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Join Allison Bell, author of Field Guide to the New England Alpine Summits, as she shares her photography expertise in this engaging evening program. Learn basics of wildlife camera operation, explore strategies for set-up and locations, and discover possibilities for natural history observations.
Highland Happenings Featured Evening Programs are FREE and OPEN to the public. For more information, please call (603) 278-4453.
The Mt. Washington Auto Road will begin its 156th season on Saturday, April 29 for guests to drive their own vehicles to treeline at 4,200 feet.
Operating hours will be 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., weather permitting. The 4.5 mile drive to treeline provides stunning vistas of the northern Presidentials and Great Gulf Wilderness offering a true taste of the Mount Washington experience!
A reduced rate of just $29 per vehicle to Drive Yourself includes: the famous bumper sticker and an audio tour on CD.
Safety considerations dictate that some vehicles cannot be permitted on the Auto Road please view our vehicle restrictions page before you visit.
Join AMC for our celebration of Earth Day! On Saturday, April 22, at AMC’s Highland Center, we’ll have an open house all day from 10am-4pm, with an outdoor picnic lunch from 11am-4pm. We’ll have family friendly activities ongoing throughout the day, including Trailhead Trash pickup, Recycled Crafts, Litter Relay, Energy Savings, Citizen Science, and more. We’ll also have representation from local conservation advocates and businesses on hand throughout the day for Q&A. This is a great opportunity for both kids and adults to get involved in conservation. The event will take place rain or shine, with lots of indoor activities in case of rain. All activities are FREE and OPEN to the public!
Activity Stations: Ongoing, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — • Recycled Crafts • Earth’s Geology • Energy Savings • Green Technology • Leave No Trace • Citizen Science
Scheduled Activities:
10:30 a.m. – Trailhead Trash Pickup
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Earth Day Outdoor Picnic
12 p.m. – Kids’ Scavenger Hunt
2 p.m. – Litter Relay
3 p.m. – Dark Skies Talk
5 p.m. – Social Hour & Meet Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust’s Rebecca Brown
For more information, please call (603) 278-4453 or visit the event page on Facebook.
You know, we have it pretty good living Northern NH. Did you know that from Littleton, NH it takes the same amount of time to drive to Montreal as it does to drive to Boston? Pretty amazing, right? Don’t get me wrong, I love Boston but over the past month, I have had the opportunity to go to Montreal twice and I have fallen in love with the city, culture, people and especially their food. Did I mention how good their food is?
Over the first weekend in April, representatives from the NH Travel and Tourism Department, the Appalachian Mountain Club, NH State Parks, and White Mountain Attractions traveled to Montreal to promote NH at the Montreal Outdoor Adventure & Travel Show (Québec’s largest showcase of outdoor gear and adventure travel experiences.)
On Friday, the day before the show, we had the unique and intimate opportunity to attend a media luncheon at Auberge Saint-Gabriel with over 50 journalists and reporters from the Montreal area. Over wine and a delicious three-course meal, we each talked about what makes New Hampshire a wonderful and easy destination for Canadians.
For two-days NH representatives talked to hundreds of Canadians about what makes New Hampshire so special. From the mountains to the seacoast, New Hampshire has everything for the outdoor enthusiast. And for Canadians, Northern New Hampshire is just 2.5 hours away.
I am lucky enough to be in a profession that I get to promote everything I love to do which is why I enjoy attending trade shows so much. I love meeting and talking to new people, I love promoting Northern New Hampshire, I love seeing people’s faces light up with excitement when talking about all there is to see and do in our region.
It was a time well spent and I am anxious to see how many Canadian visitors come to our region this summer.
Stay tuned for my next blog about taking part in the spring clearing of Mount Washington!
When the temperatures warm up under the gorgeous blue skies of spring, the sun goes to work on the snowpack at the higher elevations sending torrents of icy water cascading down from the mountains, into waiting rivers that carry it to the sea. These are the days that are perfect to go Waterfall Watching in New Hampshire’s North Country.
There are literally hundreds of waterfalls scattered throughout the region. Some are hidden, only to be seen by backcountry hikers and sportsmen, while others were conveniently crafted in the last Ice Age next to, or a few steps from, the road.
Waterfalls are beautiful any time of the year, but in the spring, they cascade at their mightiest, so it’s a good time to watch the power of nature and be mesmerized by the sight and the sound of the rushing water.
A few of our favorite falls follow:
SILVER CASCADE AND FLUME CASCADE: These twin falls are located side by side a few miles east of the Omni Mount Washington Hotel, at the top of Crawford Notch. They are located right alongside Route 302, with a parking lot across the road from both of them. (Be sure to watch for traffic as you cross, as this is a busy road!)
