12 EPIC Things to Do in the White Mountains in 2027 (By a Local)

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The White Mountains of New Hampshire hit different. Every time I drive up I-93 and those granite peaks start rising around me, I get that same rush of excitement I felt on my first visit. There’s something magical about this place that keeps pulling me back, whether it’s hiking the challenging trails of Mount Washington or watching the sunset paint Franconia Ridge in pure gold.

After countless weekends exploring the best things to do in the White Mountains, from chasing waterfalls at Flume Gorge to riding the historic Mount Washington Cog Railway into the clouds, I’ve totally fallen for this wild corner of New England. The mix of rugged mountain beauty and classic New Hampshire charm gets me every time. Let me share the spots that make this place so special.

• 🏔️ My #1 tip: If the Kancamagus Highway is on your list, download this self-guided audio tour before you lose signal. It tells you the story behind each waterfall and overlook as you drive past, with zero cell service needed.

Best Things to Do in the White Mountains at a Glance

I’ve been road-tripping up to the White Mountains from Boston for years, and these are the spots I send friends to first. The full list below covers 12 of the best things to do in the White Mountains, but if you only have a weekend, start with these five. They’re all within about an hour’s drive of each other, which makes them easy to string together.

1. Mount Washington Cog Railway: The world’s first mountain-climbing train, with winter rides to Waumbek Station through early May 2027
2. Flume Gorge: A boardwalk through an 800-foot granite gorge to a 45-foot waterfall, reopening in May 2027
3. Kancamagus Highway: 34 miles of mountain views and zero gas stations, at its best from late September to mid-October
4. Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves: 11 boulder caves to crawl through, marking 175 years since the first was discovered in 2027
5. Franconia Notch State Park: Free stops like The Basin and the Old Man of the Mountain memorial, plus Franconia Ridge for serious hikers

I’ve mapped every stop in this guide below, with a pin for each place I mention. Save it to your phone before you go, because cell service disappears fast on the Kanc and in the notches. It’s the easiest way to see how close everything is and plan a route that doesn’t zigzag across the mountains!

• Tip: The Whites host retreats through the fall, mine included. Inspire Retreats runs through a long weekend built around these mountains rather than just spent near them.

1. Mount Washington Cog Railway

Why hike all day up the Northeast’s highest peak when a train from the 1860s will do the hard work for you? The Mount Washington Cog Railway was the world’s first mountain-climbing cog railway when it opened in 1869, and it still grinds its way up to the 6,288-foot summit. A gear under each engine locks into a toothed rail between the tracks, which is how the train clings to a 37% slope without sliding back.

For me, this is one of the things to do in the White Mountains you can’t miss, and the steam train is the way to ride it. Its coal-fired engine dates back to 1908 and climbs slower than the modern biodiesel trains, with a whiff of coal smoke drifting past the windows. Steam seats for the Thursday through Sunday summer departures vanish months ahead, while the biodiesel trains reach the top in about 45 minutes and are much easier to book.

Mount Washington bills itself as the home of the world’s worst weather. The summit once recorded a 231 mph gust to prove it! I advise checking the Observatory’s forecast that morning and bringing a jacket, then grabbing a spot on the summit deck for views that reach Quebec and the Atlantic on a clear day. From late October to early May 2027, trains turn back at Waumbek Station at 4,000 feet, where you can roast s’mores by the fire pit and admire the snowy peaks at a lower fare.

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2. Flume Gorge

In 1808, a 93-year-old named Aunt Jess Guernsey went trout fishing and stumbled onto a giant crack in the side of a mountain. Her family took some convincing. Two centuries later, crowds still line up to see what she found at Flume Gorge. It’s an 800-foot gorge at the base of Mount Liberty, with granite walls up to 90 feet high and barely 12 feet apart in places.

A wooden boardwalk clings to the walls as you climb, with mist drifting up from the brook below. At the top, Avalanche Falls drops 45 feet right beside the path. Keep an eye out for the spot where a huge egg-shaped boulder once hung wedged between the walls. A storm swept it away in 1883, and nobody has ever found it.

The full loop covers 2 miles and takes about 90 minutes, with far more stairs than you’d expect from a “nature walk.” I recommend booking a morning slot online, since tickets are $3 cheaper and fall weekends sell out. After a rainy spell the waterfalls roar, which is my favorite time to go. Leave the dog at home, as pets aren’t allowed. The boardwalks come down once the season ends in late October, and the gorge reopens in May 2027.

3. Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway

Cannon Mountain is a 4,080-foot peak in Franconia Notch State Park, and its famous aerial tram has officially retired. The red and yellow cars, nicknamed Ketchup and Mustard, made their last public trip in fall 2025 after 45 years. A replacement is planned, but costs have climbed and there’s no opening date, which means no tram rides in 2027.

