Category: Road Trips

Chasing Fall Foliage – VT 100

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Back to Road Trippin’

“Two roads diverged in a wood.. I took the one less traveled by..”. This post is neither about taking the untested path to glory nor an analysis of the misunderstood poem “The Road Not Taken”. So why the reference? It’s because the poet called Vermont his home for the most part of his life, and that there are great wilderness trails here to lose track of time and find your beautiful destination in a desolate cliff.

For this coverage of one of the most beautiful road trips in the country, we chose the peak fall foliage time in October to travel a good part of the scenic VT-100 state road. As part of the journey, we will pass scenic churches peeking out of colorful foliage, charming towns and cute country stores.

Suggested Duration: 1-2 days       Time: Fall/Summer       Start at: Wilmington, VT or Jeffersonville, VT

Itinerary

While you can begin the journey at either the north or south end (Jeffersonville or Wilmington), we started the 2 day trip from the north. We will point out the key points of interest, and interesting by-ways. Find a downloadable map of the route below.

Before we get into the sites, wanted to first cover the coveted Covered Bridges of Vermont. There are about 100 of them still remaining, and each has a character that is worth visiting. Most of them were built to carry people, animals and horse-drawn carriages across rivers and forks. The truss system that supports the weight of the bridge is actually above the bridge instead of traditionally below in other bridges. This helps the woodwork to sustain winter storms, spring thaw, and flooding river waters. All covered bridges are now protected by law. We will point out the noteworthy bridges below, but sample a few from the following – Chamberlin Mill, Gates Farm, Seribner, Poland, Power House, Grist Mill and Red Covered Bridge.

  1. We begin at the town of Cambridge, VT to take Vermont’s main street, the VT-100 Southbound towards Smuggler’s Notch. Fill up your appetite and caffeine requirement in the artistry town of Jeffersonville.
  2. Gristmill covered bridge with its truss system is up ahead within the first few miles.
  3. Smugglers Notch resort is a nice getaway in summer and a popular ski resort. The name Smugglers Notch probably comes from the fact that during the prohibition era when trade with Canada were restricted, some of the caves here were used by smugglers to carry goods and alcohol across the border.
  4. Smugglers Notch Pass is one of the best scenic mountain passes. Through narrow one lane turns, in the fall and summer, this roadway proves to be extremely photogenic. It is closed to automobiles in the winter, but cross country skiing and snow mobiles frequent the pass for an incredible experience. Feel free to park on the side and take a trail up the hill through the caves. Not a difficult climb, but descend very carefully due to the damp rocks.
  5. Stowe Resort area is a nice spot to park the car and take a gondola ride up to the higher vantage point. If schedule permits, grab a meal here as well with fine dining options. From the parking lot, in the fall you can see snow covered higher altitudes amalgamating with the exuberant fall foliage in the lower altitudes. If you are lucky, cloud and fog cover may provide an incredible view up top.
  6. About 20 minute drive in a side road to the Mt. Mansfield (4,300′) summit through the winding Toll Road for incredible views of the Lake Champlain. Only 1/4th mile is paved, so a AWD car is better suited, but regardless a great experience.
  7. Apart from maple syrup, Vermont is also known for its dairy products. Vermont has a great cheese scene, plus the famous Ben and Jerry’s ice cream factory. The most visited attractions make it a busy place. Kids would love the sampling of 53 flavors. The flavor graveyard is an interesting place to learn about the flavors that did not make it to the market!
  8. Vermont is also known for its apples and fresh pressed ciders. A great place to try sweet ciders, both hot and cold, and fermented hard ciders, and famous apple cider donuts in Cold Hollow Cider. Stop for a bit in the Cabot Annex for some delicious cheese and lake Champlain chocolates for a tasty stop.
  9. Past Waterbury, you will be able to spot the 4000 ft. high Camel’s Hump peak in front of you. Mad River will be accompany you throughout the journey. Notice that the river flows north to drain into the Lake Champlain. Several byways like 100A and 100B, will take you to several non-touristy spots along the way to learn a bit more of Vermont. We will press on 100S.
  10. Stop for the next Covered Bridge at the Village Covered Bridge which allows car traffic, but take the walkway to the other side for a nice peek at the river underneath.
  11. For sweeping views of the valley, take the Appalacian Gap road. Takes about 30 minutes round trip through the winding but fun road. Another optional side trip is on the Lincoln Gap road for a unobstructed views of the western sides of the Green Mountains and upstate New York.
  12. A quirky little town of Warren is an interesting side trip, even if you do not stop as it will bring you back to Rt-100.
  13. A must-see stop is the Moss Glen Falls, even if it is just 35 foot fall. A quick stop at the pull out and a 5 minute walk to the falls and the pool will provide great photo ops.
  14. Next part of the road, you will drive along the Green Mountain National Forest having multiple trails, campgrounds, ski tracks and recreational areas. Middlebury Gap Road (Rt-125) is your ‘path less taken’. It gives access to a special place – Robert Frost Interpretive Trail (~1 mile long).
  15. Thundering Brook Falls on River Road is another nice stop to make. If you drive past the waterfalls south towards the Rt-100, you will pass by a less traveled but pristine water body called the Kent Pond. The white unpaved road along the lake with fall foliage reflections on the turquoise water makes it an incredibly picturesque setting.
  16. Along the southern portion of the scenic drive, we will see lakes like you will spot churches in Rome, Italy. In an early afternoon with clear skies, you will be welcomed with a treat to the eyes and the lens at Black Pond, Amherst Lake, Echo Lake and Lake Rescue which are some of the largest water bodies in the state.
  17. A quick side trip to the historic homestead of the 30th president of the US, Calvin Coolidge, can be interesting if time permits.
  18. Our favorite village in the entire stretch and warrants a stop at Weston. Check out the historic Vermont Country Store and the Weston Country store for memorabilia, coffee and maple flavored ice cream.
  19. As we pass through another quaint town of Londonderry, the road begins to flatten and straighten a bit more. At the right time, this portion of the road will give ample opportunity for fall foliage picture compositions – with the red hut in the foreground and a placid lake in front of the mountains full of vivid color. So slow down lest you miss out on these unmarked wonders that will make your drive worthwhile.
  20. After you pass through other towns and communities, our trip will wrap up in Wilmington, VT. But one last gem that we want to point out, is the Molly Stark state park towards Brattleboro. A pull out on the right side of the road gives you a sweeping view of the mountain ranges to the east, south and west.

