Top Places To Stop Along The Kancamagus Highway In New Hampshire

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Drone photo from above looking down over a road cutting through a thick forest with colorful leaves on the Kancamagus Highway road trip in New Hampshire during the fall

The Kancamagus Highway is a picturesque 35-mile scenic byway cutting through New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest between Lincoln and Conway. We’ve driven it in each direction on different fall road trips and we can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s a captivating route filled with stunning views and family friendly fun, so don’t miss it when you visit New England.

In this guide we show you the top hikes, overlooks, attractions and places to stop along the Kancamagus Highway scenic drive in New Hampshire, based on our experiences.

Our Experience

A couple standing on either side of a wooden sign marking the entrance to Kancamagus Highway Scenic Byway in New Hampshire
Here we are getting the obligatory welcome sign photo near Conway

We first drove the Kancamagus Highway from west to east during our maiden New England fall road trip in 2020. It took us around 6 hours to drive the 35-mile road because we stopped at every overlook and took hundreds of photos. The second time we drove the Kancamagus Highway east to west during a 4-week New England road trip we took in the fall of 2023. This time it took us closer to 8 hours because we hiked more trails and took even more photos!

We’ve ticked off a lot of the famous fall spots around New England, but we have to say the Kancamagus Highway is right up there among our favorites. It’s short, simple and has incredible scenery throughout. But we think the best part is that it’s suitable for everyone. Hikers can hit trails, photographers can snap away and sightseers can take in its highlights from several overlooks. Even though we’ve done it twice already, we’d definitely do it again on our next road trip through New Hampshire. Read more about us.

We don’t think it matters which way you drive the route, but we’re going to show you the best places to stop on the Kancamagus Highway as though you’re driving it from west to east. (Oh, and don’t forget to take a look at our popular New England fall road trip guidebook if you’ll be visiting in autumn.)

1. Lincoln

Glass of beer and a cocktail next to each other on a table inside a classy pub
Our celebratory drinks in The Common Man in Lincoln at the end of a long day on The Kanc

Lincoln is where you’ll start (or end) the drive. It’s on the west side of the byway and you won’t get another built up area until you reach the other side at Conway, so now is the time to fuel up. We’ve eaten breakfast at White Mountain Bagel and Flapjacks Pancake House, both were great. If you’re coming the other way, we’ve also eaten dinner at Black Mountain Burger and The Common Man, which was especially excellent.

The first place you’ll pass through heading east is Loon Mountain. This is where most people stay for skiing in winter because it has lots of resort style lodging options. We stayed at a resort in Loon Mountain the first time we drove the Kancamagus Highway because it was so convenient. Don’t forget to fill up with gas and grab some snacks before leaving Lincoln and Loon Mountain.

Here are some things you can do near Lincoln:

2. Lincoln Woods

Tourist in plaid shirt and jeans walking across a wooden suspension bridge over a river with trees behind near Lincoln Woods on the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire
Here’s Kristen on the suspension bridge at Lincoln Woods

The first place you’ll reach on the scenic byway is Lincoln Woods. Here, you’ll find ample parking, a visitor center, restrooms and an attractive suspension bridge which is worth walking across for a quick photo. Go inside the visitor center to check up on current conditions, grab a route map and ask the rangers any questions you might have.

Optional: Backcountry hikers use this parking area to venture out into the alpine terrain of the Franconia Mountains. But an easier and more commonly used path is called Franconia Falls Trail, which is an easy and flat 6-mile roundtrip hike on an old logging road. To be honest, we avoided this hike because it’s not the best trail along the highway and it would have taken up a lot of time.

 

3. Otter Rocks

Tourist sat at a wooden bench in a forest surrounded by trees
We finished our morning coffees and had snacks on a picnic table at Otter Rocks

Continuing east you’ll next reach Otter Rocks, which is a lovely picnic spot if you decided to bring breakfast along in the car. You could skip Lincoln Woods and stop here instead. Walk through the trees beyond the benches so the kids (or adults!) can splash around in the water. If you don’t want to sit down on a bench or splash in the water, don’t stop here and carry on to the first overlook which comes next.

