Scenic Drive to Explore Tamworth New Hampshire

If you take your time exploring Route 113, I’m sure you will find more than I’m putting down here. We’re going to look at 3 different areas.

Chocorua Park at the junction of Routes 113 and 16
Town of Tamworth
The Roads around Tamworth

The best times to visit these areas are 9-20 October no matter what the year is doing. IF the year is running late then 14-25 October.

Historic wooden dam In Chocorua Park

Chocorua Park wasn’t anything but the Dam and stream passing through the woods until some residents raised money and made it into a real park. Today there is a small parking area, picnic table, and benches. As you get closer you will hear a low rumbling or thrumming coming from the dam. You see, the river flows over the lip of the A-Frame “wooden” dam at the edge of the park, causing the noise.

During summer and fall, you walk down the steps and you pass by the trees lining the path. You approach the stream coming from the dam’s cascading water and there is a small wooden arched bridge to walk to the other side.

If you are careful you can climb up on the rock wall and photograph the fall foliage reflections on the surface of the pond. It was hit or miss as far as the sun was concerned that day, and the reflections of the fall foliage colors and houses are just fine when it’s slightly overcast.

If you want to read about the historic wooden dam follow this link or visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/chocoruapark

Tamworth Village

So now you continue on 113 and it splits into 113 and Page Hill Road. I honestly don’t think I’ve taken Page Hill Rd and if you do let me know what you find. They merge up about 2 miles or so west. So which ever way you take you will come to an intersection of 113 and 113A. You will continue a little distance and you are in Tamworth.

Tamworth is a charming small town nestled in the Southwestern White Mountains, offering visitors a quintessential New England experience. The town is rich in history and natural beauty, with its picturesque streets and colonial architecture providing a quaint and relaxing atmosphere. One of the town’s highlights is Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm, where visitors can explore a working farm and learn about the life of a country doctor in the 19th and 20th centuries. Nature lovers can also enjoy Chocorua Lake, a short drive up Route 16 and it is known for its stunning reflections of Mount Chocorua and tranquil surroundings, perfect for kayaking, fishing, and photography.

The town is home to The Barnstormers Theatre, one of the longest-running professional summer theatres in the country, offering entertaining plays in a cozy, historic setting. There is also “The Other Store” which has a little of everything from candy to ice cream, hardware items, and general items needed on a daily basis. Tamworth provides a peaceful yet engaging escape in the White Mountains region.

As you leave town on 113, you will notice your GPS says, it is now Cleveland Hill Road.

The Roads around Tamworth

From here I will give you a “few” pointers. You see, while I have driven through a bunch of roads in this area, It has been several years since I was in this exact area. Basically things change, trees get taller and maybe fall down, or people put up houses and block the views. So this is a “Starting Point” and where you take it from here is up to you.

Let us continue on Cleveland Hill Road and see what we can find. Almost immediately you will come to a Cenotaph, What is this BIG boulder with a memorial on top? Well, I wrote a bit about that in this article and you can go and find out about it.

Cleveland Hill Road

So if it isn’t already it will give way to a dirt road. It’s fairly wide and little traveled. I was driving up looking at the low rock wall and the Beautiful rustic homes when I noticed a break in the trees and there in the distance was Mount Chocorua in all its glory. I pulled over and ensured traffic could see my car from both directions. Now I’m not going to say much more but… I wrote about some of the areas around Tamworth in this article and you’ll get more in this article.

Map of the area around Tamworth NH

Now it’s going to be very hard to really make out all the areas I’ve underlined or circled and if you have the New Hampshire-Vermont Gazetteer (pick it up in my Amazon store) turn to page 60. If you want to go the Google route click this link to open a Google Map like you see below.

Upon closer inspection, you will see I have kinda-sorta drawn a circular route starting at Route 16, through Tamworth, out past the Durgin Covered Bridge, up North on Route 113A going past the Wonalancet Chapel coming East on 113A to Fowlers Mill Rd, and coming down from the hills to Lake Chocorua and the wooden bridge at the southern end. BUT There area a TON of roads to take in this area so dig into your Gazetteer and make a plan to thoroughly explore Tamworth New Hampshire.

Durgin Covered Bridge

I’m going to leave this mostly alone because I wrote an article a few years ago on finding the Durgin Covered Bridge. Finding this covered bridge had taken me a while because it lies off the beaten path. Well, you can add it to your Gazetteer so when you come to New Hampshire it won’t be too difficult.

Wonalancet Union Chapel

If you head up 113A looking North you will want to travel slowly because a 1/4-1/2 mile before you get there you should see the Chapel set against the hillside behind it. If you hit it right you may see the white church against the hill full of fall colors.

In checking Google Street View, I did not see any spots to pull off in. So choose wisely. Remember these fields belong to someone and if there are crops there, they will not be happy if you are tromping through their crops.

Great Hill Fire Tower

This is another scenic viewing spot that I noticed in my Gazetteer. There are ALWAYS, new things to find. If you go back to just after you arrive in the town of Tamworth, on the right (heads North of town) is Great Hill Road. There are some specific directions on the NH Family Hiking page, click here. This is no longer an active fire tower but is maintained for visitors. You climb to the top and it is open on all four sides and each side has a map panel to show you what you are looking at.

*Note: Chris Whiton from White Mountain Images warned me that he had heard in the recent past that there was a nest of wasps/hornets at the top of the tower. So keep this in mind.

Length: 1.0-mile out-and-back, Difficulty: Beginner, Elevation Gain: 300 feet, Rating (click for info): 7/10. Elevation: 1290′.

Fowlers Mill Road

I only took this road because it had the word “Mill” in it and I had no idea where it would lead me. *note, I never saw a mill of any kind along this road 🙁

I drove along enjoying the woods when I looked out my window… Yeah, I know, Right?

There were a few locations along my route that provided views of Mount Chocorua AND wonderful fall colors. One thing I suspect is that since it has been 10 years, there may be more houses getting in the way of the view… Time will tell what you find… (Remember, everything changes)

Then I continued on and started to descend in elevation, I passed a bunch of very nice houses (no views to be seen) and the road kept dropping down until I came out onto the same wooden bridge that many of you have seen so many times at the southern end of Lake Chocorua. This brings us to the end of your journey. On average I would expect to spend 3 hours exploring and up to 5-6 hours if you really get involved in the search for the fall colors of New Hampshire.

Jeff Foliage Folger

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

Visit my Amazon affiliate store for items that Lisa and I have curated for you. These items are either New England-made or things we think will make your fall foliage trip more successful.