The summit is still yours if you’re willing to earn it. I recommend the Kinsman Ridge Trail, which starts in the old tram parking lot and climbs about 2,100 feet in 2.2 miles. It’s short but steep, and your calves will file a complaint. Near the top, open ledges look straight across at Franconia Ridge, and a wooden observation tower marks the summit.

In winter, Cannon has the highest ski summit and longest vertical drop in New Hampshire. It’s known for steep, challenging terrain, and with the season opening in late November. Non-skiers can visit the free New England Ski Museum at the base, home to Bode Miller’s Olympic medals and a vintage tram car. I advise checking its hours before you go, as they change during tram construction.

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4. Kancamagus Highway Scenic Drive

The Kancamagus Highway is one of the prettiest drives in New England, and the first challenge is saying it. It’s pronounced kank-uh-MAW-gus, which is why locals just call it the Kanc. This 34-mile stretch of Route 112 links Lincoln in the west with Conway in the east, winding through the White Mountain National Forest and topping out at 2,855 feet. There isn’t a single gas station or billboard along the way.

Driving straight through takes about an hour, but I recommend giving it half a day. Sabbaday Falls is my favorite stop, with an easy 0.3-mile walk to a waterfall that squeezes through a narrow granite chute. On a hot day, Lower Falls has river pools where swimming is allowed. Rocky Gorge is better for stretching your legs, with a footbridge over the rushing Swift River. For the classic postcard view, pull into the C.L. Graham Wangan Grounds Overlook.

Fill your tank in town and download offline maps before you set off, because cell service vanishes soon after you leave. Fall color on the Kancamagus Highway usually peaks from late September to mid-October, which is the window to aim for in 2027. I advise driving early on a weekday, as foliage weekends turn the road into a slow parade. The Kanc stays open all winter, and whatever the season, keep an eye on the wetlands for moose at dusk.

• 🚗 Pro tip: No signal on the Kanc? No problem! This Kancamagus Highway audio tour plays automatically as you drive and works completely offline.

5. Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves

In 1852, a boy named Lyman Jackman was fishing with his brother when he slipped through a mossy hole and dropped 15 feet into a cave. He landed in a waist-deep pool, and the brothers soon found more caves nearby. Today, Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves in Kinsman Notch, about 6 miles west of North Woodstock, lets you explore 11 of them from a wooden boardwalk. The river slips out of sight beneath the Ice Age boulders in places, which is why it’s called the Lost River.

The loop covers about a mile but climbs more than 1,000 stairs. I recommend giving it at least an hour. Some caves are an easy walk-through, while the Lemon Squeezer makes you pass through an 18-inch gauge before you even try it. The Cave of Silence is my favorite oddity, as it’s the only spot where you can’t hear the river. If caves aren’t your thing, walkways bypass every one of them.

Wear shoes with good grip that can handle mud, and leave the sandals in the car. I advise booking online, as tickets cost $4 less and time slots can sell out. The bottom of the gorge stays cool even in summer, so I’d recommend layering up. The gorge closes in mid-October and reopens in May 2027.

6. Franconia Notch State Park

Franconia Notch State Park is an 8-mile mountain pass on I-93, and you could fill three days here without driving more than 15 minutes at a time. The highway winds between the Kinsman and Franconia ranges, with Flume Gorge at one end and Echo Lake at the other. Parking in the park’s lots costs nothing, and neither do the best roadside stops.

My favorite free stop is the Old Man of the Mountain Memorial. The famous granite face collapsed in 2003, but seven steel “profilers” let you rebuild him. Pick the one labeled for your height, look up at the cliff, and he’s back! If you’ve brought bikes, the paved Recreation Path follows the notch for 8.7 miles. I recommend riding it north to south, which lets gravity handle a 750-foot descent.

For big hikers, Franconia Ridge is one of the best things to do in the White Mountains, with nearly the whole loop above the trees. Part of the Falling Waters Trail now follows a new route near Cloudland Falls, and I advise grabbing the updated map before a 2027 hike. Get there early on weekends, because the Lafayette Place lots fill fast and roadside parking is illegal. When they’re full, a weekend hiker shuttle from Cannon Mountain’s base lot picks up the slack.

7. Bretton Woods

Bretton Woods sits at the western foot of Mount Washington in Carroll, New Hampshire. It’s best known for its ski area, the largest in the state, and the Omni Mount Washington Resort, a grand hotel that’s been welcoming guests since 1902. The Cog Railway is about 6 miles down the road.

The ski area operates year-round. The Skyway Gondola climbs to a mountaintop lodge with views of the Presidential Range, and kids 4 and under ride free. In summer and fall, I recommend the Canopy Tour, which sends you through the treetops on 10 ziplines (the fall foliage is epic). Winter is ski season, usually kicking off in mid-November.

Across the road, the Omni Mount Washington Resort is the huge white hotel with the red roof. In 1944, world leaders met here to create the International Monetary Fund. The hotel turns 125 in 2027 and just finished a full renovation. Even if you’re not staying, I recommend a drink on the veranda at sunset, and the staff love sharing the story of the ghost in room 314!