Optional: On the way to Otter Rocks you can stop at the Forest Discovery Trail, which is a 1.5-mile forest ecology interpretive loop with 200 feet elevation change. Again, we’ve avoided it both times because there are better things to see, but this could be a good one for the kids.

4. Hancock Overlook

Tourist in shorts and t-shirt with camera at an information board inside a wooden pavilion overlooking a view of trees and hills
Here’s Mark reading about the view from Hancock Overlook as the sunset was becoming hazy

The first stop with views on the Kancamagus Highway is called Hancock Overlook. It’s located on a tight U-bend so you can’t miss it, and it has a small parking lot in the middle of the bend. From here you’ll get your first southwest facing views over the Osceola Range, but unless you fly a drone it’s hard to see much of the U-bend.

Optional: Just before reaching the U-bend you can hike the moderately difficult 7-mile roundtrip Greeley Ponds Trail. Alternatively, right from the Hancock Overlook parking area you can hike the strenuous 9-mile roundtrip Hancock Trail with 2,500 feet elevation gain. We haven’t done either because they’d take up too much time.

5. Pemigewasset Overlook

Far reaching view over trees and rolling hills covered in colorful leaves on a misty day on the west side of the Kancamagus Highway in fall
The view we had looking southwest from Pemigewasset Overlook

This is where things start to get interesting. Continue climbing and twisting on the Kancamagus Highway until you reach the next stop called Pemigewasset Overlook. You’ll pull off the road into a large parking area, then walk down to a wooden pavilion shelter which has exceptional 180 degree views over Mount Osecola and its nearby peaks.

If you’re running shorter on time, we recommend you skip everything up to this point and make Pemigewasset Overlook your first stop of the morning. There are no optional hikes to consider here, it’s a really easy and quick stop with great views.

Need help planning your New England road trip?

Our popular New England fall travel guidebook helps you with planning every aspect of your road trip, including the best places to stop, where to see fall colors, where to eat and stay, itinerary ideas and map!

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Where Are Those Morgans New England fall travel guidebook

6. CL Graham Wangan Overlook

A couple wearing sunglasses in light clothing standing together on grass for a photo with a far reaching view over trees and rolling hills in the background on the Kancamagus Highway with vibrant fall foliage colors
Here we are at the awesome CL Graham Wangan Overlook

Your next stop is just 1 minute or 0.2 miles away, but first you’ll drive over the summit of Kancamagus Pass at 2,855 feet elevation. A few seconds after beginning your descent you’ll turn left into CL Graham Wangan Overlook. We think this is one of the best Kancamagus Highway stops because it has spectacular far reaching views looking northeast over the Swift River and rolling hills covered in trees.

Tip: Walk a hundred feet or so to the right side of the wooden pavilion so you can take photos of your group with a much more attractive background, which you can see in our photo above.

7. Lily Pond

A small pond surrounded by light vegetation and trees on a misty day
We took this one at Lily Pond but we’re not sure if we’d stop there again next time

Your next stop is a roadside pullover with a very short walk to Lily Pond. It’s not essential, but we do recommend stopping if you visit during peak fall foliage colors because it’s an easy-to-get photo of a still pond surrounded by trees. The rangers told us this was a good place to spot moose but we thought the only way that would happen is if we arrived super early in the morning. Low and behold, we didn’t see a moose!

Tip: Don’t bother with any of the trails here like Livermore or Sawyer River because there’s a great hike coming soon.

8. Sugar Hill Overlook

Tourist sat inside a wooden pavilion with views over rolling hills behind
Kristen enjoying the views from Sugar Hill Overlook

The last viewpoint you should definitely stop at on the Kancamagus Highway is called Sugar Hill Overlook. By now you’ll have dropped down significantly in elevation, but the northeast facing views are still magnificent. Don’t drive too fast downhill or you might miss the parking lot!

