Reflections of Fall: A Hidden Gem at Wiley Pond in Crawford Notch

This scenic spot along Route 302 in Crawford Notch, New Hampshire, showcases Wiley Pond, with stunning reflections of Mount Willard and the Webster Cliffs. This breathtaking location is especially beautiful during the fall when the vibrant foliage is mirrored on the calm waters of the pond, offering a captivating view that attracts photographers, hikers, and nature lovers alike.

Crawford Notch is one of the great roads to travel during a New England autumn. and this view will never be seen unless you do something that is very hard to do…

Crawford Notch, Mount Willard, and Webster Cliffs

Crawford Notch (Route 302) is one of those roads you can take every year and you can find something new every year. I have been driving the Notch for 20 years and it wasn’t until 2023 that I felt the need to stop at the Wiley Pond. (I mean it’s a tourist stop how good could it be…?) (Oh stop laughing)

Whether driving north or south you won’t see this view until you get out of the car and look back towards Mount Willard and Webster Cliff. This was the late afternoon at almost 4 PM. *Note If I had hit it much later, the sun would have been well below the western hills and Webster Cliffs would have been in shadow..

Once you get out of the car you “could” check out the souvenir shop but I suggest you explore the pond and boardwalk first and take your first batch of pictures. There are picnic spots around the pond and you could have lunch and just enjoy the view.

Then you could go and check out the shop (I hear the fudge is wonderful) and then wander back out to explore the pond again, one more time to see what the new position of the sun has done to the landscape.

Addendum: This is an article that I think is very important. So I’m including a link to my fall foliage primer. It may provide answers to your queries, but if it doesn’t, feel free to leave a comment at the end of the article.

Mount Willard

Towering over the northern end of Crawford Notch, Mount Willard provides one of the most accessible and rewarding hikes in the region. The hike to its summit is relatively easy, (1.5 hours round trip) but the payoff is incredible, with sweeping panoramic views of Crawford Notch and the surrounding mountains, making it a perfect spot for families and casual hikers.

Webster Cliffs

These dramatic cliffs rise above the Eastern side of Crawford Notch, providing a stunning contrast to Mount Willard to the North. The Webster-Jackson Trail leads hikers along a steep and rugged path to the top, where they are treated to stunning vistas of the notch below. The cliffs are a popular spot for more experienced hikers seeking a challenge. (Not for old folks like me)

Too many miles means little exploring

Right now if you did this the way I suggested, you would have spent around an hour on this one spot and maybe you are starting to panic that you are missing the fall colors somewhere else… The problem is you are, I admit it, I feel the same thing when visiting these places.

People write to me all year (or they leave questions on my blog) about how to get the biggest bang for their $$ and not miss ANYTHING… Well, it can’t be done!

If you want to drive from sunup to sundown you will cover a lot of territory but you will miss exploring magical places like this spot.

I drove by this over and over and I never stopped without considering that IF they built a souvenir shop here then there was Probably a good reason for people to stop. Yes, I like to tell people to ignore the heavily trafficked locations and find less well-known spots but the popular places are that way for a reason…

Jeff Foliage Folger

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

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