TOP 25 NORTH CONWAY ATTRACTIONS
Welcome to the Newenglandwaterfalls.com guide to the best attractions in North Conway!
North Conway is perhaps the finest mountain town in New England. It's impossible to get bored here as there are literally hundreds of attractions within an hours' radius of the town. There is something for everyone here, from shopping outlets to swimming holes to ski resorts to amusement parks. And then there is the massive White Mountain National Forest, which offers more than 1200 miles of excellent and well-maintained hiking trails.
Here is a list of the 25 best things to see and do in and around the North Conway area of New Hampshire. All of these attractions are within a one hour drive of downtown North Conway.
If you think I have missed any of the top 25 attractions of the North Conway area, please contact me and I will consider adding it.
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TOP 25 NORTH CONWAY AREA SUMMER ATTRACTIONS
Here are my selections for the top 25 North Conway area attractions in the summer season (which is generally considered to be mid-May through mid-October). These attractions are listed in alphabetical order.
| NAME |
DESCRIPTION |
LINK / MORE INFO |
ATTITASH MOUNTAIN RESORT NOR-EASTER MOUNTAIN COASTER
(amusement park / tourist attraction) |
one of several ski-resort roller-coasters in the region; other summer attractions are also offered by the resort |
Attitash Mountain Resort |
BRETTON WOODS CANOPY TOUR
(amusement park / tourist attraction) |
this is arguably the finest zip-lining tour in New England (and it is open year-round) |
Bretton Woods |
CATHEDRAL LEDGE ROAD
(scenic views) |
a steep but paved road leads you to a parking area that is within a short 0.1 mile walk to broad ledges that offer fine views of the North Conway & Conway area; open seasonally (the road is closed in winter, but you can still hike/snowshoe up the road) |
Echo Lake State Park |
CONWAY SCENIC RAILROAD
(tourist attraction) |
offers several scenic railroad trips, the best of which heads from North Conway to Crawford Notch State Park; the railroad also holds several events planned each year (see their website for details) |
Conway Scenic Railroad |
CRANMORE MOUNTAIN RESORT MOUNTAIN COASTER
(amusement park / tourist attraction) |
one of several ski-resort roller-coasters in the region (open year-round!); Cranmore also has s giant swing, an aerial adventure park (with zip-lining) and one or two other amusement park style rides |
Cranmore Mountain Resort |
DIANA'S BATHS
(waterfall/swimming hole) |
an easy 1.2 mile round-trip walk brings you to Diana's Baths, which is one of the greatest family-friendly waterfalls and swimming holes in the state of New Hampshire; the downside to this place is that it can be extremely crowded on summer weekends; the falls & pools are absolutely fantastic for children as long as the water levels aren't too high (the ground can be slippery though, so always use caution at this and other swimming holes); the trailhead is well-marked off West Side Road; bring $5 cash to pay for parking |
Diana's Baths |
ECHO LAKE
(swimming/picnicking) |
this is a popular summer swimming and picnicking spot off West Side Road; combine with a drive up Cathedral Ledge Road to lovely views of the Conway and North Conway area (you can also hike from the lake up to Cathedral Ledge, but the trails are very steep) |
Echo Lake State Park |
INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN CLIMBING SCHOOL
(rock climbing lessons) |
this world-class climbing center offers rock-climbing lessons for all skill levels; Eastern Mountain Sports of North Conway also offers climbing lessons if you want to compare guides, times, and/or prices |
IMCS |
JACKSON FALLS
(waterfall/swimming hole) |
you'll enjoy this long chain of cascades, waterfalls and shallow pools for wadding and swimming; located off Carter Notch Road in the town of Jackson; this place can get pretty crowded, but there is plenty of room for all; look for the waterfall near the top of the falls that you can get behind when the waterflow is low enough; WARNING! the rock ledges are very slippery here |
Jackson Falls |
KANCAMAGUS HIGHWAY / NH 112
(scenic drive) |
this is the most famous scenic-drive in New England; this one-hour drive connects the eastern and western regions of the White Mountains, linking the towns of Conway and Lincoln; there are no services or gas along this road; sunsets from viewpoints along this road can be spectacular; watch out for moose, especially in the hours before and after sunrise and sunset |
Kancamagus Highway |
KEARSARGE NORTH
(hiking) |
this is perhaps the finest half-day hike in the North Conway area (6.2 miles-round-trip); an enclosed but empty fire-tower at the summit is open to the public and provides beautiful views of Mt. Washington and some other nearby mountains; this is a moderately-difficult day hike, and is probably not for those without some prior hiking experience; trailhead is on Hurricane Mountain Road |
