Unleash your adventure spirit at zip lines, caves, ski trails in the White Mountains

New Hampshire > White Mountains > Outdoor Activities > Outdoor Adventures

The White Mountains region of New Hampshire is so magnificent in all seasons that it’s not surprising various entrepreneurs there have devised businesses to help get visitors outdoors, on land, sea, and in the air. Mountain trails are used by hikers in summer and cross country skiers in winter. In Pinkham Notch, you can join a guided bird watching tour or paddling trip on the Androscoggin River. A SnowCoach can get you to the top of Mount Washington to see the mountain winter in comfort. Zip lines and tours of glacial caves take adventurers above the Earth and underneath it. The varieties of outdoor adventure can keep the whole family enthralled. Lodging ranges from family resorts to cozy B&Bs .

Town of Bethlehem

White Mountains town makes a great headquarters for a variety of outdoor adventures

It’s hard to think of a place where the great outdoors is as great as it is in Bethlehem, N.H., making it the perfect headquarters for your adventures. Ski or snowboard down the slopes at one of six nearby mountains or hit the trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or fat biking on endless area trails in Bethlehem and its charming neighboring towns. There’s also a network of snowmobile trails that take you right into town for lunch! In the warmer weather, enjoy hiking and biking on our extensive trail network or scenic roads, tennis, basketball – and swimming in the town pool and our pristine rivers. Bethlehem also boasts two exceptional 18-hole golf courses, designed by the legendary Donald Ross. Outdoor activities in the area include the Mount Washington Cog Railway, the Flume Gorge, Santa’s Village and Story Land.

Cannon Mountain

Franconia Notch State Park Franconia, NH, 03580 Phone: 603-823-8800

Tramway rides, hiking, biking, fishing: There’s lots to do on and around this mountain resort

Hop aboard the aerial tramway – the nation’s first – at Cannon Mountain and in under 10 minutes you’ll be marveling at the view from the 4,080-foot summit. On a clear day, you can see the mountains of four states – and Canada. There’s a 360-degree observation deck, scenic walking paths and cafe. Around the mountain are a variety of fun activities for outdoor enthusiasts, including the famous Flume Gorge with cascading waterfalls and covered bridges, rock-climbing at Cannon Cliffs, hiking and biking along the 8.8-mile Recreation Path and fishing in Echo Lake and Profile Lake, both stocked with trout. Camp on one of 97 wooded tent sites at Lafayette Place Campground or bring the RV to Cannon Mountain RV Park on the north shore of Echo Lake.

Snowbaording - Mt. Washington Valley Chamber - North Conway, NH - Photo Credit Dan Houde & Wiseguy Creative

Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce

Something exciting is waiting for all outdoor-lovers in this vibrant valley region

Plan your next adventure in Mt. Washington Valley, where excitement can be found around every corner. Hike among the 770,000 acres of the White Mountains National Forest or through a wildlife sanctuary. Bike on paved paths or up mountains. In the winter, go skiing, tubing, snowboarding, snowshoeing or snowmobiling then come back to your resort’s s’mores by the fire. In the summer, cool off in a mountain stream or waterfall, kayak or canoe down a river or go water-skiing in a lake. Play golf or tennis, take a ride on a scenic railway, or take the kids to enchanting Story Land or Santa’s Village. From zip lining and rock climbing to outdoor concerts and festivals, this region welcomes all who love the great outdoors. Click above to visit our website or call our friendly concierge at 800-337-3563 for more info on first class lodging and exciting events to plan your next adventure!

Cranmore Mountain Resort

1 Skimobile Road North Conway, NH, 03860 Phone: Toll-Free: 800-786-6754

Summer at this ski resort means great hiking, chairlift rides, mountain biking

What can you do in the summer at a ski resort? Lots! At Cranmore Mountain Resort, take a seven-minute four-passenger chairlift ride to the top of the mountain. Then gaze out in awe at stunning views of Mt. Washington and its valley from 2,000 feet up. Grab lunch, snacks, a hot dog, ice cream or Bavarian pretzel at the historic Meister Hut. Then board the Skimobile Express Quad for a scenic chairlift ride back to the base area. Or, hike a half-mile loop around the summit with amazing views. (Want something longer? Take the 2-mile Black Cap Connector Trail.) The resort also has a family-friendly, lift-serviced downhill mountain bike park, with terrain for all ability levels, group lessons and rental bikes and gear.

Morningside Flight Park - Enjoy the exhiliration of tandem hang gliding today!

River Walk Resort at Loon - New England's Newest Grand Resort! In New Hampshire's spectacular White Mountains

Canoes at the Ready - Androscoggin Valley Chamber - Berlin, NH

Androscoggin Valley Chamber of Commerce

961 Main Street Berlin, NH, 03570 Phone: 603-228-0836

If your spirit is adventurous, bring it along on your vacation in this outdoor playground

Bring your adventurous spirit, and your love of the great outdoors, to Androscoggin Valley, where the north side of Mount Washington meets the Upper Androscoggin River. That means there are all sorts of water activities, from kayaking, fishing (including fly and ice fishing), white-water rafting and canoeing to jumping into the perfect pristine swimming hole. In the winter, the skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and dogsledding are fantastic. In the autumn, you can’t beat this scenic region’s hiking and biking trails. From moose tours to zip lines and rope courses, from ATV tours to golfing and camping, the valley has it all. And after your day in the great outdoors, there are comfortable inns and resorts, and a variety of first-rate restaurants, perfect for unwinding.