This is the final place you can gaze across miles of colorful forest leaves from an elevated vantage point. So get all the photos you need here before continuing to descend further.

9. Sabbaday Falls

Narrow gorge with a waterfall and moss clad walls in a forest on the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire
Photo we took from the bottom of Sabbaday Falls

Sabbaday Falls is one of the most visited waterfalls in New Hampshire and we think it’s probably the most popular stop along the Kancamagus Highway. Frustratingly, there’s not a huge amount of parking at the trailhead, so you might struggle to park if you visit on weekends, holidays or during peak fall foliage season. But it’s definitely worth visiting, so you might just have to be patient.

Once we parked it was a very easy 15 minute walk along a flat gravel-packed track to reach Sabbaday Falls, a 45-ft series of cascades crashing through a narrow flume. The path is semi-accessible for strollers and wheelchairs but it’s not smooth. At the flume, we found a great viewpoint from the bottom, but then we had to climb lots of wooden steps and walk around a boardwalk to see the cascades.

10. Russell-Colbath House

Large brown barn with sloping roof in front of evergreen trees
The super-photogenic Russell-Colbath Barn

One of our personal favorite stops along the Kancamagus Highway is Russell-Colbath House Historic Site. You’ll find a small house which was built in 1832 that’s the only remaining original structure from Passaconaway Village. It has interpretive signs, but sometimes a ranger will be on site to explain more. Next door is the Russell-Colbath Barn which we think is the most photogenic building along the route.

Optional: You can also walk an easy interpretive 0.5-mile path called Rail and River Trail behind the historic buildings. This is a great hike for younger kids because it leads to the Swift River and contains educational information boards explaining logging in the area.

11. Champney Falls

Hiking sign marker for a trail in a forest along the Kancamagus Highway NH
The trailhead for Champney Falls (we turned around because the waterfall would be dry)

Champney Falls is one of the more popular Kancamagus Highway hikes. You can either choose a moderate 3.1-mile roundtrip to Champney Falls or a hard 8-mile roundtrip to Mt Chocorua. The waterfall at Champney Falls is a photogenic 70-ft cascade and Mt Chocorua has some of the best 360 panoramic views in the White Mountains.

We parked to hike Champney Falls but when we read the information sign it stated that the waterfall is meager during dry periods, and fall is about dry as it gets. Next time we drive the Kancamagus Highway we’ll definitely hike to both Champney Falls and Mount Chocorua because those summit views look incredible.

Optional: If you’d prefer to get off the beaten path on a challenging trail, drive up nearby Bear Notch Road to hike Table Mountain via Attitash Trail instead.

12. Rocky Gorge Scenic Area + Falls Pond

River running through a gorge with large rocks and boulders flanked by trees with colorful leaves on the Kancamagus Highway in fall
This is a photo we took of Rocky Gorge from the footbridge

We think Rocky Gorge Scenic Area is another of the better stops to make on the Kancamagus Highway. You should cross the Rocky Gorge footbridge above narrow flumes in the Swift River for some really great photos. Then continue into the forest until you reach Falls Pond which looks stunning when it’s surrounded by fall foliage colors.

Optional: Once you reach Falls Pond you can hike a reasonably flat 1-mile forest trail around the pond called Lovequist Loop. It’s peaceful and we’d even go as far as saying romantic here, so couples might want to prioritize this tranquil walk in the woods.

13. Lower Falls

Lots of trees, rocks and boulders with light water running through the rocks
The lightly flowing Lower Falls recreation area in fall

Lower Falls is a popular recreation area near the eastern side of the Kancamagus Highway with plenty of parking, restrooms and picnic benches. It’s essentially a wide part of the Swift River with water rushing through lots of large rocks and boulders. In spring and summer you can see the waterfalls from a viewing area, but in fall when the water levels are low you can actually climb around the boulders and swim in natural pools.

Both our trips were in the fall so we were able to carefully climb around the rocks to get some fun photos. Not many people were swimming because it was cold, but maybe around the end of August and all of September it would be safe and not so cold to swim.

