New Hampshire+camping
Feb 16th, 2002, 08:10 AM
#1
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New Hampshire+camping
forgot to mention the stat in which we wish to camp and see the fall colors. it's New Hampshire. Any ideas as to good tenting spots and drives to see the fall foilage? Also, what's your guess as to the dates? End of Sept, into Oct?
Feb 16th, 2002, 01:22 PM
#2
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Not sure where you are starting from, but the drive north out of the Albany NY area, along the east side of Lake Champlain, is lovely in the fall. You can see across the lake into the Adirondacks or the east to the Green Mtns. Once you get to Burlington, head south east across the state (like you are heading to Boston) and it's very scenic. Late Sept. into early October is great.
Feb 16th, 2002, 04:34 PM
#4
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For foliage, the best place in NH is Franconia Notch, near Cannon Mtn. This is right off Route 93 and the views of the Old Man on the Mountain are excellent. From Franconia Notch, you can cut over to Crawford Notch. Here there are great views of Mt. Washington and the mt. Washington Hotel. There may be a campground right at Cannon Mtn.
Feb 18th, 2002, 06:13 AM
#5
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Sue - Franconia NOtch is beautiful and a drive on the Kancumungus Highway from Lincoln over to North Conway is a beautiful drive. The campground near Cannon Mtn is LaFayette Campground and it's run by the State of NH - there are other state run campgrounds in the area some on the Kancumungus. There must be a website. Not sure how the reservation system work but I know the weekends during sept/Oct are very busy. If you can go during the week it might be better.
Feb 18th, 2002, 06:32 AM
#6
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Lafayette Campground is run by the State of NH and does accept reservations for about half of its 100 or so sites, leaving the rest available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Franconia Notch area and the Kancamagus (correct pronunciation is kan-ca-MAW-gus, not kan-ca-MAN-gus, as so many here mistakenly call it) Highway are great recommendations. As I recall, the several campgrounds on the Kanc are run by the Feds (being National Forest land), not the state.
There's also a state campground at the south end of Crawford Notch. I actually prefer Crawford Notch for leafpeeping as there are more hardwoods and therefore better color, but you can't go wrong with either and can do both in an easy day's drive, using Routes 16, 302, and 3 to complete a loop through Bretton Woods (where we had a great day of skiing yesterday, by the way) and Twin Mountain. If you do that, be prepared for some horrific traffic through North Conway, which can largely be avoided using Westside Road (ask a local when you get there).
If you feel at all like taking a not-too-strenuous hike climb Mt. Willard at the head of Crawford Notch, universally regarded as the best view for the least effort in the Whites, and easily negotiable in a pair of running shoes if you don't have boots. The trail leaves across the tracks from the old Crawford Depot railroad station, now run by the Appalachian Mt. Club, at the head of the notch and arrives in an hour or so at the top of the cliffs looking south. I have made this "climb" more times than I can count and never tire of it.
There's also a state campground at the south end of Crawford Notch. I actually prefer Crawford Notch for leafpeeping as there are more hardwoods and therefore better color, but you can't go wrong with either and can do both in an easy day's drive, using Routes 16, 302, and 3 to complete a loop through Bretton Woods (where we had a great day of skiing yesterday, by the way) and Twin Mountain. If you do that, be prepared for some horrific traffic through North Conway, which can largely be avoided using Westside Road (ask a local when you get there).
If you feel at all like taking a not-too-strenuous hike climb Mt. Willard at the head of Crawford Notch, universally regarded as the best view for the least effort in the Whites, and easily negotiable in a pair of running shoes if you don't have boots. The trail leaves across the tracks from the old Crawford Depot railroad station, now run by the Appalachian Mt. Club, at the head of the notch and arrives in an hour or so at the top of the cliffs looking south. I have made this "climb" more times than I can count and never tire of it.
Feb 18th, 2002, 07:11 AM
#7
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Dick - thanks for the correct spelling of the Kancamangus - I knew it was wrong but didn't bother to try and look it up. We time in the area and are looking forward to doing Mt. Willard and also Mt. Tecumsech this year. Any other hikes you recommend?? We did LaFayette and Mt. Mooseluike this past summer. Both were ambitious for us but we enjoyed the fruits of our labors - What wonderful views!! I just love the White Mountains.
Sandra
Sandra
Feb 18th, 2002, 08:27 AM
#8
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Here are a couple of web sites that may be helpful to you:
<yankeefoliage.com> is Yankee Magazine's site dedicated to info about New England Foliage. It has a map that shows expected peak foliage times in different areas, to help you plan your timing on where and when to go. It has lots of other useful information, too.
<nhcamping.com> is the Crawford Notch Campground's web site. I've never been there, but it looks nice from their site. The useful thing about this site is it lists lots of good hikes and walks in the White Mountains
<yankeefoliage.com> is Yankee Magazine's site dedicated to info about New England Foliage. It has a map that shows expected peak foliage times in different areas, to help you plan your timing on where and when to go. It has lots of other useful information, too.
<nhcamping.com> is the Crawford Notch Campground's web site. I've never been there, but it looks nice from their site. The useful thing about this site is it lists lots of good hikes and walks in the White Mountains
Feb 18th, 2002, 09:51 AM
#9
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Sandra, if you have climbed Moosilauke and, particularly, Lafayette you'll find Willard and Tecumseh no more than a casual stroll in the woods. Willard is worth it for the view, but the same can't be said for Tecumseh, which is one of my least memorable summits. The Osceolas, on the other side of Tripoli Road, are much more rewarding if you're looking for something in the Waterville Valley area.