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8. Alpine Adventures

Want to see the White Mountains at 60 mph? Alpine Adventures in Lincoln has ziplines that fast, plus off-road tours up its own private mountain in six-wheeled Swiss Army trucks. It’s open all year and sits right on Main Street, a few minutes from the start of the Kancamagus Highway.

I recommend the SkyRider for the full experience. You zip across a ravine 240 feet up, and the first drop had me gripping the harness with both hands. For kids 5 and up, the Tree-Top Canopy Tour is lower and slower but still a thrill.

The off-road tour is my pick for anyone happier strapped into a seat. The six-wheeled Pinzgauer crawls up Barron Mountain over rocks and roots, and kids as young as 3 can come along. Just know that everyone gets weighed in their tour clothes before ziplining, and there’s no refund if you’re over or under the limit. Alpine is open Friday through Monday year-round, with zipline tours back in spring 2027. Bring a change of clothes. Trust me!

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9. Diana’s Baths

Diana’s Baths is a set of waterfalls and natural pools on Lucy Brook, a short drive from North Conway. The name sounds like a day spa, and honestly, the waterfalls are more relaxing. A flat, wide path of just over half a mile gets you there.

When the sun’s out, I rank wading here among the best things to do in the White Mountains. Kids leap between the pools, and the cool water feels amazing after a hike. I recommend water shoes, as the granite is slippery even where it looks dry. Back in the 1860s, the Lucy family ran a sawmill on this brook, and you can still see bits of it by the falls.

The one headache is parking. The lot charges $5 a day, fills early on summer weekends, and roadside parking gets ticketed. I advise arriving by 8 a.m. or coming later in the afternoon. The trail is open year-round, and in winter, the frozen cascades are a great reason to visit with microspikes on your boots.

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10. Story Land

Story Land is a fairy tale theme park in Glen, built for younger kids and the grown-ups who remember it from their own childhood. It opened in 1954 with exactly one ride, an old fire truck named Freddie. Today it has more than 30 rides and attractions, plus Cinderella waiting in her castle.

If your kids have never been on a roller coaster, I recommend starting with the Polar Coaster. It winds through a fake ice cave full of penguins and snowmen, and it’s tame enough for preschoolers. For bigger kids, the wooden Roar-O-Saurus is faster, and on a hot afternoon, Moo Lagoon is the place to cool off. Turtle Twirl and Crazy Barn are back too, after a two-year break.

My best tip is to get there right when the gates open, before the lines build. Outside food isn’t permitted, which means planning to eat in the park. The season ends with Happy Hauntings, a not-too-scary Halloween event on fall weekends from late September through October. 2027 passes are already on sale, and the Gold and Platinum tiers include perks like free Happy Hauntings entry. Adults can also book Nostalgia Nights, when the park opens in the evening for ages 21 and up.

11. Whale’s Tale Water Park

Did you know that you can surf in the White Mountains? Whale’s Tale Water Park in Lincoln has a surf simulator called Akua Beach, plus the only wave pool in the region. It’s a summer water park just off I-93 at Exit 33, and it lets you bring a cooler and park for free.

If you’re feeling brave, start with Poseidon’s Voyage. You step into a capsule, the floor drops out, and gravity handles the rest. Eye of the Storm goes by the big toilet bowl, and you’ll understand why when it spins you around and flushes you into the pool. Once your heart rate settles, I recommend a slow lap of Jonah’s Escape, a quarter-mile lazy river under a covered bridge. Tired hiking legs will thank you!

On chilly mountain days, Castaway Cove has a heated pool and three hot tubs, which feels like cheating at a water park. The season is short, and in 2026 the park closed before Labor Day, which makes July the safest bet for 2027. I advise booking online and filling out the waiver ahead of time, as busy days sell out. Watch for the holiday sale for cheaper 2027 tickets, or arrive after 2pm for discounted entry.

12. Santa’s Village

It’s Christmas in July at Santa’s Village, and also in August, November and December! This family-owned theme park in Jefferson has been celebrating the holidays on its own schedule since 1953. You’ll find rides with names like Rudy’s Rapid Transit Coaster, reindeer to feed and Santa himself.

The Elfabet game is the hidden hit. Kids get a card at the gate, then track down elves around the park who each carry a hole punch for one letter. A full card wins a prize. I also recommend saving room for the Sugar n’ Spice Bake Shop, where kids decorate their own gingerbread men with as much frosting as they dare. On hot summer days, the Yule Log Flume and the Ho Ho H2O water park are the places to be.

For full holiday magic, visit during Christmastime, on weekends from early November until just before Christmas. Capacity is limited and tickets are online only, and I advise booking the moment dates go on sale. Dress warmly, because evenings in Jefferson are cold, and the coaster sometimes closes if it snows. Looking ahead to 2027, the park reopens in spring, with daily hours in summer and weekend events through the fall.

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