This was a cool hike up. We parked in the parking lot that was right at the midpoint where you can…read morego left or go right. It was muddy as heck that day, so I would recommend not going that route because once we were done with the climb, we noticed that there was literally a shortcut at the bottom to the main road with a parking lot across the street, so there was no need for that extra hike to get to the climb. You're welcome!

Amazing hike with a payoff view that is spectacular. This is a moderate level hike and should be…read moretaken only by people who are OK with climbing rocks, boulders and can handle heights well. That said, my wife and 2 daughters (both under 12y/o had no problem traversing the trails and were ear to ear smiles at the end.

Me entire family went hiking together and it was beautiful!! The views, the climb, the weather,…read moreeverything. It was never overly crowded, so we were able to make quick stops along the hike for a snack or to take pics or even just stop to take in the view without feeling like a disturbance to anyone trying to pass. Hiking around Flume Gorge was also pretty lengthy which made for a camera roll loaded with pictures and a tired Sophie by the end of it. :) Such a fun place to check out. W the amazing views and variety of different elevations on this hike! Highly recommend!

Happy Earth Day again. You thought I was finished? HA!…read more Words fail to describe my love of Franconia. I am a Dartmouth alum - not one of the rich ones lmao so I did not have a car at college. If I did tho, you couldn't have pulled me away from the beauty of the White Mountains. I am however one of the old alums so I remember when there used to be an Old Man of the Mountain before his nose fell off lol. Anyways, this place has my entire heart and I only share it with people I trust. I took my friend here for a weekend getaway of rustic camping and hiking last April and I can safely say she also fell in love. We ran up and down I-93, I showed her the remnants of the Old Man, we stopped by the lake (lord it was cold), then we went to the Basin - beautiful in ALL seasons - and hiked a trail on-site. God I love Franconia so much. If you haven't gotten the chance to visit please make it a priority. It's stunning in all seasons! Things to know: -you can access The Basin from either side of 93. If on the far side you just need to cross under the overpass. -The Basin is paved. There are some stairs to get a closer look but it is largely accessible to view. -Still snow in some sections in late April - you're ok without spikes imo -parking was still free as of last year

I only visit New Hampshire once a year and I always like to take the hike through the Flume!…read moreWhat's nice is that even if it's a hot sunny summer day that inside the flume you're shaded from the sun by the trees and the formations so it makes for a nice little hike! The one time I did go in cooler weather was early October and that time there was the abundance of leave changing colors to be seen so that also another good time to visit.

While we were traveling through this part of NH, my husband and I knew we wanted to do outdoorsy…read morethings while also knowing our aging joints and city DNA might not allow for hardcore outdoorsy things. Enter the Flume Gorge. The whole trail is well-marked and was roughly two miles of walking for us, with some occasional hills and terrain. All along the way, there was plenty of nature to appreciate, with the waterfalls being the clear highlight of the show. My inner nerd loved the various signs and placards throughout the course that either gave travelers information about the flora, fauna, or geological history of different spots. I especially appreciate that there are limited numbers of tickets that are sold within time slots. I presume that's to keep the trail from getting too loud or crowded. My husband and I caved into the strong recommendations to purchase tickets online (the prevailing reason seems to be avoiding the peril of 'sold out tickets', but when we bought ours the night before our visit, there were still more than enough spots available). There are bathrooms available at the start of the hike (and technically also at the end, since the trail is circular). The visitor center/store is connected to the restrooms, though it's implicitly recommended to enter at the end of your hike since there's no reentering the trail once you come into the store. For those famished at the end of their visit, there's also a small food court selling fast food items and a modestly sized seating area. We paid $37 for two advance tickets (which includes a dollar 'print at home' surcharge, even if there's a scannable barcode included in the confirmation email that prevents needing to print anything). Parking was fine in the private lot and plentiful, especially during the early morning slot we took. Overall, this is a nice and easy hike for those who want to connect with nature on a non-intense hike.