Both have been delighting visitors for more than a century, inspiring Thomas Starr King to write in his 1887 book, The White Hills: “The Flume and Silver Cascade pouring down from Mount Webster have gladdened the eyes of almost all visitors, for they are visible from the road.”
GLEN ELLIS FALLS AND CRYSTAL CASCADE: These falls are located relatively close to one another in Pinkham Notch, a few miles south of the Mount Washington Auto Road on Route 16. Both are well marked and accessible by an easy walk along trails.
Children will love the quarter-mile trek to Glen Ellis Falls because the trail goes through a tunnel under the roadway. The two-tiered falls are one of the loveliest, dropping about 65 feet.
Park at the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Pinkham Notch base camp and take the three-tenths of a mile walk up the Tuckerman Ravine Trail to see Crystal Cascade. It is especially impressive as Mount Washington shrugs off winter and the water drops down 60 feet to another 20-foot plunge.
BEAVER BROOK FALLS: These falls are a great treat any time of the year. Located about 2.5 miles north from downtown Colebrook on Route 145, there is a pretty little wayside with tables, so go on a nice day, and be sure to grab some picnic fixings.
The falls drop broadly over the rocks for about 100 feet.
BABY FLUME: On the downside of Route 26, a stone’s throw east from The Balsams in Dixville Notch, Flume Brook pours through Baby Flume, creating its own gorge. There is a parking area for visitors, as well as picnic tables and the gorge itself is just a few steps from your car.
HUNTINGTON CASCADES: Right across the road from Baby Flume is another Dixville Notch waterfall, Huntington Cascades. For just a few minutes of walking on level ground you’ll be rewarded by the sight of the pretty, two-tiered fan of water close to 100 feet high.
GARFIELD FALLS: This is a waterfall for the true adventurer, for it requires setting out along one of the well-maintained logging roads in Pittsburg.
For this trip, you will want to be sure the gas tank is full. Take Route 3 to Magalloway Road. Turn onto Magalloway Road, and follow it for 12.2 miles until you get to a fork in the road. Stay straight — you don’t want to go over the bridge — and continue for another mile.
There is a parking area at the head of the trail leading down to the falls, an easy hike that includes some stairs. Follow the sound of the surging water and there are the falls, a pretty 40-foot drop in the East Branch of the Dead Diamond River.
History says that Garfield Falls was such an obstacle during log drives that men would be lowered by ropes to open jams and that if the logs had wedged up too tight, they’d be blown apart by dynamite.
There is no such drama today and it is a quiet and relaxing place. Below the falls, the water continues on placidly and once summer arrives there are places where you can dip your toes if you dare.
Waterfall Watching Tips:
Be sure to wear good sturdy footwear, especially in the melting season, because the ground will be wet and the rocks will be slippery.
The warmer the day, the nicer it is for a picnic lunch! A number of waterfalls have places where you can picnic and enjoy your lunch along with the ambiance, and many local restaurants will pack you a lunch to go.
Bring along a camera and play with your aperture settings to capture the mood and flow of the waterfalls.
Use caution if tempted to climb up the rocks beside the falls — you don’t want to slip and injure yourself.
By Eileen Alexander
A combination of impeccable hospitality, top notch accommodations and amenities, and amazing views of the mountain peaks from which it takes its name, have delighted visitors to the Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa for more than 150 years.
Come April, visitors to the Grand Hotel will relish the awakening landscape, misty mornings, sunny afternoons, and the glorious mountain vistas, while indulging in some much-needed R&R.
With a plethora of amenities from which to choose, it’s easy to plan a fun-filled day, or a quieter sojourn at the famous resort. Splash in the indoor pool, indulge yourself in the award-winning Tower Spa, take a hotel history tour, continue your fitness routine in the Health & Wellness Center, visit the farm animals, or relax in the in-house theater. Connect with family and friends over a meal in the casual Harvest Tavern Restaurant or make it a special occasion and dine in the 1865 Wine Cellar and choose a bottle or two from more than 6,000 wines. At day’s end, step onto the veranda and count the multitude of twinkling stars before retiring to your comfortable room.
The Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa offers several inviting packages each season to make your stay more enjoyable. One of these will surely help you make the transition between winter’s snows and chills and spring’s promise of warmer days, leafy green trees and tulips and daffodils popping up all over.
Or plan a visit at Easter and enjoy the bounteous breakfast buffet, Easter Egg Hunt, Easter Bunny Bash, and end the day with s’mores around the campfire.
