Categories: Sports & Recreation; Outdoor Adventures
Rising 6,288 feet and cloaked in some of the world's worst weather, Mt. Washington presides over this national forest that is roughly the size of Rhode Island. Granite mountain tops periodically dot the dense hardwood and conifer forests, which have reclaimed mountainsides once shorn by lumber companies and forest fires. Several scenic routes, including the famous Kancamagus Scenic Byway, wind through the trees and mountainsides searching for the "notches," as gaps or passes are known in this part of the country. Hundreds of species of birds and animals, especially moose and black bear, live here. Before exploring the forest, stop at a district ranger station (located in Plymouth, Conway, Bethel, Gorham, and Bethlehem) to obtain detailed maps and information. Another good place to plan an outing is the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center near the heart of the forest. During the busy summer season, the forest hosts hikers trekking along the Appalachian Trail, which finds some of its most challenging terrain among the White Mountains. Altogether over 1,200 miles of trails crisscross the forest. If you'd like to camp out in the Forest, 23 campgrounds offer basic services, while an advance reservation lets you overnight in one of the Appalachian Mountain Club's ten backcountry huts. Backcountry camping is also possible. While on the trail, feel free to fish many rivers and streams for trout and salmon (state license required). Backcountry mountain biking is still unrestricted, except in Congressionally designated Wilderness Areas and along the Appalachian Trail, though the extensive network of old woods roads are your best option. During winter, several ski areas offer world-class downhill skiing, while cross-country touring trails stretch for miles. Mt. Washington, perhaps the highlight of your visit, affords you the opportunity to ride, drive, or hike to its summit. Extremely bad weather swirls about the peak, even in summertime, so heed weather forecasts. But once at the summit, you may rest up at the Sherman Adams State Park Visitor Center, an unusually shaped building crowning the peak. Several privately owned lodges and resorts are tucked into the forest, providing plenty of recreational opportunities such as swimming, golfing, and tennis. Along the edge of the forestland, many towns offer shopping, groceries, and gas. Pets: Leashed pets are permitted. Reservations: To make reservations at a National Forest campground, call 877-444-6777. A nonrefundable fee is charged for each reservation made.
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