Kearsarge North |
LOWER FALLS
(waterfall/swimming hole) |
one of the most popular (and amazing) swimming holes in New England; we'd guess that half of the children who grow up in New England end up swimming here at some point during their childhood; bring $3 cash to pay for parking; while here, also visit two other nice waterfalls nearby: Sabbaday Falls and Rocky Gorge; well-marked parking area on the Kancamagus Highway |
Lower Falls |
MADISON BOULDER
(natural attraction) |
this believed to be the largest boulder in New England! this is a quick but very interesting off-beat attraction that is only 20 minutes south of North Conway; you won't believe the size of this monstrous boulder! access off Boulder Road in Madison; short and easy walk required (the access road was closed in 2015 but it's an easy walk from the new parking area) |
Madison Boulder Natural Area |
MOUNT WASHINGTON
(hiking) |
hiking or skiing this mountain is a rite-of-passage for so many New Englanders; it's big, it's tough, and it can be dangerous; the alpine views are extraordinary from any of the trails that head up the mountain; be prepared for a very tough day hike and remember to bring the 'Ten Essentials' of hiking; you can hike this mountain from just about all angles of the compass |
Mount Washington Observatory |
MOUNT WASHINGTON AUTO ROAD
(scenic drive) |
this is the scariest drive in New England! views from the summit of Mt. Washington are extraordinary; dress warm and don't bother if the weather is iffy or if the summit is soaked in clouds; you'll find a gift shop, cafe and museum at the summit; the road to the summit can typically be driven from mid-to-late June through early October |
Mount Washington Auto Road |
MOUNT WASHINGTON COG RAILWAY
(tourist attraction) |
this is the steepest railroad journey in New England and one of the steepest in the world; access via Base Road in the town of Bretton Woods; Base Road is found behind the Mount Washington Hotel and close to US 302 |
Cog Railway |
MWV MOOSE SAFARI
(moose tours) |
this is your best chance for spotting a moose while you are in the North Conway area; the success rate of this company in spotting moose is very high (generally speaking, there is a 90-100% chance of seeing at least one moose, and some tours have been known to see 5 or more in a single evening) |
MWV Moose Bus Tours |
SABBADAY FALLS
(waterfall) |
this 5-star waterfall is found after a relatively easy 0.4 mile walk from a trailhead on the Kancamagus Highway; no swimming is allowed here, unfortunately; combine with Lower Falls and Rocky Gorge to see the three best waterfalls along this section of the Kancamagus Highway; bring $3 cash to pay for parking |
Sabbaday Falls |
SACO RIVER
(canoeing/kayaking) |
the Saco River is the most popular river for canoeing in New England; the river can be canoed as a day-trip or as an overnight trip; canoeing this river midweek to avoid most of the insane (and often drunk) crowds; several outfitters in the area provide rentals (including Saco Bound and Saco Canoe Rental) |
Saco Bound / Saco Canoe Rental |
SETTLER'S GREEN OUTLETS
(shopping) |
a plethora of outlet shopping venues a few minutes south of downtown North Conway (sales tax-free shopping!) |
Settlers' Green |
SQUAM LAKES NATURAL SCIENCE CENTER
(zoo/animal exhibits/hiking trails) |
natural-themed zoo featuring mammals of the Northeast; think of it as hiking through a zoo; also offers boat rides on Squam Lake |
Squam Lakes |
STORY LAND
(amusement park / tourist attraction) |
Storyland is a large and well-known, old-fashioned amusement park; access is off NH 16 north of North Conway; there are rides and attractions for adults and children of all ages, including infants |
Story Land |
ZEB'S GENERAL STORE
(shopping) |
this is perhaps the finest general store in all of New England; the store is located right smack in the middle of downtown North Conway; offers an absurd amount of candy for the little ones and great New England-made products for everyone else; extremely crowded on weekend afternoons and evenings |
Zeb's |
If you are looking to do some HIKING in the North Conway area, click here for my online guide: Hiking In & Around North Conway
If you are looking to visit some WATERFALLS in the North Conway area, click here for my online guide: Waterfalls Near North Conway
Mount Washington Cog Railway, Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
Conway Scenic Railroad, North Conway
canoeing the Saco River
Cranmore's Mountain Coaster
Zeb's General Store, downtown North Conway
Chocorua Lake, Chocorua
Saco River Bridge, Conway
Conway Scenic Railroad, downtown North Conway
Monkey Trunks Aerial Adventure Park, Chocorua
TOP 25 NORTH CONWAY AREA WINTER ATTRACTIONS
Here are my selections for the top 25 North Conway area attractions in the winter season (which is generally considered to be from mid-to-late October through early-to-mid May). These are listed in alphabetical order.