Here are some of my favorite day hikes, gleaned from a bit over 25 years of hiking in the Whites - most are not particularly difficult or strenuous:
Lonesome Lake - start from Lafayette Campground and join the crowds, the view of Franconia Ridge from the lawn in front of the AMC Hut is worth it. For a bit more challenge and a little solitude continue along the shore of the pond, thence up the back side of Cannon returning to the campground on the Hi-Cannon trail for a fine loop with great views south down the notch along the way.
Mt. Avalon - right next to Willard (second left off the A-Z Trail rather than the first), but a bit more effort resulting in better views and less company.
Zealand Falls Hut - a lovely walk in the woods past beaver ponds to the falls by the hut. Continue on up to the top of the ridge for great views of the Pemigewasset Wilderness or make a loop trip by continuing up and over Mt. Hale.
Welch-Dickey Loop - off the road to Waterville Valley a half hour or so south of Franconia. Everyone's favorite, much of it on exposed rock with wonderful views. Lots of company here and be sure not to park where it says not to - they do tow.
Mt. Eisenhower - part of the ridge leading to Washington and very accessible. An easy way to get above tree line.
Ammonoosuc Ravine - heads up Washington from the Cog Railway base station. This is a real tester for both legs and lungs and exciting for its steepness. Those with strong knees and quads but without the lung capacity can take the Cog up and hike down (via the Crawford Path to Lakes of the Clouds Hut).
Tuckerman Ravine - on the other side of Mt. Washington, leaving from the AMC Pinkham Notch complex. An easy trail to the base of the Ravine (arguably the best known example of a glacial cirque), steeper thereafter, and downright challenging up the headwall, but you don't have to go that far.
Wildcat Mountain Ski Area - hiking on ski trails? Yes, with great views all the way, 'natch - in this case of Mt. Washington across Pinkham Notch. Any of the ski trails will get you to the summit (actually one of Wildcat's 5 summits), but ski trails are suprisingly steep when you're climbing up them, so take the novice (green) trail - the farthest to your left at you face the mountain.
Finally - Mt. Jefferson via Caps Ridge Trail. Take Jefferson Notch Rd, the highest public road in the state off the Cog Access Road. You'll be starting this hike from about 3000', so you get above tree line in a hurry. Challenging scrambling over the "caps" and great views, even if you don't choose to go all the way to the summit.
If you're at all serious about any of this, or maybe even if not, get a copy of the AMC White Mountain Guide, which has all the trails desribed in detail, with excellent maps.
PS - It's Kancamagus (no "n") even though NH residents and others have been verbally trying to add that "n" for many years. Probably why most folks just say "Kanc".
Here are some of my favorite day hikes, gleaned from a bit over 25 years of hiking in the Whites - most are not particularly difficult or strenuous:
Lonesome Lake - start from Lafayette Campground and join the crowds, the view of Franconia Ridge from the lawn in front of the AMC Hut is worth it. For a bit more challenge and a little solitude continue along the shore of the pond, thence up the back side of Cannon returning to the campground on the Hi-Cannon trail for a fine loop with great views south down the notch along the way.
Mt. Avalon - right next to Willard (second left off the A-Z Trail rather than the first), but a bit more effort resulting in better views and less company.
Zealand Falls Hut - a lovely walk in the woods past beaver ponds to the falls by the hut. Continue on up to the top of the ridge for great views of the Pemigewasset Wilderness or make a loop trip by continuing up and over Mt. Hale.
Welch-Dickey Loop - off the road to Waterville Valley a half hour or so south of Franconia. Everyone's favorite, much of it on exposed rock with wonderful views. Lots of company here and be sure not to park where it says not to - they do tow.
Mt. Eisenhower - part of the ridge leading to Washington and very accessible. An easy way to get above tree line.
Ammonoosuc Ravine - heads up Washington from the Cog Railway base station. This is a real tester for both legs and lungs and exciting for its steepness. Those with strong knees and quads but without the lung capacity can take the Cog up and hike down (via the Crawford Path to Lakes of the Clouds Hut).
Tuckerman Ravine - on the other side of Mt. Washington, leaving from the AMC Pinkham Notch complex. An easy trail to the base of the Ravine (arguably the best known example of a glacial cirque), steeper thereafter, and downright challenging up the headwall, but you don't have to go that far.
Wildcat Mountain Ski Area - hiking on ski trails? Yes, with great views all the way, 'natch - in this case of Mt. Washington across Pinkham Notch. Any of the ski trails will get you to the summit (actually one of Wildcat's 5 summits), but ski trails are suprisingly steep when you're climbing up them, so take the novice (green) trail - the farthest to your left at you face the mountain.
Finally - Mt. Jefferson via Caps Ridge Trail. Take Jefferson Notch Rd, the highest public road in the state off the Cog Access Road. You'll be starting this hike from about 3000', so you get above tree line in a hurry. Challenging scrambling over the "caps" and great views, even if you don't choose to go all the way to the summit.
If you're at all serious about any of this, or maybe even if not, get a copy of the AMC White Mountain Guide, which has all the trails desribed in detail, with excellent maps.
PS - It's Kancamagus (no "n") even though NH residents and others have been verbally trying to add that "n" for many years. Probably why most folks just say "Kanc".
