New Hampshire--Kancamagus Scenic Highway
Date: 2004-12-08
The best and worst time to drive the Kancamagus Highway is in the autumn,
when you'll more than likely be caught in a convoy of tour buses loaded
with "leaf peepers," all admiring the fury of color along this mountainous
road. The west-to-east route winds through New Hampshire's White Mountains,
climbing to nearly 3,000 feet up Mount Kancamagus. Be prepared to stop
as the road has lots of opportunities for hikes and mountain bike rides.
The drive will take you from the Pemigewasset River in Lincoln to the
Saco River in Conway. Start at Lincoln's Visitor Information Center, and
take the Kancamagus Highway (designated NH 112) east. You'll see the Loon
Mountain Recreation Area, one of the state's top ski areas and, off-season,
a nice spot for a picnic. There are also plenty of public campgrounds.
The adventuresome may wish to try mountain biking on the East Pond route, just off the highway about eight miles from Lincoln. The first leg of this trail climbs gradually to Pine Brook, where the path gets much steeper until it reaches the top of Scar Ridge. Back on the road continuing east, you'll see Big Coolidge Mountain to the north and Black Mountain to the east. Past Big Rock Campground is the Greely Ponds Scenic Area, where you can take a moderately easy five-mile hike. Continuing east on the highway you can stop at any of a number of overlooks to gaze across at Mount Kancamagus. Here, the Swift River closely follows the highway to the Rocky Gorge Scenic Area, where a short path leads to the picturesque Falls Pond.
About 15 miles west of the Saco Ranger Station (near Conway), look for trailhead markers for the Sabbaday Falls hike, which features a series of dramatic cascades in a narrow flume. And near the end of the trip, about 12 miles west of Conway, look for the Russell Colbath House, the area's only 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:
Mount Kancamagus
Sabbaday Falls
Russell Colbath
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