| NAME |
DESCRIPTION |
LINK / MORE INFO |
ATTITASH MOUNTAIN RESORT
(skiing) |
Attitash is a two-peak ski and snowboard resort with 68 trails; located on US 302 northwest of North Conway |
Attitash |
BLACK MOUNTAIN
(skiing) |
Black Mountain is a throwback type of ski resort and it never seems crowded to us; not much terrain for novice/beginner skiers |
Black Mountain |
BRETTON WOODS
(skiing) |
Bretton Woods offers what many will say the best intermediate-level ski mountain in New England; it also has some of the finest glades (tree-skiing) in New England; beautiful views of Mt. Washington (when it isn't in the clouds) will mesmerize you; this resort will often have better snow-conditions than most if not all other ski resorts in the area |
Bretton Woods |
BRETTON WOODS NORDIC CENTER
(cross-country skiing) |
one of the finest places to go cross-country skiing in New England; beautiful views of Mt. Washington |
Bretton Woods |
BRETTON WOODS CANOPY TOUR
(winter zip-lining) |
arguably the finest zip-lining tour in New England |
Bretton Woods |
CATHEDRAL LEDGE ROAD
(extreme sledding) |
this road can be EXTREMELY dangerous if conditions are icy, but some people like to hike up Cathedral Ledge Road and then ski or sled (using controllable sleds like Zipfy's) to sled down the auto-road (which is closed in winter); watch out for the occasional snowmobilers if you do explore this road in winter |
Echo Lake State Park |
CRANMORE MOUNTAIN RESORT
(skiing) |
the closest skiing and snowboarding to downtown North Conway; 45 trails; can be extremely crowded on weekends |
Cranmore |
CRANMORE MOUNTAIN RESORT
(snow-tubing) |
some of the best lift-serviced snow-tubing in New England |
Cranmore |
ICE CASTLES
(tourist attraction) |
this annual event in Lincoln (one hour from North Conway) features one of the premier ice castle attractions in the world; advance reservations highly recommended |
Ice Castles |
INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN CLIMBING SCHOOL
(ice-climbing lessons) |
offers ice-climbing lessons for all skill levels |
IMCS |
JACKSON XC SKI TOURING FOUNDATION
(cross-country skiing) |
one of the most famous places to go cross-country skiing in all of the USA; great variety of terrain and plenty of scenic views |
Jackson XC |
KEARSARGE NORTH
(hiking/snowshoeing) |
this is perhaps the finest half-day hike in the North Conway area (6.2 miles-round-trip); an enclosed but empty fire-tower at the summit is open to the public and provides beautiful views of Mt. Washington and some other nearby mountains; this is a moderately-difficult day hike, and is probably not for those without some prior hiking experience; trailhead is on Hurricane Mountain Road |
Kearsarge North |
KING PINE
(skiing) |
one of the best places to learn how to ski in New England (if not the very best); the trails here are pretty short in distance, but there is some fun and fast black and double-black diamond terrain to be found here |
King Pine |
KING PINE
(snow-tubing) |
family-friendly, life-serviced snow tubing; make reservations in advance for a 2-hour tubing slot |
King Pine |
MOUNT WASHINGTON SNOWCOACH
(tourist attraction) |
take a van tour 1/2 of the way up Mt. Washington in winter for spectacular winter-views; each van is outfitted with a 4-wheel track system (sort of like an army tank would have) |
SnowCoach |
MOUNT WASHINGTON VALLEY SKI TOURING & SNOWSHOE FOUNDATION
(cross-country skiing) |
the closest cross-country skiing to downtown North Conway |
Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring |
NESTLENOOK FARM
(outdoor ice skating) |
Victorian-themed outdoor skating rink; also offers horse-drawn sleigh rides and snowshoeing trails |
Nestlenook Farm |
NORTHERN EXTREMES SNOWMOBILING
(snowmobiling) |
one of the most respected snowmobile renters in the area; I highly recommend taking a snowmobile to the top of Black Cap Mountain if snow conditions are favorable |