Fun Fact: The first passenger aerial tramway in North America began operation on this site in 1938…read more Of all the things to do in Franconia Notch State Park, taking a ride in the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway is one of the most unforgettable ways to see the park! a single cabin can carry up to 80 passengers, and the fee is $25 PP both ways. Take a scenic eight-minute ride in one of two enclosed cable cars to the 4,200-foot summit of Cannon Mountain. Along the way, enjoy panoramic views of the distant valleys, mountains, Echo Lake, and black bears (no we did not find any, but the guide said so :P ) Also, you'll be able to view parts of New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, New York, and Canada! Once at the summit you can hang out on the outdoor deck that overlooks the mountains or grab lunch & drinks at Cafe 4080 that's located next to the air tram. Fee: $25 PP but make an online reservation, Time is allotted and if you are late, you would have to wait for another cabin and if that is full, then wait for another cabin. our time slot was 2:!5, we reached 2:30, they stopped us and at 3:15 - there were few spots, so then they allowed us. so be mindful

Love the view location and would definitely go again maybe to try and ride/ but very niceread more

We came to the Rocks for a Spring Break trip in March. I actually had found it a couple weeks…read morebefore our trip because I was looking for a place to show my kids the process of making maple syrup. I saw they did private tours so I booked it with me and the family we were traveling with. It ended up being a GREAT experience and we had Nigel as our guide. He was very knowledgeable and kind and allowed our kids (4 boys) to interact with the process and tap some trees. We also got to sample some syrups and candies while there. It was so neat to learn about everything and walk around this beautiful area. Thank you so much for your kindness. We will remember this forever.

Each year we visit The Rocks Estate as a family event to select a Christmas Tree and wreath. After…read morethe devastating fire last year and COVID this year we were concerned about their ability to open for the season. So, we were pleasantly surprised to not only find that they were open but also had an online reservation system to support social distancing. We had a great experience, wearing masks, and came home with a great looking tree! We even spent some time chatting with the farm's manager, Nigel, about their plans for the future: a great guy! Highly recommended! And it supports the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, too.

Difficulty wise, I'd rate Artists Bluff as a 3/5. The hike is a 1 mile loop but there's a lot of…read moresteep inclines and the path is pretty narrow. I wouldn't recommend bringing young kids along. The overlook of the lake is the best part of the hike. I hiked this in June during a weekday, and there were only about 3 cars in the entire parking lot. Compared to the Flume Gorge hike, this was pretty solitary and peaceful. There were a ton of bugs and mosquitoes out and about, so bring bug spray.

It was supposed to be a short 1.5 miles loop trail, however, the trail wasn't clearly marked. Many…read morepeople came down from the same trail as how they got up to the top as they were unable to find the other part of the trail. The first part of the trail was going downhill, but that was actually right! It got more difficult and steeply toward the end of the trail (before we got up to the top). Hiking boots are strongly recommended. The view from the top was awesome, especially during foliage season. We actually went during foliage season and the trail got very crowded during mid-day. Please give yourself enough time to enjoy the view from the top, so you should leave yourself about 2 hours for this hike.

Arrive late and thankfully there was still sites available. $25 per night. Drinkable water, clean…read morebathrooms, coin operated showers. Found a level site, enjoyed a fire, ate and slept great. We chose sight 90 if leveling is a need. Bathrooms really close by. Happy with our stay & the young man in the store/check in area was great & helpful. Would recommend a stay if doing the basin, hiking trails etc of the area.

Only stayed here for a night, as a friend and I drove into Franconia from Boston and planned to…read morecamp overnight before hitting up the Franconia Ridge Loop early the next morning. The campground is conveniently located for most of the major hikes in the area. The interesting thing about being so close to 93 is that you need to constantly be "looping around" if you're trying to get into one of the neighboring towns (or off to a hike near Cannon Mountain, for example) and then back to the campsite or whatnot. I had reserved our site, #26, online and checking in to the registration desk in the campground store was quick and easy. We were given our parking receipt, warned about the bear that had been seen wandering (mostly at night - and they don't care about people...just your food), and given some basic information on showers/bathrooms and what was available on site. The store has the basic necessities for cooking, snacking, hygiene needs, and so on. Generally, the sites are pretty close together - and, because of the location, sites at the camp still sell out quickly. There was no vacancy on the night that we stayed. Having looked at the calendar weeks in advance to book space for our single night, it seems they're booked pretty solid for most of summer too. Noise/lack of privacy may be the only real issue with this campsite. While we were in site #26, the site below us was empty for most of the night (though reserved). The folks who reserved it showed up after 10pm though and were PRETTY loud while setting up and made it difficult to fall asleep (multiple people at really high volume, etc.); normally, I wouldn't have cared...but when you're waking up at 7am the next morning to hike up something like the Franconia Ridge Loop? Sleep is a necessity. (The campground also has quiet hours that are between 10pm and 7am, but I didn't really notice it being enforced.) The cars from 93 weren't as much of a noise issue though. Also, we didn't see the bear... though apparently the folks in the site above us were visited. When a trapper was making the rounds the next morning, it seems there were some massive pawprints on the back of their truck cab...so yeah, keep your food tucked away and secure, peeps! All in all? Convenient location. Might not be my pick for a long stay, but it's nice for an overnight or two and the fire pit/grate, store, and level ground are super helpful.

