Days 27-32: Cog Railway, Flume Gorge, and Epic Downhill MTB Rides in The White Mountains of New Hampshire
From scenic drives and roadside waterfalls to a breath taking Cog Railway ride up Mount Washington, our White Mountains adventure was unforgettable! We explored Flume Gorge, swam in the Echo Lake Beach and Saco River, tackled downhill biking at Loon Mountain. A lunch visit to the Grand Omni Mount Washington Hotel & Resort was also spectacular. Missing our Airstream, but the adventure was worth it! 🚂🏔️🚲
Days 27-30: North Conway, Franconia Notch, and Saco River (Aug 07 – Aug 11)
Bar Harbor, ME to Twin Mountain, NH – 234 miles, 4.75 hours.
Without our Airstream Trailer, we had to adjust our original plans and opt for a hotel stay in North Conway, NH, instead of the Twin Mountain / Mt. Washington KOA campground for this leg of the trip.
During our first few days in New Hampshire in the White Mountains area, we found ourselves zipping back and forth between North Conway, Franconia Notch State Park, and Crawford Notch State Park. We came to love the scenery between Highway 302 to Highway 3. We stopped by random water falls visible from the road.
While you can visit the main attractions in 3 days in The White Mountains, NH area, I would recommend at least 4-5 days.
Echo Lake Beach
Our first full day in New Hampshire started with Echo Lake Beach at Franconia Notch State Park. Echo Lake Beach is such a peaceful, beautiful spot. The lake has these crystal-clear waters that are perfect for swimming, fishing, boating, or just floating around. There’s a nice sandy beach, picnic areas, and even places for canoe, kayak and pedal boat rentals. The last rental boats go out an hour before closure. Sadly, it was too windy that day so the park did not permit boats out there. Bummer.
By the way, do not confuse Echo Lake Beach with Echo Lake State Park in North Conway. We did. As it turns out, Echo Lake State Park is 10-minutes from our hotel in North Conway while Echo Lake Beach is an hour away. That’s how we unknowingly ended up zig zagging from North Conway to Franconia Area which was nearly an hour away!
At an elevation of 1,931 feet, Echo Lake Beach offers views of Cannon Mountain and Mt. Lafayette. The surrounding peaks are just stunning—it’s like you’re in a postcard. It’s a great place to unwind, soak up some nature, and enjoy the White Mountains with the family. Bring a snack or lunch because kids will spend hours here playing in the water and sand. Our boys did. Don’t forget to bring a shovel and bucket for the kids to play. If you do forget, no sweat. The rental shop has sand toys for sale too.
It is recommended to make reservations prior to showing up as space is limited, especially on nice weekends and holidays. You can of course, walk-in on a first come/first-serve basis.
Got an RV?
There is also a seven-site RV park, located on the north shore of Echo Lake in the parking lot. It is open year-round. Full hook-ups are available during regular camping season. The sites even has a picnic table and fire ring. Bathrooms are available seasonally at the beach but are locked at night. We did not know they had RV spots with hookups. Maybe next time!
Historical Sites along 302 in Crawford Notch State Park
We also visited the Willey House Historical Site, where we learned about the area’s tragic history. In the early 19th century, Samuel Willey Jr., his wife Polly, and their five children settled in the rugged Crawford Notch Valley. The area was known for its beauty but also its harsh and unpredictable weather.
In August 1826, after a long drought, heavy rains triggered a massive landslide on Mount Willey, sending a cascade of rocks, trees, and debris down the mountainside. In a tragic twist of fate, the landslide miraculously split around the Willey House, leaving it untouched—yet the entire family perished.
We also stopped by the Crawford Depot, a historic passenger train station surrounded by beautiful view. Learned more about the train station at the visitor center, walked the tracks, took some drone photos. Back in the day the rich and wealthy people would take this train and arrive to stay a nearby summer hotel resorts. At one point there were 30 hotels in the area but only 3 left now in operation.
Roadside Waterfall
Silver Cascade is a tall mix of plunges and cascades that flow down the southwestern side of Mount Jackson. This roadside waterfall is easily accessible by parking in the parking lot across the street and walking over Route 302 (watching carefully for traffic). This waterfall is particularly stunning during the spring melt and after a heavy rainfall.
Down by the River
Sometimes the best moments are things you didn’t plan. Driving along side 302 meant a lot of the Saco River is in your view. We spotted an area to pull over at the edge of Harts Location. Initially the kids didn’t want to get out for a photo. Before we knew it, the kids changed into their swim clothes to change. Once they were playing in the river, we couldn’t get them out. Classic behavior! As the kids splash and play in its crystal-clear waters, I captured this simple yet memorable moment.
Kancamagus Scenic Byway
Of course, we couldn’t miss driving the famous Kancamagus Highway, a scenic route known for its incredible views and access to multiple hiking and waterfall trails, including the Sabbaday Brook Trail and Sabbaday Falls. We would love to return during peak fall foliage to fully appreciate the vibrant autumn colors some day.
