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.

Diana's Bath is a natural pool with some small waterfalls. The walk from the parking lot is about…read more.6 miles one way, it's a quick and easy hike to reach this gorgeous spot. There is a parking lot and we were able to find parking but I'm sure it gets full at peak times. We enjoyed the hike and the waterfalls. It was in late May so there were quite a few people there. It's a peaceful spot to relax, sit in the pool, and just enjoy nature. I'm glad my family and I got to visit during this trip!

We came here on a nice Friday around 10:00am. When we arrived there was a bit of a wait to get in…read more The parking lot is kind of small so you have to wait for someone to leave to get a spot. When you park there is a kiosk to pay that takes credit cards. At the start of the trail there is a bathroom that is just a big outhouse. It was a little rough so I recommend not using it if you get sick easy. The hike is short and easy to the water. When you get there it is a little tough climbing over rocks and tree roots. We spend time in the water. It was not deep anywhere we were so not really swimming just cooling off or sun tanning on the rocks.

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

Great trail, especially since it was early May and the park wasn't fully open yet, so this felt…read morelike the best option. Very kid friendly and also had handicap accessible viewing areas. It wasn't mind-blowing, but it was a fun little adventure and really enjoyable for what it was.

Nice place to walk. Opens at 9. Get there early before all the other tourists come and then it…read moregets crowded.

This is a fantastic public campground ($25/nt) and beach ($5/day). The water at the lake is clean,…read morewarm (in the summer), and the beach is well cared for. There are watercraft available for rental ($20/hr). The campground is professionally managed with DNCR staff ready to help. Firewood is sold on site (no outside firewood permitted) at $7/bundle. The patrons for the most part are kind and respectful (sadly, not all). Reserve online and come and enjoy this gem!

Be warned!! My family has been coming here for 60 years with no problems until last night. The…read moreranger came and said we were breaking the rules and had too many cars. We offered to move the cars in the morning and he said fine. 8am the next morning Jeremy the ranger shows up with the police and says we have to leave or we will be arrested for trespassing. This is absolutely insane and heartbreaking. My grandmother was crying. I don't understand how they can treat people like this for no reason. Read the other reviews and see that this is clearly a pattern and not a good place to stay anymore. We are heartbroken and not to mention out of hundreds of dollars we will never get back.

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.

This was sooo much fun! We spent almost 2 hours here and loved reading the educational facts along…read morethe boardwalk and exploring the caves! There were so many beautiful areas along the boardwalk. The lemon squeezer and dungeon were the most difficult but also the most fun! We got a bit muddy and wet but that's all part of the adventure! We also loved the huge birds nest at the end and got a huge laugh out of pretending to be baby birds. I would definitely come back here again!

I didn't expect to like this place as much as I did. It ended up being the best day-trip of our…read morevacation. Caves are rated a,b or c based on difficulty. I stayed away from the a's but there was still plenty for me to explore. The kids had permanent smiles and want to go back next year. Beautifully maintained. Highly recommend.

Beautiful waterfall with a really nice hike to get there. There are plenty of rocks and steps along…read morethe way, but it's not too difficult and it feels like you actually worked for the view. Lots of people were there enjoying it, sitting by the falls and doing the hike, and kids were able to make it without much trouble.

If you're in the White Mountains, be sure to stop at Arethusa Falls! We paired it on with…read moreFrankenstein Cliff, making for a perfect half day hike. If you choose to pair it on with the cliff, make sure to do that trail first and it will lead into the falls trail. The cliff trail is MUCH more challenging and is not recommended unless you are experienced with hiking. For the falls trail, I would recommend allotting 2-3 hours. It's a quick and easy trail that will take you maybe 45-1 hour each way depending on your experience, but you'll want to spend some time at the falls. Highly recommend!

Rarely does a name of a place live up to the expectations quite like Dismal Pool does…read more In what can only be described as a borderline Lampoon-meets-1980's road trip, my father decided he wanted to go to The Flume via his outdated GPS unit that took him the longest way possible. As we drove, we passed all sorts of amazing natural beauties, like Diana's Baths and Echo Lake State Park, that we didn't stop at. Once we complained about flying past all of these great things, he slammed on his breaks and whipped into the next designated scenic vista area he came across causing a cacophony of honked horns from the people he nearly crashed into during his dramatic display. The scenic vista was quite scenic... Tall mountains dipping gracefully from the sky to the land. We took the requisite selfie or seven before realizing that we were also at the home of Dismal Pool. My father encouraged us all ("you wanted to stop here, so we're stopping here!") to take the time to walk down the steep hill to absorb the wonder that was Dismal Pool. The small pond is in fact depressing, dreary, and pitiful... Defining "dismal", as it were, to a tee. It was tepid looking water against large boulders in a overgrown area of forest. We, of course, took some more photos. Because... when at Dismal Pool, do as the Dismal Poolians would do. Or... what happens at Dismal Pool stays at Dismal Pool? Some other city's saying here replaced with Dismal Pool. Honestly? There's no reason to stop here, unless you appreciate not being let down. Because what the sign says is exactly what you're gonna get. No false advertising here!

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.