14. Albany Covered Bridge

Drone photo from above of the Albany Covered Bridge with its red roof crossing a river and surrounded by trees and rolling hills on the Kancamagus Scenic Byway
We quickly flew our drone to get this awesome photo of the Albany Covered Bridge

We think the Albany Covered Bridge is the best photo spot and also one of the top attractions along the Kancamagus Highway. Originally built in 1858, the gorgeous Albany Covered Bridge has had several restorations and repairs, but you can still walk or drive your car through it today. We walked down to the river banks to take photos looking back up at the bridge on an angle, and we also flew our drone to get photos of the bridge from above.

Optional: You can hike a 3.1-mile trail with 950 feet elevation gain called Boulder Loop Trail which leads to awesome views of Mt Chocorua. It begins on the far side of the covered bridge, which is also the starting point for the Nanamocomuck ski trail if you’ll be visiting in winter.

15. North Conway

Tourist standing in the middle of large wings spray painted onto a wall. with lots of colors
Here’s Kristen in North Conway

After all that action, you’ve still only driven 35 miles! Now, once you reach the end of the Kancamagus Highway you’ll find yourself in Conway. Take Main Street and turn onto Washington Street to cross Saco Covered Bridge and Swift River Covered Bridge. Next, continue to North Conway, where you’ll probably stay the night (before or after).

We’ve stayed at two hotels in North Conway and think it’s the best place to stay on the east side of the scenic byway. We enjoyed breakfast at Peach’s and Banners, as well as dinner at Delaney’s Hole in the Wall and Moat Mountain Smokehouse.

Here are some things you can do in North Conway:

Kancamagus Highway Attractions Map

Click or touch the map below to activate, zoom in and out, scroll around and look for the viewpoints, recreation areas, hikes and restaurants we’ve included in this guide.

Map key:

  • Red – Viewpoints
  • Blue – Recreation areas
  • Orange – Hikes
  • Green – Restaurants

What You Need To Know

Sign showing which passes are honored in White Mountain National Forest

Here are some important things you should know before driving the Kancamagus Highway:

  • There are no gas stations between Lincoln and Conway. Fill up at whichever side you begin the road trip.
  • Cell service is non-existent so download any maps you need and make any reservations for dinner or hotels before starting.
  • There are no restaurants along the main stretch of the scenic byway so eat breakfast before beginning.
  • Bring a packed lunch if you plan to take on any longer hikes.
  • We ate a quick brunch of tomato soup and grilled cheese at The Cheese Louise Commissary very close to the east terminus of the highway and it was great. It’s open 11.00am-5.00pm daily.
  • Parking along the Kancamagus Highway costs $5 per vehicle per day.
  • But you can use your America the Beautiful pass instead, so don’t forget it.
  • You’ll need to pack bug spray and sunscreen if you visit in summer.
  • It’s also known as The Kanc, and the name is correctly pronounced Kan-kah-mah-gus.

READ: 30 amazing USA road trip ideas

When To Drive The Kancamagus Highway

A still pond with trees encircling and a reflection of the trees in the pond with some fall foliage colors on the Kancamagus Highway in fall
We took this one of Falls Pond near Rocky Gorge with some vibrant autumnal foliage

The Kancamagus Highway is open year round but its busiest periods are summer and the first two weeks of October during peak fall foliage season in the White Mountains. We’ve driven it twice in the fall and we highly recommend you do the same if it’s your first time driving the scenic byway because autumn is when the region is most beautiful.

It would be nice and quiet in spring with high water levels once the snow melted. Summer would bring the crowds, heat, bugs and emerald green leaves. Fall is when The Kanc really comes into its own with a dazzling earthy light show. And finally winter would be very quiet but you might not be able to do much. Plus, Bear Notch Road which connects the highway to the town of Bartlett closes in the winter.