Things to Remember

  • If you are chasing fall foliage, or leaf peepers as the locals say, you can keep a track of the ‘peak’ timing through these websites (e.g. Vermont Foliage Tracker, New England Fall Foliage Map) or follow these Instagram handles (@VermontTourism), etc.
  • The big box retailers are fairly absent from Vermont, making a Starbucks run or your favorite fast food joint, harder to locate. The route 100 goes through quaint towns with coffee shops and food joints. Pick up your supplies for the road here.
  • Finding accommodation is tricky in the Green Mountain state. While the state is mostly safe, we would recommend finding hotels or Airbnb’s relatively early as there is not much of supply either.
  • For the most part, VT 100 is a scenic by road, so traffic may move slowly often. Plus parking in the trail sites can be tricky as most spots do not have a large parking lot. So budget 2-3 hours more to your day itinerary.
  • Vermont is extremely pet friendly, so if you want, take your puppy with you. They will have a great time walking the great American outdoors.
  • Fun Facts – Vermont has no billboards! First US Patent was issued in Pittsfield. First higher education school for women was established here. It was the first state to abolish slavery in 1777. First successful energy producing windmill was set up in Vermont. And, GMO labeling was first made constitutionally required in Vermont.

Map View of the Tour

Here is a quick snapshot of the route and a downloadable map

 [googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1iKbGQtq6rJOBsZRNsAozrRCS-MDLlRQX&w=640&h=480]

A memorable road-trip through Banff and Jasper

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So you love road trips, eh? We do too. We also love taking pictures and procrastinate doing any post-processing work. If you are the same way, look no further! A road trip in the Canadian Rockies is tailor made for you. Believe us, you would not have to do any photoshopping to make your pictures look stunning. The colors of the glacier fed lakes and the rugged snow clad peaks in the background will make smartphone photos print-worthy!