By Eileen Alexander
As the days warm up in April, northern New Englanders get ready for Season #5 — our infamous Mud Season — when roads heave as the frost leaves the ground and all the water from snow and ice melt turn some dirt roads into quagmires.
Most visitors to northern New Hampshire will want to avoid those mucky roads, but some intrepid drivers will set their sites on getting down and dirty in all that mud at the 580-acre plus Team O’Neil Rally School in Dalton, with its more than six miles of loose surface roads and two miles of off-road trails. This is your destination when you want to conquer mud, water, sand, ditches, logs, snow and ice, and rocks and rough terrain.
Sign up for Team O’Neil’s Off-Road Driving Course and learn how to maneuver in challenging driving conditions. Expert instructors will coach you through left foot braking; uphills, downhills and side tilts; winching and recovery techniques; and much, much more to help you remain safe and reach your destination intact.
Along with its Off-Road Driving Course, Team O’Neil offers a variety of adrenaline-pumping courses:
Stay tuned for Team O’Neil’s Rally Fest 2017, set for August 12 and 13. The two days will be filled with workshops, rally car rides, guided tours of the property, Sig Sauer product demos, and a Rally X Course. Gold, VIP and Rally Cross Packages are available, in addition to general admission tickets. Kids under 12 are free.
For more information check out their website, www.teamoneil.com
Contributed by Jess Walter, Freelance Writer
New Hampshire’s Grand North is the perfect place for an adventurer. From fishing to off-roading and hiking, there are so many activities that allow you to become one with nature. However, the snowy mountains and icy patches can be dangerous. It is important to take caution and always bring a handheld GPS on your adventure in case of emergencies. These devices are lifesavers in dangerous situations.
Important Features to Have on Your Handheld GPS
Your GPS should be lightweight and small so that it can easily fit in your pocket. It should also be waterproof especially if you are fishing or traveling by rivers, and have an easy-to-read screen suitable for any weather condition. It is also great to have one with a distress beacon in the event of an emergency.
Top Three Handheld GPS Devices
· eTrex by Garmin: The device has a 65K color display with a 2.2”, 240×320 display screen, making it easily legible in sunlight. There is a microSD slot on the side which provides the ability to download maps. In addition to GPS, it also tracks GLONASS satellites which load 20% quicker than GPS, and has a barometric altimeter which records altitude for additional accuracy. This can come in handy when traversing the mountains of the Grand North. The device is also Bluetooth capable and waterproof for up to 30 minute immersions.
· Montana 680 Touchscreen GPS by Garmin: Another Garmin device, the Montana 680 is GLONASS and WAAS capable and with Hotfix prediction, can maintain your location regardless of the cover and canyons across New Hampshire’s Grand North. It has many additional, nice-to-have features such as a built-in 8-megapixel camera to take great shots of the wildlife and a touchscreen that is glove-friendly for the winter temperatures in New Hampshire.
· Rino 750 by Garmin: This model is a great device to have during an emergency. It has an easy-to-read 3” touchscreen with landscape and portrait views. It is Bluetooth-capable and even has updated current weather forecasts to help you plan your activities. Another special feature is its built-in 5 Watt 2-way radio. It has excellent range and comes in handy if you are ever in a dangerous situation. The Rino 750 also offers Active Weather Support with radar, position report, and emergency alerts, making the device
June 1, 2017
Drive in the ’50s!
Classic cars, hot rods and specialty vehicles will line downtown Berlin’s Main Street from 5-8 p.m. Stop by and check out the fabulous “oldies,” enjoy music throughout the downtown, nosh on a variety of foods as you stroll along, and give a big round of applause for the winners during the vehicle awards ceremony. The free event is rain or shine. www.androscogginvalleychamber.com
June 24, 2017
18th Annual Gerry Pomerleau ATV Ride
Be part of this 1-day only experience. Climb the Mt. Washington Auto Road with the NH ATV Club during the Gerry Pomerleau Memorial ATV Weekend. Views like you have never seen before…while riding your ATV / SxS to the top of Mt. Washington! Hosted by the NH ATV Club. New this year — this will be a Pre-Sale Only event. Tickets are available online at http://www.nhatv.com/
July 4th Weekend
4th of July Extravaganza in Gorham
Gorham rings in the holiday with New Hampshire’s longest 4th of July celebration, an event that spans four days. The celebration promises hours of fun, food, and merriment, including parades, music, amusements, and a classic car show, topped off with a fabulous fireworks display. http://www.gorhamnh.org
July 13, 2017
Paddlemania
Paddle the mighty Androscoggin from Nansen Wayside to the Heritage Park in Berlin. Join us in the park for an evening of food, games & a cash bar. Paddling is not mandatory to attend festivities in the park. Fun on land & water!! A Source to the Sea Trek, sponsored by the Androscoggin Watershed Council. www.androscogginvalleychamber.com
August 4 & 5, 2017
Jericho ATV Festival Is All About The Mudd!