Northern Extremes |
PEAKED MOUNTAIN
(hiking/snowshoeing) |
enjoyable 3-4 hour round-trip snowshoe hike to beautiful views of the North Conway area; make sure that you consult a hiking guidebook before attempting this since there are some steep trails in the area you'll likely want to avoid; trailhead on Thompson Road; you can also snowshoe to MIddle Mountain as well |
Hiking Info |
PLEASANT MOUNTAIN
(skiing) |
ski resort with 43 trails that are mostly for intermediate and expert skiers; this resort is 30-40 minutes west of North Conway, but it can be crowded since it's relatively close to the city of Portland, Maine |
Pleasant Mountain |
SETTLER'S GREEN OUTLETS
(shopping) |
outlet shopping a few minutes south of downtown North Conway (tax-free shopping!) |
Settlers' Green |
WILDCAT MOUNTAIN
(skiing) |
some of the finest views of any ski resort in New England; much of the terrain is considered 'expert' and a large portion is ungroomed; professional-level skiers love Wilcat |
Wildcat |
ZEB'S GENERAL STORE
(shopping) |
ths is perhaps the finest general store in all of New England; the store is located right smack in the middle of downtown North Conway; offers an absurd amount of candy for the little ones and great New England-made products for everyone else; extremely crowded on weekend afternoons and evenings |
Zeb's |
More great North Conway area winter attractions:
- Mt. Washington Valley Children's Museum
- Mt. Washington Weather Discovery Center
- Conway Scenic Railroad: Polar Express
firetower atop Kearsarge North, Intervale
DAY HIKES NEAR NORTH CONWAY
There are dozens of fantastic day hikes within an hours' drive of North Conway. Hiking information on all these hikes can be found within the excellent guide: AMC White Mountain Guide (2017 edition). The difficulty of each hike is listed next to each name.
- WITHIN MINUTES OF DOWNTOWN NORTH CONWAY
- Black Cap - easy
- Diana's Baths - easy
- Echo Lake State Park & Cathedral Ledge - moderate
- Kearsarge North - moderate/difficult
- Middle Mountain - moderate
- North Moat Mountain - difficult
- Peaked Mountain - moderate
- KANCAMAGUS HIGHWAY / NH 112
- Boulder Loop Trail - moderate (but take note that a fire in November 2016 closed this area indefinitely)
- Champney Falls - moderate
- Greeley Ponds - easy/moderate
- Hedgehog Mountain - moderate
- Mt. Chocorua via the Champney Falls Trail - difficult
- Potash Mountain - moderate
- Sabbaday Falls - easy
- WEST SIDE ROAD / NORTH CONWAY
- Diana's Baths - easy
- North Moat Mountain - difficult
- Thompson Falls (North Conway) - moderate
- NH 16
- Crystal Cascade - easy
- Glen Ellis Falls - easy
- Imp Face - moderate
- Iron Mountain & South Cliffs off Iron Mountain Road - moderate
- Mt. Chocorua via the Piper Trail - difficult
- Mt. Washington - very difficult
- Thompson Falls (Pinkham Notch) - moderate
- Tuckermans Ravine - very difficult
- US 302
- Arethusa Falls - moderate
- Dry River Falls - difficult
- Mt. Carrigain - difficult
- Mt. Crawford - moderate/difficult
- Mt. Eisenhower via Edmunds Path - difficult
- Mt. Jackson - difficult
- Mt. Pierce - moderate/difficult
- Mt. Tom / Mt. Field / Mt. Willey loop - difficult
- Mt. Willard - moderate
- Nancy Cascades - moderate
- Ripley Falls - easy
For more information about hiking in the North Conway area, visit my comprehensive online guide: Hiking North Conway
For my list of the top 25 hikes in the White Mountains, click here: Top 25 Hikes in the White Mountains
view of Mount Washington from nearby Mount Monroe
Madison Boulder off Boulder Road in the town of Madison
summit of North Moat Mountain, accessed from the Diana's Baths trailhead on West Side Road, North Conway
WATERFALLS NEAR NORTH CONWAY
There are more than a dozen great waterfalls within an hours' drive of North Conway. Here are their names and where they are generally located.