 

Before you start planning for a road trip of a lifetime, recommend chalking out some details that we often ignore –

  • There will not be much cellphone reception. So get a printed map. We have a Google maps view chalked out below that you can customize and print.
  • Recommend downloading an offline guide app. We love the Gypsy Guide apps. We have used it in road trips around North America. Highly recommended. There are two – for Banff (Lake Louise Guide) and for Jasper (Jasper Guide)

Suggested Duration: 3-4 Days     Best Time of Visit: End May – Early Oct    Base: Banff/Canmore

Itinerary

We set base location in Canmore. The itinerary is divided into days; all days complete at Banff or Canmore. So expect to do a lot of driving each day.

Day 1

  1. Start at the town of Banff and follow Trans-Canada Highway. Put in your GPS, Lake Louise as the destination for now.
  2. Drive to Lake Minnewanka and Vermillion Lakes – Should take about 1 hour to get back to the Highway.
  3. Drive northbound and take the exit towards Bow Valley Parkway leaving the Trans Canada Highway. This is a slower road but chances of wildlife and soaking in history are higher.
  4. First stop is Johnston Canyon. Takes about 1.5 hours for about a mile long round trip hike to the spectacular Lower Falls.

    Johnston Canyon

    Johnston Canyon

  5. Drive slow to spot wildlife, remnants of forest fires and terrain battered by landslides.
  6. Merge into the Trans Canada Highway at Castle Junction and travel north.The Bow River flows south along the road here to your right.
    1. You will also spot some interesting bridges – they are for the bears to cross the highway safely.
  7. Next up is Lake Louise. It is highly visited especially during summer months as the roads are closed until mid-May due to risk of avalanches. There is a hotel – Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, where you will park the car. A hike around the pristine waters will give you ample opportunities to soak in the beauty. Don’t forget to look around for avalanche debris. Whole trip here should take about 2 hours.
  8. From Lake Louise, follow directions to Moraine Lake. Looking at the deep blue

    waters of the lake surrounded by 10 peaks is an incredible experience. A little hike up the hill created by avalanche debris, will give you an awesome view from the vantage point. The log pile in front of the lake after the parking lot creates a nice foreground for the photography enthusiasts. Taking in the beauty and doing a bit of hiking around should take about 1 hour. Can you guess why the waters in the lake are so blue? Check the answer here.

  9. We chose to end our day after tiring hikes and posing for numerous pictures all day. We will continue this journey on Day 2, but the evening can be spent at the beautiful town of Banff.

Day 2

  1. Fill up gas and your stomach before hitting the road. This will be a much lighter day, and we can revisit one of the hikes or trails that we missed out yesterday. We will head towards Yoho National Park first. About a 45 minute drive from Banff, after the intersection of Icefields parkway, DSC_1732Instead of going towards Icefields Parkway (which we will do on our third day), stay on Trans Canada highway towards Yoho National Park.
  2. Along the road, try spotting some bears as this is a nice habitat for bears by the railroad tracks. Why? As the grain carriages on the tracks may leak some grains which attract bears, causing a number of bear deaths. You will hear train whistles along the way as well to keep bears away from the tracks.
  3. About 15 minutes in, you will spot the Continental Divide which is also the Alberta and British Columbia border. The rivers on either side of the divide flows in opposite directions.

     

  4. Don’t miss the Spiral Tunnels pull out. You may have to wait a bit for the best experience. You may be able to spot a train, which will pass above itself through the spiral tunnels at various levels. This was done due to the steep mountain side that the engineers had to build necessary rail tracks to transport goods. It’s an incredible site. A train generally passes through here every half an hour.
  5. As you drive west along the Yoho parkway, you will spot the upper tunnels as well. We will drive towards Emerald Lake. You will see Natural Bridge signs. This road is typically closed during winters and does not open until early June. We missed the lake and the bridge, but the road up is picturesque enough to fill your appetite.