Spectators and ATVers get cranked over the endless opportunities to explore ATVing in every form at the Jericho ATV Festival Presented by Progressive. Mud races, demo rides, live music and delicious food are just some of the highlights of the 8th annual Festival at Jericho State Park in Berlin.
The Park itself has more than 80 miles of ATV trails, which connect with the more than 1,000 miles of interconnected Ride the Wilds OHRV trails throughout northern New Hampshire.
The Jericho ATV Festival is two days of absolute fun, including the infamous mud pit grudge runs, helicopter rides, demos of manufacturers’ new ATvs and SxS’s, a downtown block party, beer tent, torch lit ATV parade, poker run, ATV pulls, concert, lawn games and much, much more.
Festival goers will rock to the music of “Last Kid Picked” at the Heritage Park on Saturday, August 5, from 4-9 p.m.
And don’t forget the Mudd! With the Festival now in its 8th year, organizers have figured out the perfect formula and it’s going to be luscious, it’s going to be oozy, it’s going to be slimy, it’s going to be dirty, it’s going to be better than ever!! http://www.androscogginvalleychamber.com/jericho-atv-festival/
August 15, 2017
Pittsburg Old Home Day
Help Pittsburg celebrate Old Home Day. Events include an old-fashioned parade, with everything from antique cars, tractors, fire trucks and dump trucks to entertaining float designs. Vendors, crafters and food concessions are available throughout the day. Enter one of the contests and you might win a prize: photography, baking and flower arranging. Get your toes tapping with music from one of the bands and give the youngsters a big shout-out at the kids’ fishing derby. http://www.pittsburg-nh.com/living-in-pittsburg/events-activities/old-home-day
August 25-27, 2017
North Country Moose Festival
The 24th Annual Moose Festival celebrates northern New Hampshire’s largest creature with a family-centered country fair spread out over three days and encompassing the New Hampshire towns of Colebrook and Pittsburg, and its neighbor across the Connecticut River, Canaan, Vermont. A jam-packed schedule of entertainment — Moose Calling Contest, Moose Chili, Moose Cruise-In antique car show, craft fair, Bluegrass music, carriage rides, dog show, maple syrup-tasting contest and many family activities — guarantee fun for everyone. And, who knows? You might even see a moose or two moseying along the side of the road. http://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com/moose-festival.html
August 31 – September 4, 2017
Bring the Family to the Lancaster Fair, An Old-Fashioned Country Fair!
For almost a century-and-a-half, the Lancaster Fair has been an end-of-summer tradition, with plenty of variety to keep everyone in the family entertained. Along with agricultural activities like horse shows, oxen pulls and sheep dog trials, the Lancaster Fair features a colorful midway with exciting rides, 4-H exhibits, musical entertainment, and exhibition halls filled with quilts, crafts, vegetables and flowers. Add in farm tractor and big rig truck pulls, pie eating contests, tantalizing fair food, and featured entertainment and it’s easy to see why this fair spans five days and dozens and dozens of events.
One low price includes one-day admission, midway rides and concert. There is plenty of parking and camping is available on site. www.lancasterfair.com
Contact: Karl Stone
NH Grand Marketing Manager
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 603.788.2700, ext. 2143
Facebook: New Hampshire Grand
Twitter: NHGrand
Splendid Views & Colorful Foliage Are A Winning Combination
Mid-September Through Early October Offer the Best Foliage Viewing in Northern New Hampshire
LANCASTER, NH SEPTEMBER 2016 — Fall is that magical time of year when the leaves begin to change color and Mother Nature has her final fling before the cold and snows of winter. In northern New Hampshire, drive along any road, hike any trail or ride your OHRV on the Ride the Wilds 1,000-plus mile trail system from mid-September through early October for a visual treat much like opening a brand new box of crayons on the first day of school!
“Visitors come from all over the world to view the fall foliage in northern New Hampshire,” says Karl Stone, Marketing Manager for New Hampshire Grand. “Our heavily forested region, with its mixture of hardwoods, and contrasting evergreens is one of the first to erupt in vibrant autumn colors thanks to our northern location.”
If planning a foliage visit to northern NH, you’ll find dining and lodging options, along with dozens of suggested activities and itineraries at nhgrand.com.
