Land Adventures at RiverWalk

For more than 100 years, visitors have found their way to the White Mountains of New Hampshire for their beauty, grandeur, and recreational qualities.  Now, the area known as the Western White Mountains (Lincoln, Woodstock, Franconia) has become the base camp for tourists, adventure seekers, and a ton of outdoor fun.

The first rule in enjoying the White Mountains on land, is “Get Outside.”  The mountains offer so many great experiences outside, that you would never be able to do it all, especially considering there are 4 (or 5) distinct seasons.

Everyone knows that New Hampshire has the best skiing and riding in the Northeast.  With Loon Mountain Resort out the back door, and Cannon Mountainjust a few minutes to the North, RiverWalk Resort is situated between the 2 most critically acclaimed ski areas in the East.  Outdoor snow sports in the winter are endless in the Western White Mountains.  Snowshoe into the Franconia Notch State Park and gear up for some Ice climbing in the Flume Gorge.  Explore the extensive NH trail system on your “snow machine” (that’s a snowmobile to most) right from the many access points to corridor 11.  Lace up your skates for some ice skating on RiverWalk’s first-of-its-kind swimming pool ice rink.  Yes, the pool converts to an ice skating experience in the winter.

The locals call March and April, spring skiing season or even “mud” season which sometimes extends into May.  This time of year is great for snowsports because the weather is generally exceptional, with warmer days and cooler nights.  Get outside and go for that snowshoe hike on the RiverWalk trail or one of the various walks on the Kancamagus Scenic Highway.

Adventure abounds in the summer season, which starts on Memorial Day Weekend and extends through labor day.  The most enjoyed activity in the White Mountains in the summer is hiking.  The Western White Mountains are defined by the area comprising the western slope of the Presidential Range, which also includes the Franconia Range.  

There are summit hikes that would take the day to complete, but offer some of the most amazing views in the country.  Waterfalls, scenic vistas, dense forest, and wildlife (moose, bear, eagles, bobcats, etc.) are a big part of the adventure.  To take it a step further, more experienced mountaineers trek the Appalachian Trail which traverses the high peaks in the Western White Mountains.  Rock climbing, ATV Riding, Mountain Biking, and even spelunking (cave exploring) are common adventures in the White Mountains.

If you love land adventures in the summer, you’ll love them even more in Autumn.   Droves of people come to the White Mountains from around the world to see the fall foliage in all its glory.  This makes for the most amazing backdrop for outdoor adventures.  There’s nothing quite like the view from atop Cannon Mountain, looking into Franconia Notch when the leaves are bright orange and red.  Or, finding Lost River while the leaves are changing, is a memory you won’t soon forget.  One of the most traveled and famous scenic byways in America is the Kancamagus highway.  Both sides of this storied route are covered in adventurous hikes that could take you a lifetime to conquer.

At the center of all the adventure is RiverWalk Resort at Loon Mountain.  Located in the center of town, RiverWalk is the most convenient home base camp for White Mountains Adventures.  For more great information on land adventures in the Lincoln, Woodstock, and Franconia Notch area, visit the Western White Mountains Chamber of Commerce.