Favorite Route Through Sugar Hill
This is one of my favorite fall foliage routes in New Hampshire.
I have so many routes that I love to take that I can’t call one particular one my #1 favorite but it’s in my top 4 or 5. 🙂
If you don’t know what or where Sugar Hill, New Hampshire is, then read on. Years ago, I had heard about Sugar Hill, and I heard folks in forums talk about it but I had never been there.
I was traveling up New Hampshire’s Route 93 on a rainy, overcast day a few short years ago and pulled off in Lincoln, NH to fill up my tank and coffee cup (both are equally important to me!).
For some reason, I decided not to do the “Kanc,” (the Kancamagus Scenic Highway, a 34-mile scenic byway through the heart of the White Mountains). Maybe it was the siren call of exploring a different route that led me to head west on Route 112 toward Woodstock, NH.
Route 112 heads west through Woodstock NH, and can be a little difficult to follow, but it’s not too hard to stay on track. Route 112 is also called Lost River Road. If this route is at full peak color, you’ll probably want to stop for photos every two minutes, but if you can keep that in check for a few miles, there’s an incredible spot ahead.
First stop: Beaver Pond
From exit 32 off 93, set your trip counter to zero and head west. You will travel 6.2 miles to the Beaver Pond pull-off. It will be on your left with a parking lot for 10-15 cars. I always stop here to see how it is looking.
Early morning or late afternoon can provide some dramatic light here. The image above was a foggy overcast morning around 7ish and combined with a mirror reflection proved to be a good time for fall colors. I have a more detailed article about photographing at Beaver Pond you can read.
After you leave here, continue to travel 4.6 miles to route 116 taking the right-hand turn. The next 5.4 miles will be very scenic and you will be on the outer edge of the White Mountain National Forest for most of it. Along the way, Route 116 will also become Easton Road and when you hit the 5.4-mile mark, there will be a left-hand turn onto Sugar Hill Road.
Next, you will come to a T-intersection where you will make a right and then an immediate left onto Easton Road. Go about 2/3 of a mile to where there is a house on the hill to your right and their barns on the left.
Second stop: Farm and barns on Easton Road
There isn’t usually much traffic but it does happen, so pull off as far as you safely can. Here as you look left across the road, you will see the landscape climb sharply upwards to the top of Bronson Hill.
If you time this right, your eyes should pop out of your head with the color since this valley seems to be more than 80 percent sugar maples.
Now you may continue or, if you have a good map/GPS, you can explore the other two roads — Hadley and Toad Hill. You can read about them and a couple of other side trips in this article.
Third Stop: Sugar Hill Meeting House
You will see on the map they all end up meeting on route 117. You are now in Sugar Hill, NH, and if you take a right and go 1,000 feet you’ll have the Sugar Hill Meetinghouse on your left.
Now, the purpose of this article is to whet your appetite and explore this area on your own. There are many shops and B&Bs in this area, and if you just look a little farther ahead on the left you will see the famous Polly’s Pancake Parlor which will whet your appetite in another way. So with that, I’ll leave you to think about all the maple syrupy goodness.
Now if all the maple syrup isn’t enough then how about three covered bridges in the surrounding area of Sugar Hill? All of these covered bridges are south and west of Sugar Hill but you are going to have to locate them. 🙂
Jeff Foliage Folger
Autumn is a state of mind more than a time of year – Jeff Foliage
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Tomorrow we are going to start from Woodsville (from the only Motel we find with room… yes we haven’t booked anything in advance! :-S).
I think we can do the Sugar Hill loop you suggested and than go to Sandwich for the fair. Some suggestion? Something to add? Maybe the Gondola of Loon Mtn. or an hit to Castle in the Clouds? Uhmmm to many things to do!
Monday the 10th we are going to the Kanc in the morning, outlets at Conway and Mount Washington (by auto how much time it takes?).
Do you think it’s better visit the Kancamagus the 11th? It will be less trafficated?
Thank you again.
p.s. today at Stowe we found better color, but we noticed trees without leafs… damn Irene!?
Monday the 10th we are going to the Kanc in the morning, outlets at Conway and Mount Washington (by auto how much time it takes?).
Do you think it’s better visit the Kancamagus the 11th? It will be less trafficated?
Well the plans sound good to me. and yes the Kanc will be less traveled on Monday since many folks will be heading home on Monday.
The loon mtn sounds good and the ride up Mt Washington is good fun.. there are no railings so you look right down into the valley.
Have fun
We’re starting to get close to that time again… I hope it’s as good a fall as I think it will be!
Coming all the way from Southern California to see the beautiful colors. About 1956, during the Summer I worked at the Sunset Hill House and did the printing for stationery for Incoming Guests and a weekly Program. The B & M brought passengers to Sugar Hill from New York and Boston with a Steam Engine! Great time in my life. Also helped out Caddying and running the Elevator!
Wow, that is some history and great memories. In the end that is all we have but it sounds like a fun time.