lucy if you want to experience a great day outdoors in the White Mountains

    Photos
    Outdoor Escapes New Hampshire - Custom hikes for all abilities...learn about local history and nature.

    Custom hikes for all abilities...learn about local history and nature.

    Outdoor Escapes New Hampshire - Family hiking tour.

    Family hiking tour.

    Outdoor Escapes New Hampshire - Private cross-country ski lessons/tours on groomed and backcountry trails.

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    Private cross-country ski lessons/tours on groomed and backcountry trails.

    Madison Boulder - Views from the front of the boulder (October 2023)

    Madison Boulder

    5.0(3 reviews)
    3.6 mi

    Quite a magnificent natural wonder - highly recommend if you're visiting the area. The Madison…read moreBoulder is a ~5,000 ton glacial erratic made of granite - which makes sense since it's found in the Granite State lol. Of course, the pictures don't do it justice and you can't really fathom the size just by reading the stats alone - it's an awe inspiring sight that you have to see to believe! The boulder measures 87 feet long, 23 feet tall, and 37 feet wide. Also, the boulder is partially buried at about 10-12 feet underground! And recently scientists have been able to determine that the boulder is around 14,000 years old. Left behind all those years ago by a retreating glacier. You'll find it down a dirt road with a small, rough dirt parking lot - there are some large, deep potholes so I recommend to drive slow and careful, especially with low clearance vehicles. But it's doable. A short, very flat hike is required along a dirt road but it's well maintained and easy - about 1/2 mile one way. If you visit in fall, you'll be treated to some lovely colors along the way! I visited twice - mid to late October 2021 and early October 2023. Mid to late October had much more colors than early October but it also varies from year to year. You'll find the boulder on the edge of the White Mountain National Forest and only a few miles away from The Kanc - a famous highway in NH for the fall colors. And there are lots of other attractions in the area - lots of rivers and vistas and things like that - as well as the historic Albany Covered Bridge which is a must see (less than 10 miles away). It's free to visit and park - be aware there aren't any restrooms in the area. Google maps will take you right to it - but signal is nonexistent in the area so I recommend to download offline maps before you come. Sadly, on my last visit, someone had put graffiti in several places on the boulder- but a park ranger was there to clean it up. Hopefully they were able to get it removed. I'll never understand why people feel the need to deface natural wonders like that - breaks my heart every time.

    After a short trail hike, you'll see the boulder around a bend. It is massive and interesting to…read moresee. The road getting to it is gravel and very rough but manageable.

    Photos
    Madison Boulder - Parking area for the Boulder - it's dirt and very bumpy - recommend to go very slow - some deep potholes!

    Parking area for the Boulder - it's dirt and very bumpy - recommend to go very slow - some deep potholes!

    Madison Boulder - Entrance to the Boulder area

    Entrance to the Boulder area

    Madison Boulder - The gate is always closed but you're allowed to walk around it - open to pedestrians

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    The gate is always closed but you're allowed to walk around it - open to pedestrians

    Kancamagus Highway - hiking - Updated May 2026

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