The Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire is world famous for the incredible fall colors that line the road. I got to experience this first hand in October 2021 and can say it lived up to the hype. Here are my recommendations for having an awesome trip.
Quick Links
Timing Your Trip
What is The Kancamagus Highway
Where to Stay
Number of Days
General Tips
Stops to Make
Hikes Along the Kanc
Hikes Near the Kanc
Final Thoughts
Timing Your Trip for fall on the Kancamagus Highway
So you want to see fall colors? This means you need to time your trip right and hope for a little bit of luck. You can use this Fall Foliage Forecast and look at past years to determine when peak or near peak foliage will be. Unfortunately a storm is always a possibility and could wipe out the leaves.
I traveled from California so I had to book everything in advance. I visited the White Mountains on October 8th and 9th 2021 and lucked out with beautiful weather and brilliant colors.
What is the Kancamagus Highway
The Kancamagus Highway (also called “The Kanc”) is a ~33 mile stretch of Highway 112 in New Hampshire that winds through the White Mountains. The highway connects the towns Lincoln (west) and Conway (east). If you were to do the drive without making any stops, the trip takes about 50 minutes one way.
Where to Stay
The closest options are to stay in Lincoln, Conway, or snag a campsite along the highway. I stayed at the Indian Head Resort which is just 10 minutes north of Lincoln. Be mindful that hotels are busier and more expensive during this time.
How Many Days to Plan
I drove the Kancamagus Highway as part of a larger trip throughout New England, so I drove it just one way and stayed in the area for only one night. In the future I would love to spend a few days in the area to explore and hike more.
The number of days you spend depends how much exploring you want to do. You can certainly finish the drive in a single day while still seeing a lot.
General Tips for Driving the Kancamagus Highway
- Download Google Maps Offline
- There is little to no service along the Kanc, so download Google Maps Offline while you have Wifi
- Get a reservation for dinner if you are staying in the area
- If you want to have a nice dinner out, get that reservation ahead of time! Everywhere is still short staffed due to COVID-19. I ate at Black Mtn. Burger Co.
- Research the hikes ahead of time and consider an AllTrails subscription
- You will not be able to Google hike details since there is no service.
- Park on the street to avoid paying
- All of the parking lots along the highway require a payment, however you can park on the highway for free if there are no signs saying otherwise and you are completely off the road.
- Start early
- The earlier you start your adventure on the Kanc, the better. We started at 9am on a Saturday and did not hit traffic, though some sites were busier later in the day.
Which Stops to Make Along the Kancamagus Highway
When driving from west to east it’s important to note that the stops with view points are in the beginning, and as you get closer to Conway (east) the stops are along the river.
Hancock Overlook
The Hancock Overlook comes right after the hair pin turn along the highway. The views are expansive looking southwest over the mountain range. You only need a few minutes here for a photo op and to take in the view.
Sugar Hill Scenic Vista
Sugar Hill is another scenic overlook that looks east. The views are incredible, so much so that I forgot to snag a photo. You’ll need just a few minutes here, but don’t miss it.
Sabbaday Falls Observation Site
Sabbaday Falls is a nice stop because you can get a short walk in to get to the falls. The trail is a little under 1 mile roundtrip and is relatively flat the entire way. Unless you get here early, it will be very crowded!
Rocky Gorge Scenic Area
The Rocky Gorge Scenic Area was arguably the most beautiful stop I made, however it was also the most crowded. There is a path along the river that leads to a scenic bridge and then up to Falls Pond. Plan to spend 20 minutes to an hour and a half here.
Albany Covered Bridge
The Albany Covered Bridge was originally built in the 1800s and spans across the Swift River. This can be a quick stop, though there are some trails along the river.
Note: The bridge is not just scenic, it is very much used by cars. Be careful in the road.
Which Hikes to Do Along the Kancamagus Highway
My top hike recommendation along Kancamagus Highway is Champney Falls. I felt it was a great ‘bang for your buck’ with stretches through the forest, multiple waterfalls, and view points all in just 3, easy miles. I did this hike on a Saturday, and while there were definitely others on the trail, I would not call it crowded.
Another hike I recommend based on my research is Boulder Loop which is about 3 miles round trip and starts near Albany Covered Bridge. If you are looking for a longer hike, Mount Chocorua and Moat Mountain are good options. Mount Chocorua is an extension of Champney Falls at about 9 miles roundtrip. Moat Mountain has three peaks- to do just the South and Middle is ~6 miles and to go to South, Middle, and North is ~11 miles.
Hikes Near Kancamagus Highway
Although not along the Kanc, Franconia Notch State Park is just 15 minutes up the road and has great view points and hikes. Artist Bluff is a very popular trail which takes just 10 minutes to hike up (if you park near the lake) and has views of Echo Lake. You can also hike to Artist Bluff from the dirt parking lot that is a minute west of the lake, and this route is a little longer at 1.5 miles roundtrip.
Flume Gorge is a really popular trail, so much so that it costs $18 per adult and a reservation is required ahead of time. I opted not to do this, but it does look beautiful.
Other hikes that are not along the Kancamagus Highway but are in the area are Mount Washington (difficult, 7+ miles), Mount Pemigewasset Trail (~4 miles), Zealand Hut trail (5.5 miles), and Franconia Ridge Trail (9+ miles).
Final Thoughts
I lost track of how many times I said “wow” while driving along this highway. For a Californian, but really for anyone, the fall colors are truly stunning. I would love to spend more time in the White Mountains and do some of the hikes I researched but didn’t have time for.
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