     

  6. As you drive down to the main highway, take a left towards Field, BC. If you go west, the road takes straight to Vancouver, BC, and is about 9 hour ride. Stop at the idyllic town of Field, BC. It is a charming town in the summer, but winter is harsh here as the towering Mt. Steven hinders sunlight from getting here. Grab a bite in the small town stylish cafes before hitting the road.
  7. Quick turn left to take a steep climb up through a seasonal road towards Takkaka Falls. Pull out at the sign to see the meeting of the waters to the right. Difference between glacial greenish water of Yoho river and clearer waters of Kicking Horse river meet here in a whirlwind. Through multiple switchbacks up, reach the lot for the spectacular Takkaka falls.
  8. This is the wet side of the continental divide, and the vegetation is much greener than the rugged landscape of the other side. But look out for steep slopes that are devoid of any trees. It is a sign of deadly avalanches and landslides have depleted any vegetation.
  9. The Takkaka Falls are fed by the hidden icefields above it which has about 8 different glaciers. The falls are one of the tallest in Canada, and the gigantic amount of water coming down eroded the landscape for ages to create the sharp cliff and gorge.
  10. On your way back down to the highway, look at the Spiral Tunnels from a higher vantage point. On the highway before crossing the AB/BC border, the nice lake of Wapta Lake will be on your right.
  11. Once past the provincial border into Alberta, you are inside Banff National Park again from Yoho National Park. We will end our day here on the road, and spend the afternoon in town of Banff. There are plenty to keep yourselves busy in Banff. Tomorrow is Icefields parkway, and will start very early.

Day 3

  1. Begin as early as possible, preferably before 6am. Fill up gas tank and coffee mugs. From Banff, drive up north about 40 minutes and take the exit towards Icefields Parkway into Jasper. This is voted the best mountain drive in the world. Hopefully you are here around sunrise to spot the golden crowns of the steep peaks around you.
  2. First stop is at Herbert Lake. On a still day, the reflections of the mountains on the lake is inspirational at its best. Many people would stop at the shoulder of the road to take the pictures. DSC_1767
  3. At a distance, about 15 minutes later, you will see Hector Lake which is a large water body only accessible via a trail.
  4. Next up is Bow Lake which has a pristine calm beauty around it. The view is spectacular from the road, but even better is from a tiny alley north of the lake. The alley on the left will take you to the lodge Nampti-Ja, and the view from that level (lake level) is incredible. From here you can spot the Bow Glacier as well.
  5.  Next up is the Bow Summit and the Peyto Lake. The best photo opportunity appears after a steep but short hike. Many postcards, travel magazine covers and wallpapers feature a photo of this. It is about 2500 meters above sea level, so a brief period of out-of-breath is common.
  6. Next up is Snowbird Glacier on your left getting its name from the shape like a bird spreading its wings. There is a small shoulder pull out for a quick stop and snap pictures.
  7. Continuing up north, you will see multiple noteworthy mountain peaks – Mt. Weed on the right hand side, Mt. Cephren pyramid shaped peaks on left, Mt. Wilson with the back of the icefield on top. Stop at the Mistaya Canyon for a quick hike (~30 minutes) through the narrow canyons. You will see washouts caused by melting snow and heavy glaciers. One of them is a big washout on your right.
  8. About 10-15 minutes north, you will see the wide Graveyard Flats where Alexandra and Saskatchewan rivers meet. On your right up ahead is Mt. Coleman with the green vegetation, look out for mountain goats on the cliff. You will see Sakatchewan Glacier and Mt. Andromeda from up ahead.
  9. As you pass the Big Bend, you will spot the end of the glacier and beginning of the river. Mt. Athabasca and Mt. Andromeda, two of the highest mountain peaks in the Rockies, can be seen from the bend ahead. You will enter the Jasper National Park from here.
  10. Next up is the Columbia Icefields where you will spend 2-3 hours exploring the glacier and surrounding vista including the Glacier Skywalk. Read more here.

  11. Quick stop ahead is the Tangle Falls on the right. Set your shutter speed slower and smaller aperture for a nice water strands of the falls falling in multiple stages. Take a closer look up ahead of the Stutfield Glacier.