Where To Stay

A small building with a sign outside for Peach's Restaurant
We ate here at Peach’s for breakfast in North Conway

Unless you plan to drive through the Kancamagus Highway in the middle part of your day, you’ll likely need to stay either in North Conway on the east side or Lincoln on the west side. Be aware that there are no hotels directly along the Kancamagus Highway.

We stayed in Loon Mountain the night before our first time on The Kanc. We got an early start, spent the day stopping along the route and then spent that night in North Conway. When we returned in 2023 we stayed in North Conway the night before, drove the scenic byway and then stayed in Lincoln that night. Both ways worked just fine.

Here’s where you can stay in Lincoln or Loon Mountain:

Here’s where you can stay in North Conway:

If you really want to stay right on the scenic byway, there are 6 campgrounds you can book along the Kancamagus Highway. Here they are from west to east:

Our Favorite Photos

The Kancamagus Highway is exceptionally photogenic and we could have included so many more photos in this guide. Here are just a few more of our favorites:

A narrow waterfall surrounded by moss clad rocks and a wooden boardwalk in a forest
We took this one at the top of Sabbaday Falls
Couple standing together for a photo on a rocky surface with trees and a river behind
This was us after walking out onto the Rocky Gorge area
Photo of a road taken from close to the tarmac and yellow lines leading through trees
We quickly took this one of the scenic byway when no cars were coming
Tourist standing with sunglasses and camera next to a sign marker for a hike in a forest
Here’s Mark as we quickly walked around the interpretive Rail and River Trail
View over lots of trees as far as the eye can see with some fall foliage colors and distant mountain peaks just visible along the Kancamagus Highway drive
This was our full view from Sugar Hill Overlook
Tourist standing at the serving window of a wooden building offering food with tables outside
Here’s Kristen buying our tomato soup and grilled cheese at Cheese Louise near Conway
Close up of the back side of a car on a road with trees and hills
We took this photo of our car on a long curve along the scenic byway

The Morgan Conclusion

Couple standing together on rocks at the side of a river with trees and a covered bridge with red roof behind
Here we are at the Albany Covered Bridge on the east side of the scenic byway

What we like: We love how many excellent viewpoints, hikes and attractions are packed into just 35 miles of driving. We’re travel photographers and The Kanc is one of the most visually stunning places to visit in New England in the fall, so it’s a match made in heaven for us.

What we don’t like: It’s hard for us to think of any strong dislikes for The Kanc. But if we had to nitpick (just to find some faults) we’d say it could have better amenities and the parking at certain trailheads could be increased. Otherwise, it’s a pretty great place to visit.

Is the Kancamagus Highway worth it? Yes! The Kancamagus Highway is a pin up for New England fall foliage destinations for a reason. It’s easy for anyone to visit, it’s free, it has amazing viewpoints and hiking trails, and it’s visually stunning. After driving it twice, we believe the Kancamagus Highway is one of the best bang for your buck mini-road trips in the US.

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We hope this guide to driving the Kancamagus Highway helps with planning your visit to New Hampshire!

Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments below.

Happy Travels,

Mark and Kristen

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4 thoughts on “Top Places To Stop Along The Kancamagus Highway In New Hampshire”

  1. Thank you for your blog. We are visiting NH in September and staying in N Conway. Trying to decide, if we drive the Kancamagus east to west, what do we do when we get to Lincoln? Drive up to Hwy 3 and take 302 through the mountains back to N Conway? It doesn’t seem to make sense to turn around and drive the Kanc back. Or drive it west to east, but still need a way to get to Lincoln. What would you suggest?

    Reply
    • Hi Faye, glad to hear you are planning to drive the Kancamagus Highway this fall. We agree, driving back on the Kanc is not the best way to do it. Drive it east to west, then go straight to Flume Gorge, followed by a very short hike to Artists Bluff. Both are fantastic. After that, take 3 to 302 and stop around the Mt Washington area, maybe even take the cog railway to the summit if you have time. From there it’s just a short drive back to N Conway. Have a great time!

      Reply

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