White Mountains is home to wildlife refuge, nature center, and more science fun
Mount Washington Museum
At the Summit of Mount Washington
North Conway, NH
Phone: 603-356-2137
Open: May to mid-October, daily, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., weather permitting
The visitor will find displays about the weather on the mountain - which ranks with the worst in the world - and the reasons for the severity of Mount Washington's meteorological conditions. A special feature of the Museum is the new Weather Discovery Room, which helps visitors explore the weather phenomena of Mount Washington and how they are observed and recorded. There are exhibits on the geological history of the Presidential Range, with rock strata which date back 400,000,000 million years, and, more visible, the effects of continental ice sheets which scoured the landscape several times over the last million years. Cost: Adults, $2.00; children age 6 to 12, $1.
Mount Washington Observatory Resource Center
2936 White Mountain Highway
North Conway, NH
Phone: 603-356-2137
Learn about Mount Washington and the weather observatory at its summit. Open year-round. Admission is free.
Mount Washington State Park
Route 302
Sargent's Purchase, NH
Phone: 603-466-3347
Mount Washington is the highest mountain in the Northeast U.S. and this park the opportunity to get to the summit and enjoy the incredibly scenic view. The summit building, along with the historic Tip Top House stand at the top of this 6,288 foot peak. This can be reached by hiking or climbing to the top, taking the scenic, winding road, or the Cog Railway. There are fees charged for both the railway and the drive.
Museum of American Weather
South Common
Haverhill, NH 03765
Phone: 603-989-3167
Open seasonally
A museum dedicated to American weather. Of particular interest are exhibits devoted to four severe New England weather events: The blizzard of 1888, the 1938 hurricane, the Vermont flood in 1927 and a tornado that hit Worcester, Massachusetts. Open seasonally. Admission is free.
1251 Eaton Road (Route 153)
East Madison, NH 03849
Phone: 603-367-8896
Toll-Free: 800-FREE-SKI
Celebrating 100 years of lodging and recreation!
Rocks Estate
4 Christmas Lane
Bethlehem, NH
Phone: 603-444-6228
A natural preserve, this area features hiking trails, picnic areas and educational programs. Other events are offered throughout the year. Open year-round.
Tin Mountain Conservation Center
Jackson, NH
Phone: 603-447-6991
An activity-oriented nature center, scheduling lectures, trips and childrens programs in various locations throughout the Jackson area. Some programs will have a fee for participation.
Twin Mountain Fish and Wildlife Center
Route 3
Whitefield, NH
Phone: 603-846-5108
Visitors will find information on New Hampshire wildlife and fish. Exhibits feature videos, a hatchery, nature trails and a fish tank. Open May-October. Admission is free.
Warren Fish Hatchery and Education Center
Old Route 25
Warren, NH
Phone: 603-764-8593
Visitors may tour the hatchery. Interactive exhibits focus on local wildlife management and habitats, as well as the life cycle of the Atlantic Salmon. Open May - October. Admission is free.
Bretzfelder Memorial Park
Prospect Street
Bethlehem, NH
Phone: 603-444-6228
This small park is open year-round, offering visitors picnic areas, hiking trails, a pond, and programs about conservation and wildlife in the area.
Crawford Notch State Park
Route 302
Harts Location, NH
Phone: 603-374-2272
This park is a fount of natural beauty: A mountain pass, the Presidential Mountain Range, and waterfalls. The falls are the Flume Cascades, the Silver Cascades, and the Arethusa Falls. There is a visitor's center, hiking trails, a scenic drive, fishing spots, and picnic areas. The park is also the site the Willey House, an 18th century way-station for travelers through the mountains. A campground is available to the public. Pets are permitted in campground area and other designated places only.
Franconia Notch State Park
Route 93
Franconia, NH 03580
Phone: 603-823-8800
Perhaps the most interesting of New Hampshire's state parks, Franconia Notch offers some incredible natural experiences. Visitors can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, mountain climbing up Cannon Mountain and Mount Liberty, fishing, canoeing, boating, and picnicking. Winter activities offered include cross-country ski trails, alpine skiing and snowmobile trails. Trails include a portion of the Appalachian Trail, and lead to spectacular sites. Historic site of The Old Man of the Mountain, a natural phenomenon created by a series of granite ledges jutting from a cliff face 1,200 feet in the air, which collapsed in 2003. The Flume is a 800 foot gorge with high granite walls, which support a variety of mountain flora in the warmer months. The Basin is a glacial pothole over 20 feet wide, formed at the base of a waterfall by the onslaught of the rushing water. Sightseers will enjoy a ride on the park's Aerial Tramway to the top of Cannon Mountain, where the view is spectacular. A public campground is also available.