    Stutfield Glacier

    Stutfield Glacier

  12. Endless chain ridge, a row of knife like peaks, 17 mile in length with highest peak at 9000 feet will be visible to your right. Quick entry on the left and an easy walk to Sunwapta Falls is warranted here.
  13. Past a bunch of lakes like Buck Lake and Honeymoon Lake, drive up towards Athabasca Falls. This is where heavy amounts of water from the river of the same name plunges down through a narrow canyon. Try to capture the falls with the gorgeous mountains in the backdrop.
  14. Press on towards the town of Jasper. You will see the Valley of the Five Lakes which is a 1-2 hour easy trail that takes you to 5 pristine but tiny lakes. But may not be a good one to do on the short time today. So lets skip it, and revisit if you are staying a night in Jasper. You will spot the Pyramid Mountains and Whistlers Mountain Trams up ahead.
  15. End the drive in Jasper town for an evening snack or dinner. We drove back to Banff the same evening, but not recommended. Try to find reservation in one of the quaint lodges in Jasper.

Okay, that’s it for the road trip. Please note that a 3 day itinerary is slightly aggressive, but can easily be stretched into four, especially if weather Gods are not merciful on one of the days. Hope you enjoyed the tour. Please reach out via comments or Instagram/Twitter if we can be of any help to put together an itinerary for you.

Below is a map view. You can also download the map for navigation here.

[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1X1UvqbRdHrrVw1YdIyXnUzs9r2BtXOaX&w=640&h=480]

Jasper National Park

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Back to Alberta

So you have seen Banff already, and may be thinking twice on making the long drive along icefields parkway? Do not even flinch. The two parks next to each other actually are vastly different. While Banff offers more accessible yet spectacular views, Jasper National Parks is actually much more rugged, wild and unforgiving, albeit dramatic.

Suggested Time Spent: 1-2 Days   |    Best Time to Visit: May – Oct     |    Entry Fee: CAD 9.80 per adult (incl. w/ Banff NP)

As you drive north from Banff National Park, as you pass the Saskatchewan river crossing, you will enter the famous Icefields Parkway and Jasper National Park. You will not need additional passes if you already have bought the pass for Banff National Park.

Geology

As you embark on this 140 mile stretch of the Icefields Parkway, it is imperative that you gain some insights from a geological standpoint, to make viewing mega-glaciers and rugged terrains more fulfilling. Geology is a topic very close to us and a simplified version of the geologic history is fairly frowned upon. But in order for brevity, here is a simplified version – Tectonic movements of plates caused seabed to rise up 500 million years ago. From then, years of weathering by glaciers, rain and wind has caused some cliffs to be steep and some blunted. These are some of the oldest land on earth, whereas the land in British Columbia is much younger as they were formed by lava coming out of the subduction zones between the two plates. Get all your answers on our short coverage of the Geology of this area.

Things to see

There are plenty of marked attractions along the road, which we will list below, but remember, the real fun happens while you are on your way from one point to the next. Look out for flora and fauna, landscape changes, and the glaciers above. Many attractive features in this park are actually not marked, and can only be seen from the trails or side of the highway. We begin from the south make our way up north.

  • Columbia Icefields and Athabasca Glacier: The Athabasca glacier is one of the biggest attractions, rightfully so, in this area. What you see now is only remnants of the ice cover on this part of the country millions of years ago. It is situated at a slightly elevated plateau, and is surrounded by a number of peaks making it a sweet-spot for photographers. The glacier is like a frozen river where the ice is constantly on the move. The movement of the glacier has and is still shaping the topography of the area. Due to climate warming, the glacier’s recession is actually overwhelming the progress; you can spot the area where the glacier’s receded from. Jasper Cover
    • There is a ticket booth where you can buy the tickets. We did not buy them online, therefore wasting a bit of time. But if your tour itinerary is finalized, buy the tickets here. Please note that you cannot go on top of the glacier on your own. Only vehicles designed to move in the terrain can take you up there. We bought the combo of glacier walk and the skywalk (which was merely a tourist trap in our opinion).
    • When your group is called upon, you will be transported via a shuttle to the ‘Mars Rover’ like vehicle that will take you to the glacier. It goes through an extremely steep decline that normal tires will not be able to endure. The treading in these massive tires are about 6 inches deep. Not surprisingly, not a comfy ride, but the destination, the Athabasca glacier is incredible. It is below freezing here with the windchill coming down the glacier, so not advisable to stay more than 20-25 minutes.
    • When standing on the glacier, you cannot feel the movement of the 10,000 year old ice sheet. But look around the cliffs and you can visualize the thickness it used to have in the pre-historic times. Look up the cliffs and you will see thick (200-250 meters deep in different areas) ice sheets of the Columbia Icefield which is 215 sq. km. in area.
  • Sunwapta Falls: While you will spot many waterfalls along the way, most of them unnamed, this one needs a quick hike to the hanging valleys. Massive amounts of water cascades down a U-shaped broad valley. It was created when a large glacier receded 10,000 years ago, creating a deep limestone gorge below. The mist created by the plunging water makes the ambiance surreal, especially with some cloud cover.
  • Athabasca Falls: Along the Icefield Parkway, you will spot the 23 foot high Athabasca falls on your right. It is one of the most powerful falls due to the large amount of water that the Athabasca glacier fed river of the same name cuts into the softer limestone creating a deep gorge.
  • Mt. Edith Cavell: It was closed when we got there, but if open, a trail lets you look at the peak and traces of the icefield along its sides. There are lookouts though on the Icefields Parkway that you can spot the peak from.
  • Maligne Lake: Through a by road on the right, a trail takes you to one of the most picturesque lakes surrounded by snow-clad peaks. It is an incredible experience to kayak in the lake. As you paddle on the turquoise waters and get to the middle of the lake, you will be tired of clicking pictures of one peak to the other around it.
  • Town of Jasper: We recommend ending the day here in one of the little restaurants or cafes having a bite. If it is a clear day, you can spot the peaks of the Colin range and the jagged peaks of the Athabasca valley. There are lodging options available, but due to high demand, tends to fill out fast.