With an abundance of driving and scenic options, a few routes offer a particularly rewarding experience:
Pittsburg & The Connecticut Lakes: Leaves begin changing color around the middle of September in New Hampshire’s northernmost town. Beginning in Pittsburg Village, head north on Route 3 toward Lake Francis and the three Connecticut Lakes. In every direction, the colorful maple trees contrast beautifully with towering evergreens.
Pack a lunch or pick one up at Young’s General Store on Main Street and savor the waning days of summer over your rustic meal at one of the picnic tables at First or Second Lakes. If you’re lucky, you may see a moose, as fall is mating season and bulls are roaming in search of cows.
Pittsburg’s border with Canada gives you a unique opportunity to make your foliage jaunt an international adventure. Bring along your passport, drive across the border and take a gander at the foliage on the Canadian side.
Leaf-peep up close and personal from an OHRV. Bear Rock Adventures on Beach Road will outfit you with the perfect machine that will have you zooming along the Ride the Wilds ATV trail system.
Pittsburg boasts a number of accommodation and dining options for anyone wanting to spend several days scoping out the region. Favorites include Tall Timber Lodge and the Rainbow Grille & Tavern, the Cabins at Lopstick and Partridge Cabins
Northern Leaf-peeping Loop: Plan to spend an amazing day (or more!) leaf peeping on this spectacular loop. Follow Route 110 east from Groveton to Stark village, with its pretty New England tableau of the white clapboard church and the historic and picturesque covered bridge over the Upper Ammonoosuc River. From Stark, the road winds through the colorful countryside and into the city of Berlin. Pick up Route 16 along the Androscoggin River, which once powered Berlin’s paper mills. The highway meanders through beautiful 13 Mile Woods (a prime moose habitat!). When you reach Errol, stretch your legs at L.L. Cote Sports Center in the center of town and say hello to the white moose inside.
From Errol, head west on Route 26 through starkly beautiful Dixville Notch. Stop for a couple of minutes to take in the beautiful scenery of Lake Gloriette and The Balsams Grand Hotel (currently closed for renovations). Continue your drive through pretty farmland and into Colebrook, with restaurants and inviting shops worth taking some time to visit. Le Rendez Vous French Bakery & Café on Main Street is a must-stop for authentic French pastries and other treats. Want to spend the night in this lively and bustling northern community? The Colebrook Country Club & Hotel offers comfortable lodging — and a nine-hole golf course.
The last leg of the journey, south on Route 3, follows the beautiful Connecticut River and brings you back to where you started in Groveton. Don’t miss Potato Barn Antiques, just south of downtown Groveton on Route 3. The 7,500-square foot former potato storage barn houses an amazing collection of authentic, local antiques.
Majestic Mountains Tour
The magnificent White Mountain peaks towering over the autumn landscape are awe inspiring, and this fall jaunt offers some of the best foliage viewing around, along with exciting attractions.
Located on route 302, the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Highland Center in Crawford Notch is your headquarters for hiking in the White Mountains and staff there can help you select the best hikes (and the most dramatic scenery) for your interests and ability. Just down the road, the white-clad, red-roofed Omni Mt. Washington Resort in Bretton Woods sits in the shadow of Mt. Washington, where early snows often dust its flanks in autumn, contrasting beautifully with the colorful foliage.
For a change of form of transportation, board the Mt. Washington Cog Railroad for a spectacular ride and panoramic foliage views as the train climbs to the summit of 6,288-foot Mt. Washington, the Northeast’s highest peak.
From Lancaster, pick up Route 2 east to Gorham. The highway winds through some of the region’s most beautiful scenery, with sweeping vistas of the Presidential Range of the White Mountains, with peaks named after presidents, including Washington, Adams, Madison, and Jefferson. The Water Wheel Restaurant in Jefferson makes a great stop for breakfast or lunch.
In Gorham, you can elect to take a side trip to the top of Mount Washington via the Mt. Washington Auto Road, with jaw-dropping foliage views.
Gorham’s delightful Main Street is dotted with interesting shops, so if you are looking for unique mementos to bring home, plan some time to shop, dine and explore. If you need to spend the night head to the Town & Country Inn & Resort, where the Labnon family has been hosting generations of families since 1956.
About New Hampshire Grand
“Experience New Hampshire’s Grand North” is the brand of New Hampshire’s North Country marketing initiative – also known as NH Grand — and is the official visitor information source for the Great North Woods and the Northern White Mountains. For more information on NH Grand, visit www.nhgrand.com, New Hampshire Grand on Facebook, and NH Grand on Twitter. To sign up for the monthly e-newsletters, visit www.nhgrand.com.