Ice Castles

24 Clark Farm Road North Woodstock, NH, 03262 Phone: Toll-Free: 888-407-4054

Dazzling displays mean you’ll crown these artful ice castles top winter attractions

Add some sparkle to your winter with a visit to the breathtaking Ice Castles, a magical masterpiece of ice thrones, sculptures, tunnels, slides and fountains. Walk along the enchanted forest path, admiring the hand-carved sculptures that seem to glow from within with their embedded LED lights. Or, better yet, take a horse-drawn sleigh ride (for groups up to 12 people) through the award-winning attraction. Set to open in early January, the winter wonderland features the work of ice artisans who grow and harvest up to 10,000 icicles a day. All in all, about 20 million pounds of ice go into creating the magical ambiance, aided by music and multicolored lights (and special fire shows on Friday and Saturday nights).

Great Glen Trails

Route 16 at Pinkham Notch Gorham, NH, 03581 Phone: 603-466-3988

If it’s an outdoor sport and you have fun doing it, they have it at this mountain center

Hike, kayak, ski, snowshoe, bike: If it’s an outdoor sport and it’s fun, they have it at Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center, just 25 minutes north of North Conway at the base of Mt. Washington. With 28 miles of scenic trails, you can bike past meadows, hike into the woods and past rivers, or, in the winter, go cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. The center’s kayaking options include wildlife tours, whitewater kayaking on the Androscoggin River and sunset paddles. Winter means zooming down an old-fashioned hill in a snow tube and fat biking through the snow. Summer means taking in a whitewater kayaking clinic or participating in a hiking/running series. See why the center is a multiple-year TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice winner.

Polar Caves

705 Rumney Route 25 Rumney, NH Phone: 603-536-1888

Put on your explorer gear and prepare to duck and shimmy through Ice Age caves

Time to be an explorer! Head to the Polar Caves and prepare to make all kinds of discoveries. Formed during the last Ice Age, the nine granite caves consist of granite boulders that formed passageways – and it’s those passageways, with the modern addition of boardwalks and stairs, that you’ll duck, squeeze and shimmy through. Can you get yourself through the slim crevasse of the Lemon Squeeze, or walk the narrow Devil’s Turnpike path? Can you touch the last of winter’s ice in the middle of the summer at the Ice Cave? When you’re done exploring, visit the animal park, with several fallow deer and ducks, all of which love kids bearing corn you can buy at the park. For hungry humans, there’s a picnic area.

Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa - Casual Elegance, Stunning Views. Seasonal Promotions Available now!

New Hampshire's Androscoggin Valley - Your Adventure Starts Here! Click here to explore.

Explore Ice Castles in North Woodstock, NH! Click here to explore.

Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves

1712 Lost River Road -- Route 112W North Woodstock, NH, 03262 Phone: 603-745-8031

See the powerful forces of nature at work when you tour a lost river and glacial caves

Marvel at the forces of Mother Nature when you tour the Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves in Kinsman Notch, a land of spectacular beauty. Walk a mile of boardwalk through the gorge as it winds its way along the Lost River, showing you jagged rock walls, gigantic boulders, cascading waterfalls and 11 glacial boulder caves whose formation began about 300 million years ago. Discover the Forest Adventure Trail, treehouse and suspension bridge or get a bird’s-eye view of the forest from the Giant Bird Nest. Pan for gemstones, shark’s teeth and fossils at the Lost River Mining Company. Or take an evening guided lantern tour when the caves are lit by lanterns and the boardwalks by headlamps. The tour ends with s’mores around a campfire.

Alpine Adventures

41 Main Street Lincoln, NH, 03251 Phone: 603-745-9911

You’ll experience the thrill of it all in so many ways at this outdoor adventure center

There are so many ways to enjoy the great outdoors at Alpine Adventures! Experience 300 private acres on Barron Mountain via off-road vehicles with guided Side X Side tours. Or zoom through – or over! – the trees with two heart-pumping zip line tours. Stay in the canopy on the tree-to-tree Tree Top tour or soar above it on the Sky Rider tour with higher, longer, faster lines, extreme tree platforms and sky bridges. Over at Thrillsville, take a self-guided adventure course that includes bridges, cargo nets, rope ladders, zip lines and a tree house. And, finally, there’s the Off-Road tour, where you scale to the top of Barron Mountain in a six-wheel-drive vehicle that acts like a low-speed roller coaster.

Snowmobiles - Twin Mountain-Bretton Woods Chamber - New Hampshire

Twin Mountain-Bretton Woods Chamber of Commerce

P.O. Box 194 Twin Mountain, NH, 03595 Phone: Toll-Free: 800-245-8946

Each season has its special outdoor adventures in this vibrant mountain region

Every season brings a new set of outdoor adventures to the Twin Mountain-Bretton Woods area. The downhill skiing, of course, is spectacular at Bretton Woods, Cannon Mountain and even next to the tracks of the Mt. Washington Cog Railway! There’s also cross-country skiing, tubing and snowmobiling on groomed trails. Spring is great time to break out the road, mountain, or fat bike. In the summer, there’s fishing, kayaking, and swimming in pristine rivers, lakes, and ponds. And fall means fantastic foliage on the region’s miles of scenic trails. Take a hike through a wildlife refuge and maybe even spot a moose. Whether you’re up for zip lining, an ATV tour, golfing or a gondola ride, this region really does have something for every adventurer.

State

Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee

Great North Woods

Lakes

Merrimack Valley

Monadnock

Seacoast