Lonesome Lake is a MUST. Our server at dinner suggested this hike and I am so glad that she did…read more.. always pays to ask a local expert! There is a small parking lot at the base (park next to the Lafayette Campground). My suggestion is to arrive early because it fills up. Plus it's always better to battle an uphill hike early anyways. Most of the hike is shaded, but be warned that it's pretty steep. You'll need to climb uphill for at least two miles before you reach the lake. Luckily the payoff is beautiful and you get to hike downhill the entire way back. #WORTHIT Once at the top you'll immediately have beautiful views of the lake, but make sure that you keep walking for another 10-15 minutes up the narrow trail. That will eventually lead you to a wider boardwalk area where you can lay out some towels, enjoy snacks and drinks and jump right into the lake. I'm glad we packed towels and beers because after the long steep hike I was more than happy to chill out with a drink. I honestly could've stayed all day and been content. Definitely add this hike to your list if you are in the area!

How I have I not gushed about Lonesome Lake yet?! This was by far the best hike of our trip. The…read moreuphill hike is steep and a bit tough, but the payoff at the top is so worth it. We were visiting Littleton beginning of November and spent our whole Saturday on different trails. We got to Lonesome Lake a little later in the afternoon. The parking lot was nearly full when we got there but the trails really didn't seem that crowded at all. The entire hike up is all uphill, but not too challenging. But once you see the lake at the top?? So incredibly worth the sore legs. It seriously feels unreal or from a photograph when you first see it. It was partly covered in ice but we were so heated up from the uphill trek. This lake must be pretty wonderful in the summer months when you are just drenched from the hike up and can cool off by jumping in the lake. Little tip, be sure to wander a little further once you get to the lake. You'll see a trail with wooden planks. We basically made our own little outcove off of the trail by the water so I am not sure what is alllll the way farther down that trail. We got there on the late side and didn't want to make the hike down in the dark so we only stayed for about an hour, but I honestly could have spent the whole day there. Bring snack, drinks, anything to make a supremely cozy stay at the top. If you are looking for the perfect hike, ya found it.

My six year old went skiing for the first time. She did a three hour lesson with a friend and the…read moreinstructor was so wonderful. She then spent several hours skiing afterwards. They make everything easy with rentals. We bought unnecessary lift tickets when we just needed the family lift. The online sign up didn't suggest the family lift so we spent extra $$$ on lift tickets we didn't use. The lodge could use more comfortable chairs but it was a warm place to hang out and get work done while everyone else was skiing. Food was pricy but there were options. We would come back for sure.

This review is for the instructors that taught four Florida boys how to ski last month. Ages 6-9…read moreand they were absolutely incredible with the kids. Shout out to Lobster Bob and Haiden! I was very worried to bring my kids skiing but they made me feel at ease and the kids were begging to come back. We only did one day but if it were up to the kiddos it would have been every day. Also, the food onsite here is actually really good. Their stuffed jalapenos were 10/10. Drinks were 10/10. Atmosphere was 10/10. I would love to go back!

So this is just a huge rock BUT how it was formed makes you think how amazing our world is…read more Anyways, signs are clear for the direction for this BUT you could only access if you are northbound of I-93, use the exits at flume gorge if you are from the north and traversing the southbound. There is also a viewing deck which we did not see how far it goes. Parking space is not alot but people would not stay long after taking pics

Just off Rt 93 in White Mountains. Nice picture of it here:…read morehttp://www.cannonmt.com/boise_rock.html. It's a quick 10 minute stop. The precarious balance of this enormous rock is a nice, quick photo opportunity, which has a tale to go with it, as to why it was named after Thomas Boise: a guy who apparently became stranded, killed his horse for it's hide, and was found the next day wrapped inside it. It's no more than a quick stop, but it's a nice photo to add to those you'll take of this amazing area of NH.