- KANCAMAGUS HIGHWAY / NH 112
- Champney Falls - moderate ($5 parking fee; bring cash)
- Franconia Falls - easy, but long ($5 parking fee; bring cash)
- Lower Falls - easy ($5 parking fee; bring cash)
- Rocky Gorge - easy ($5 parking fee; bring cash)
- Sabbaday Falls - easy ($5 parking fee; bring cash)
- WEST SIDE ROAD / NORTH CONWAY
- Diana's Baths - easy ($5 parking fee; bring cash)
- Thompson Falls (North Conway) - moderate (free)
- NH 16
- Crystal Cascade - easy (free)
- Glen Ellis Falls - easy ($5 parking fee; bring cash)
- Thompson Falls (Pinkham Notch) - easy/moderate (free)
- Winneweta Falls - moderate (free)
- US 302
- Arethusa Falls - moderate (free)
- Flume Cascade - easy (free)
- Nancy Cascades - moderate (free)
- Ripley Falls - easy (free)
- Silver Cascade - easy (free)
- CARTER NOTCH ROAD / JACKSON
- Jackson Falls - easy (free)
For more information and a map showing waterfalls near North Conway, click here. For directions to these waterfalls, pick up a copy of the 3rd edition of the New England Waterfalls guidebook, which is now in FULL COLOR! This guidebook contains detailed driving directions to each of the 17 falls listed above.
Sabbaday Falls off the Kancamagus Highway / NH Route 112
Diane's Baths off West Side Road, North Conway
Lower Falls along the Kancamagus Highway / NH Route 112
SKI & SNOWBOARD RESORTS NEAR NORTH CONWAY
There are many great ski and snowboard resorts close to North Conway. This includes the following resorts:
- Cranmore Mountain (56 trails; downtown North Conway)
- Attitash Mountain Resort (68 trails; 15 minutes northwest of North Conway)
- Black Mountain (40 trails; 15 minutes north of North Conway)
- King Pine Ski Area (17 trails; 25 minutes south of North Conway)
- Wildcat Mountain (49 trails; 30 minutes north of North Conway)
- Shawnee Peak (43 trails; 35 minutes west of North Conway)
- Bretton Woods (102 trails; 40 minutes northwest of North Conway)
- Cannon Mountain (95 trails; 60 minutes northwest of North Conway)
- Loon Mountain (61 trails; 75 minutes west of North Conway)
skiing at Bretton Woods with Mount Washington in the background
SWIMMING HOLES NEAR NORTH CONWAY
There are many great swimming holes near North Conway. This includes the following:
- Diana's Baths (West Side Road, North Conway)
- Echo Lake State Park (West Side Road, North Conway)
- Lower Falls (Kancamagus Highway / NH 112)
- Jackson Falls (Carter Notch Road, Jackson)
- First Bridge, Saco River (River Road, North Conway)
- Sawyer Rock (US 302)
- Davis Park, Saco River (Washington Street, Conway)
- Humphrey's Ledge, Saco River (West Side Road, North Conway)
When visiting swimming holes, please do your part to clean up your mess and bring it out with you (in other words, please "leave no trace"). You'll find a lot of trash at swimming holes, and it's quite sad - please also consider picking up the trash left by others.
