Welcome leaf peepers, to one of my favorite New Hampshire scenic drives.

What Will You Find North of the Kancamagus Highway?

It’s a long one with 2 churches, 1 stone tower, 3 covered bridges, a grist mill (really in VT, but only just), and a fire tower with incredible views. This scenic drive has everything. but you will need to allow time for an all-day excursion.

Mentally preparing for your autumn trip

As I write this, summer is just around the corner, but in my head, I’m thinking about autumn! Lisa (my wife) refuses to accept that we haven’t even been to the beach yet this year. Although I count a trip to Salisbury State Park beach in April as one visit. But I agree, putting a chair out on the beach and sticking my toes in the hot sand would be nice.

And why do I mention this? It’s a reminder (maybe just to me) to not focus so much on fall that you don’t take advantage of your summer. Use my site to help make your vacation plans, and then get out to the beach or start the grill, and enjoy the warm weather! Make great memories that when combined with autumn’s incandescent colors you will have memories that will keep you warm through the chilly months. Okay, now on to this scenic drive

New Hampshire Scenic Drive

I’m starting this scenic drive in Lincoln New Hampshire but you can pick it up almost anywhere. Also, I think much of it will be colorful between the 1st to the 5th of October. (normally)

As far as how long this should take… It depends on if you get out of your car to explore the countryside. If you get out in each of these locations to photograph, hike, and explore, then this scenic route can take an entire day. or even two.

Feel free to explore several side trips at any time. If you find that you’ve spent too much time and the day is ending with only half of the list completed, remember that there’s always tomorrow.

Lincoln New Hampshire

Lincoln, NH, is located at the junction of Route I-93 and Route 112 (The Kancamagus). There are many things to explore in Lincoln, but the choice is yours. Instead of heading east on the “Kanc,” we are going back onto I-93 and heading north. Travel a short distance to Franconia Notch State Park. The gallery of images below shows a few pictures from driving through the Notch (just to entice you).

Franconia Notch

Obviously, I didn’t even have to go hiking for the for many of these pictures, but I suggest you grab your gear and take the hike/walk to the Flume Gorge Covered Bridge and the Pine Sentinel Bridge, you’ll be glad you did, as these images make clear. .

Next, will continue north on 93 and get off at Route 18 Or Profile Road. When you get to the stop sign at the end of the off-ramp, turn your head over your left shoulder and you should see the image down below. This is Cannon Mountain ski area. (6-9 Oct may yield this view)

Turn left at the stop sign and head west a short distance. You will see a parking lot on the left which is for Echo Lake. Cannon Mountain rises above the lake and you’ll have lots to explore and photograph.

Continue back North on 93 and your next turn-off will be from 93 onto Route 3 (1.8 miles) and you will follow Route 3 north until it joins with Route 302. As much fun as route 302 is to explore, we are going to ignore it today, and continue north on Route 3 through the intersection towards Carroll New Hampshire.

In Carroll, take Route 115. If you are in the mood to explore, continue and take Route 116. You can take either route as they both end up on Route 2. Both, routes 116 and 115/115A have lots of side roads to explore. Warning, this is already a long day ride!

The biggest problem is that right In the middle between 115/116/115A you will find Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge and that needs 2 to 4 hours to really do it right. Read about Pondicherry here. But if you want to continue on Route (whichever one you decided to take), go hit route 2, making a right towards Gorham.

St John’s Highland Chapel

The first church along this route is Saint John’s Highland Chapel on the corner of Black Velvet Road. (What a great road name! Are you hearing the song in your head?) It’s surrounded by a lot of different fall colors and only a few power lines. (which I removed. Digitally, not for real) Now, along route 2 as you travel, you will spot several more cute and photographic churches between Jefferson and Lancaster. How much time you spend on them is up to you… The clock is ticking…

Carter’s Tower

Down the road on the right, you will find Carter’s tower. I wrote an article about Carter’s Tower of Foolishness here. A gentleman gave me heck for the title of the article but I was quoting the other periodicals of the day. But he actually knew the people who owned it and he had been up in the tower.

Once you get done exploring and photographing the church and tower please continue on your way until you get to Gorham New Hampshire there you will look for route 16 and head north to Berlin. Once you’re in Berlin continue on to Route 16 N. and toward Milan New Hampshire.

In Berlin, watch out for 110B and make a left. Follow this until you see the signage for the Milan State park on your left.

You might also read this article on finding peak fall colors.

Milan Hill State Park and the Fire Tower

Turn onto the dirt road and proceed uphill into you reach the Ranger station and I always like to drop a few dollars in the donation bin even though I’m not staying overnight our state parks just like our national parks need your love in the way of dollars. There are also many little places to explore while there.

Once you get to the top of the hill you will easily find the fire tower and climb to the third level to view the surrounding hills. The top was closed off to visitors, but as you can see from these shots, the views are pretty nice.

There are yurts and cabins there if you want to stay overnight in a rustic setting. Finish your exploring and climb back down and continue on your way on 110B (A left from the entrance where you came in) until you intersect Route 110A then head left till you hit 110 (make a right). Route 110 will take you right to Stark New Hampshire and the Stark covered bridge (about 11 miles) and the second scenic church which is co-located with the covered bridge.

The Stark Covered Bridge and Church

Get out and explore and to get this shot, I went into the cemetery. IF… you climb into the cemetery to do some photography be mindful of where you are and be respectful of the space.

As you continue along Route 110 you will come into Groveton and just before it joins back up with route three you will find the Groveton Covered Bridge. If the colors are as good as I hope they will be for you, you should see the hills in the distance covered in the fall colors as well as through the bridge itself. The Bridge spans the Upper Ammonoosuc River.

Proceeding onto Route 3 and heading south keep your eyes open for Ocean State Job Lots store on the left, and then Route 102 on your right, it crosses the Dean Brook River and into Vermont. Here is where our Scenic “New Hampshire” Route takes a side trip into Vermont… (Shhh don’t tell…)

Guildhall Grist Mill (Vermont)

You will need to take Route 102 south out of Guildhall and 5 minutes down the road, or 2.2 miles, you will find Granby Road on your right. This is also the Old Crawford Farm property on your right after turning onto the road. The farm is on the hill and then the gristmill is just after that behind a split rail fence.

Please be respectful of the property using your best judgment as to standing on the wood fence or crossing it, as I know some people do.(a couple years back they have put up an electrifed fence so be careful) I think the wood fence adds a certain rustic quality so I choose not to shoot from inside their property.

Now you will backtrack the 2.2 miles to the New Hampshire side of the border and pick up Route 3 down through Lancaster New Hampshire.

Lancaster New Hampshire

Lancaster Covered Bridge is also known as the Mechanic Street Covered Bridge or Israels River Bridge. It’s also New Hampshire’s #31 covered bridge. There are also several nice restaurants to pick up a sandwich or heavier fare in Lancaster. From here you can head down Route 3 through Whitefield which has several scenic opportunities if you have the time and the light has not left the sky yet.

This will bring you down to Route 302 and you can continue on Route 3 or Route 302. If you’re plum-tuckered out and want to get back to Lincoln, then at Whitefield, turn onto Route 116 and take it back to Lincoln.

Now you’ve done a complete scenic drive in the northern White Mountains area of New Hampshire. If you did this in less than four hours, Go back and do it again because I’m betting you missed quite a few things. 🙂

Have a great fall foliage day!

Jeff Foliage Folger

Autumn is a state of mind more than a time of year – Jeff Foliage

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