We came back to Banff the same day, spotting animals and the sunset glow on the ice peaks. The drive was tiring but was worth it to be able to spot so much wildlife as it was the time when they all come out.

Spotting Wildlife

While driving the magnificent Icefields Parkway, slow down. Not only to admire the scenery but also to look out for wildlife roaming around. Due to their camouflage, it is anyway hard to spot them in the sides of the road. But if you look carefully, and know what to look for, spotting a bear or two, porcupines, deer and even an occasional moose can be spotted. We even got lucky and got to see a huge Grizzly bear pretty close to the highway, and a baby black bear crossing the road along with a few more at a distance. Close to sunset and right around sunrise are the best times to spot wildlife.

Mountain Goats are another interesting topic here. They were not originally from here, and were introduced to the area by the explorers. They do not have enough nutrients from the vegetation here, so they lick glacial debris for essential minerals. It will not be difficult to spot Mountain Goats in the cliffs of the Jasper National Park. Make sure to have a high speed camera with a longer tele-lens ready for action. See below on what we could admire and capture in our lenses.

Kancamagus Highway

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An open road well balanced with caffeine, gasoline and love can take you a long way, literally! Add in an exuberance of fall foliage around it while the sun shines brightly above; it is a recipe for a good day at work.

As residents of the New England area, fall is a particularly exciting season for us. Not only because of the impending winter right after, but also because of the scenery around you along with the festivities that springs to life. Perfect time to hit the road on a sunny weekend for a day or a weekend getaway. Among several others, Kancamagus highway in New Hampshire White Mountains is a particularly special one. It is an easy ride with enough hikes to keep you exercised and quick enough to cover in a 7-8 hour day for a New England resident.

Begin At: Conway, NH  |  Suggested Duration: 5 Hours   |   Recommended Time of Visit: Fall (Mid-Sept – Mid-Oct)

We will take you through our journey along with some key tips to make this road trip memorable. Scroll down for a Google Maps view of the highway, but here is a snapshot of the official map –

Kancamagus Map

Official Kancamagus Highway Map

We begin the road trip from the visitor center in Conway, NH in the eastern most side of the Kancamagus Highway. Follow the map for planning purposes.

Brief History

The name Kancamagus comes from the peace loving tribal chief of the legendary Indians, Passaconaway, of New Hampshire. European settlers lived in the fertile land along the Swift river in 1790. The road connecting Conway and Lincoln was established and opened to traffic in 1959. Now US Forest Service maintains the road and recreational areas, that support hiking, skiing, swimming and kayaking. Trails and overlooks provide ample opportunity for visitors to hike and soak in the panoramic vistas of the Kancamagus mountains and the valleys.

Scenic Route

There are multiple scenic spots along the way. Mileage from the Eastern Entrance is marked below.