There are more swimming holes in the North Conway area, but they are a bit of a secret and you'll have to do your research to find them. I am not about to spoil that fun by making it too easy for you =).
Jackson Falls, off Carter Notch Road in Jackson
SCENIC DRIVES NEAR NORTH CONWAY
There are several excellent scenic drives in the North Conway area. This includes the following:
- NH 112 / KANCAMAGUS HIGHWAY
- Drive this paved road from just south of downtown Conway to the town of Lincoln.
- There are many scenic outlooks along this scenic byway.
- There are several excellent waterfalls to be found along this road, including Sabbaday Falls (short hike), Lower Falls (roadside), Rocky Gorge (short walk), Champney Falls (moderate hike), and Franconia Falls (moderate hike).
- There are many hiking trailheads along this road. Hikes range in difficulty from easy to very difficult.
- This road can also be driven in the reverse direction (it really doesn't make a difference which direction you go).
- Open in winter, but potentially dangerous during storms.
- US 302 / CRAWFORD NOTCH
- Drive this paved road from the town of Bartlett to the town of Twin Mountain.
- Boasts stunning views of the Presidential Range mountains, including Mt. Washington.
- Passes through scenic Crawford Notch.
- Great views of the famous OMNI Mount Washington Hotel.
- There are several excellent waterfalls to be found along this road, including Silver Cascade (roadside), Flume Cascade (roadside), Nancy Cascades (moderate hike), Arethusa Falls (moderate hike), Ripley Falls (moderate hike).
- There are many hiking trailheads along this road. Hikes range in difficulty from easy to very difficult.
- This road can also be driven in the reverse direction (it really doesn't make a difference which direction you go).
- Open in winter, but potentially dangerous during storms.
- MOUNT WASHINGTON AUTO ROAD
- Drive the partially-paved, partially-unpaved 7.6 mile private auto road from NH 16 to the summit of Mt. Washington, which at 6,288ft is the highpoint of New England.
- At the summit, you'll find gorgous views, a museum, a gift shop, restrooms, and a cafe.
- Fee ($$) required. Do not bother paying or visiting if the weather is not favorable or if Mt. Washington is in the clouds.
- Dress warm in all months of the year since the summit rarely hits 70 degrees.
- Closed in winter.
- CATHEDRAL LEDGE MOUNTAIN ROAD
- Drive a paved, steep and wooded road to within 0.1 mile of the views from Cathedral Ledge.
- Short walk to wonderful views of the North Conway area.
- Closed in winter.
- NH 16 / PINKHAM NOTCH
- Drive a paved road from the town of Bartlett to the town of Gorham
- Boasts stunning views of the Presidential Range mountains, including Mt. Washington
- There are many excellent waterfalls to be found along this road, including Glen Ellis Falls (short hike), Winneweta Falls (moderate hike), Thompson Falls (moderate hike), and Crystal Cascade (moderate hike).
- There are many hiking trailheads along this road. Hikes range in difficulty from easy to very difficult.
- This road can also be driven in the reverse direction (it really doesn't make a difference which direction you go).
- Open in winter, but potentially dangerous during storms.
The ultimate one-day driving loop in the White Mountains region of NH is as follows:
- PART 1: From North Conway, take NH 16 south to a right turn onto NH 112 / The Kancamagus Highway.
- PART 2: Take NH 112 / The Kancamagus Highway west to I-93 in Lincoln.
- PART 3: Take I-93 north to US 3 north.
- PART 4: Take US 3 north to the town of Twin Mountain.
- PART 5: Turn right onto US 302 and head east until it brings you back to North Conway.
- This entire loop will take you at least four hours, and many more hours if you stop at the dozens of attractions, scenic outlooks, waterfalls, stores and restaurants along the way. I have probably driven this route 100 times over the last 20 years and it never gets old. Moose viewing is also good along this route, especially at sunrise or sunset. Black bears are also occasionally seen.
the view from the top of Cathedral Ledge off West Side Road, North Conway
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