The “Do Nothing” Day
Day 28 – Fri, Aug 9, 2024 became a “Do Nothing” day as the boys have pitched and requested. Between all the road driving days, museums, parks & city explorations, it makes sense! Thao and I caught up on computer stuff, while the kids did some online learning, played Roblox, wrestled in the hotel room, exercised in hotel gym, and watched a movie.
Later that evening we went to Barley and Salt for dinner. We appreciated that they had a great list of allergen—which made it easy for Landon.
Day 30-32: Lincoln, Mt. Washington, Downhill MTB (Aug 11 – Aug 13)
North Conway, NH to Lincoln, NH – 41 miles, 1 hour.
World’s First Mountain Climbing Cog Railway
The next day, we rode the iconic Mount Washington Cog Railway, world’s first mountain-climbing cog railway. It offers an unforgettable ride to the summit of Mount Washington (6,288 feet), the highest peak in the Northeast. Since 1869, this historic railway has been carrying passengers up the mountain on a three-mile journey with an average grade of 25%, reaching a staggering 37.41% incline at its steepest point—one of the steepest railway tracks in the world!
The Mount Washington Cog Railway offers a choice between the historic steam engine or a modern biodiesel train to reach the summit of Mount Washington. The views along the way and at the top were breathtaking. You get panoramic vistas of the White Mountains, valleys, and distant peaks. Don’t forget to bring a warm coat or thick sweater as the temperature drops dramatically even on a hot summer day!
Our reservation for the Cog Rail way was at 10:00am. The ride up to summit was about 1-hour up and 45-minutes down, with a 60-minute stop at the summit to explore. At the top, we visited the Mount Washington Observatory, the Tip-Top House, and the iconic summit sign for breathtaking photos. There are a few gift shops to visit as well. We returned to the station at 1pm.
Riding the Cog Railway isn’t just about reaching the summit—it’s about experiencing a piece of engineering history, breathtaking views, and the thrill of climbing one of the steepest tracks in the world! Be sure to make reservations during busy season.
Historic Luxury Resort
After our ride, we stopped by the nearby Mt. Washington Hotel & Resort for a relaxing lunch and refreshments in a stunning historic setting. The Mt. Washington Hotel & Resort is a historic luxury hotel set against the stunning backdrop of the White Mountains. Built in 1902 by coal and railroad tycoon Joseph Stickney, this grand resort has hosted presidents, celebrities, and dignitaries for over a century. The hotel is owned and operated by Omni and is one of the few Grand hotels standing today.
Flume Gorge
Located at the base of Mount Liberty in Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire, Flume Gorge is a stunning 800-foot-long natural chasm with towering granite walls that rise 70 to 90 feet high. Formed over 200 million years ago, this breathtaking gorge was discovered in 1808 by 93-year-old Aunt Jess Guernsey.
The 2-mile loop trail takes about 1.5 hours to complete and leads visitors through covered bridges, cascading waterfalls, glacial boulders, and panoramic mountain views. The trail includes moderate uphill walking and stairs, so sturdy footwear is recommended. I would plan for 2-hours with kids, taking pictures, etc. There is also a museum back at the visitors center. You just need to show up before 5pm and be done by 7pm.
Reservations are highly encouraged, especially during peak season, and pets are not allowed inside the gorge. Whether you’re drawn by history, geology, or the sheer beauty of nature, Flume Gorge is a must-visit destination in the White Mountains!
Downhill Mountain Biking Resort
We had checked into another hotel in Lincoln, NH for the second part of our New Hampshire adventures. Loon Mountain Bike Park was just minutes away. This made it easy to get to our morning lessons on time without the early wake-ups to drive an hour. Spending a full day at Loon Mountain for downhill mountain biking was filled with adrenaline and super fun. The lessons are highly recommended if you are a beginner to downhill MTB. Plenty of long running green slopes. They have kid size bike rentals as well. Landon was on a 20-inch bike.
Aside from mountain biking, there are a variety of summer activities you can do. Ride the gondola skyway up. Explore glacier caves (kids will love it). View the park from the 360 observatory tower. We did not do these activities since we spent the full day doing downhill MTB. If someone in your group doesn’t do mountain biking, those are great alternative ways to enjoy the mountain.
White Mountains Visitor Center and Museum
Tue, Aug 13, Day 32 of our trip, we checked out of our hotel. Yes, the pain of loading and unloading our things to and from the car and hotel rooms. I sure miss our Airstream in these moments!
Before leaving town, we stopped by The White Mountains Visitor Center and museum. I suppose we should have visited here first to figure out attractions, and get maps to better plan routes and activities 😉
Back to Abington, MA to Grab our Belongings
On the way back to our family’s place in Abington, we stopped by John Quincy Adams House in Quincy, MA for a quick historical visit, also known as Peace Field. John Quincy Adams is the 6th President, and his father, John Adams, the 2nd U.S. President. Unfortunately the visitor center was closed on Tuesday, so we could not visit more beyond the outside of the Old House at Peace Field.