  • First Leg: The Swift river runs along the Kancamagus Highway. The main attractions and vantage points are mostly along the river. The first stop to the right is the Albany Covered Bridge (6.1 miles), followed by the Lower Falls (6.8 miles), both of which requires a quick hike. Rocks and boulders in the river allows you to take a better look at the valley up and down stream. On a clear day, foliage colors and the rocky foreground makes for beautiful landscape pictures. The viewing platforms for the Lower Falls make great pictures while appreciating the serenity around. Next up is the Rocky Gorge (9.0 miles) that is a highly photogenic area with a beautiful flume and falls. On your way westward, stop at the Russel Colbath House (12.5 miles) which is a historic house retaining the remains of the Passaconaway village. Before reaching the pass, on your left will be the Sabbaday Falls (15.4 miles)

    which requires an easy 0.6 mile hike to the cascading falls and an emerald pool.

  • Crest: Through the winding roads alongside bright foliage, the road took us to about 3,000 feet high at the Kancamagus Pass (22 miles). There are multiple vantage points facing east and west; feel free to pull over cautiously to soak in the views of the valleys that boast a palette of mixed hues. Notable overlooks, before

    and after the Kancamagus Pass, are Sugar Hill Overlook (17 miles), CL Graham Overlook (21 miles) for views of the Northeast. Best viewed in the afternoon with the sun in the back.

  • The Descent: Once past the pass, the road becomes slightly narrower and more winding while you descend. There are overlooks to view the south and southwest sides now. Pemi Overlook (23 miles) and Hancock Overlook (24 miles) provide

    unobstructed views of the Osceola range. Last notable stop is at the Lincoln Woods (30 miles). A suspension bridge and a fairly long hike on mostly flat terrain should make your day complete. Fall foliage colors might be a bit subdued here due to the presence of conifers.

  • Down and Out: On your way out to Lincoln, there ought to be a quick stop at the Loon Mountain Ski Resort for some stunning views, especially at dusk. Although a tiny town, stop at Lincoln for a quick bite. The Gypsy cafe, (dog friendly) with its whimsical menu of interesting selection of cuisine from around the world, is our favorite.

Key things to know before you go

  • Although you can visit any time of the year, fall makes it the poster child of NH tourism. Timing the visit to experience the explosion of colors at its peak, however, is tricky. Leaves begin to turn at the higher altitudes first. Leaves reach the peak color at the lower altitudes about 1-2 weeks after peaks at the high altitudes. So at any given time, barring about a 8-10 day window, either the high altitudes or lower altitudes will not be at peak. Since the Kancamagus highway strategically goes through both altitudes, you should be able to see a spectrum of color regardless.
  • It is close to impossible to predict what time the colors reach peak, so unfortunately for travelers coming in from outside New England, it is a gamble. As it gets closer to the middle of September, however, foliage tracking is a bit more predictable. Check these two amazing resources to fine tune your timing – NH Foliage Tracker and New England Live Foliage Map.
  • Kancamagus Highway is the road between Lincoln, NH (in the west) and Conway, NH (in the east). You can enter from either side, but going from East to West has its benefits. First, likely you are going to finish the trip in the evening just before sunset. The glow is best observed from the hikes in the western end. Also, the attractions in the eastern side are better observed during the day. Finally, Lincoln is a quaint town for dinner and is closer to a major highway connecting to Boston.
  • There is no cellphone reception after you cross the visitor center in Conway, NH. So pick up a map from the visitor center. It is fairly easy to navigate as the hikes and attractions are well marked.
  • Quite obvious, but please adhere to the speed limits. The road is not treacherous, but bicyclists and wildlife frequent this road. While you admire the fall foliage, please keep an eye on the bicyclists and wildlife.
  • There are no food or beverages sold in the 35 mile stretch between Conway and Lincoln. So pick up some food/lunch from Conway that you can eat in the picnic benches along the way.
  • There are no gas stations along the way, and gas prices are high in Lincoln. So fill up the tank before entering the road.

Interactive Map

Feel free to use the downloadable map below for your Kancamagus expedition.

[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1XOeVRftWKgVEomwEpY8V_IA4aXDipvPV&w=840&h=380]