New Hampshire’s White Mountains: Hiking, Scenic Drives, and Photo Exploration
From lush hardwood forests to majestic alpine peaks, New Hampshire’s White Mountains offer endless inspiration for photographers, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts. We visited in mid-summer, enjoying pleasantly warm days, cool nights, and the occasional light afternoon rain—which never kept us from hiking or capturing the region’s natural beauty.
Our journey began at Manchester–Boston Regional Airport, where we fueled up with a cozy cup from Hometown Coffee before driving to Lincoln. A quick stop at the ever-popular White Mountain Bagel set us up for our first adventure: hiking The Flume in Franconia Notch State Park.
The Conway granite walls of The Flume formed millions of years ago, later cut by molten lava that cooled into dark dikes. Over time, erosion wore away the main dike, leaving behind today’s striking gorge. The 2.5-mile loop includes uphill climbs, stairways, and a scenic boardwalk that brings you close to wildflowers, ferns, and mosses. Expect slow-going at times—the natural beauty attracts a steady stream of visitors.
Driving the Kancamagus Scenic Byway was another highlight, with at least four overlooks worth stopping for blue-hour and golden-hour shots. Our favorite: the sweeping views from Pemigewasset Overlook.
With just a long weekend, we focused on short, rewarding hikes with scenic water features:
Lincoln Woods and Franconia Falls Trails – We started strong with the longest hike of our trip: a 7-mile round trip combining Lincoln Woods Trail and Franconia Falls Trail. Popular and often crowded, it ends at broad, flat boulders that let you walk right across the falls. Parking can be a challenge—arrive early.
Rocky Gorge Scenic Area – A rainy start cleared the trails, allowing us a peaceful 1-mile loop around Falls Pond via the Lovequist Loop Trail. The Rocky Gorge itself is stunning after rainfall, but once the skies cleared, patience was required to get unobstructed shots.
Sabbaday Falls – This easy 0.6-mile round trip features a beautifully built walkway and footbridge to a dramatic flume and waterfall. Visiting in the late afternoon rewarded us with an empty trail and uninterrupted shooting time.
Basin Cascade Trail – A short but steep morning hike, climbing 380 feet in under a mile. The trail crosses a brook, so hiking poles are helpful—especially in rainy season. We opted for a detour to the “Baby Flume” rather than crossing, making it a 2-mile round trip that fit our schedule before heading to the airport.
For a change of pace, we rode the historic Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway—the oldest in the U.S.—and hiked to the observation tower for views of Mt. Lafayette and Mt. Flume. While the ride is quick, limited operating hours make sunrise or sunset photography challenging.
If we’d had more time, we would have loved to take the Cog Railway or drive the Mount Washington Auto Road, as well as explore more of the region’s hidden trails and alpine scenery. The White Mountains left us with incredible images, memorable hikes, and every reason to return.