The route
This is a suggested first route over the Kancamagus Highway, built from the places already in the Old Route Retro atlas. The road — a national-forest scenic byway of roughly thirty-four miles — crosses the White Mountain National Forest between Lincoln and Conway, and around it the atlas files the peaks, notches, and falls of the White Mountains. Every stop below links to its own place page, where the postcards filed for that location are gathered together.
The New Hampshire route shows the whole state, and holds every design currently filed under it.
Start at Franconia Notch
The western end of the drive is Franconia Notch, where Flume Gorge runs its boardwalk between granite walls and the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway climbs the ridge above.
Over the Kancamagus
The road itself is the heart of the route: the Kancamagus Highway climbs over the pass between Lincoln and Conway, through the national forest's river valleys and ridge lines, and is famous for its fall foliage. It is a road the weather can close at any time of year, so check current conditions before setting out.
The Conway side
At the eastern end, the Conway Scenic Railroad runs its old trains from the station at North Conway, and Cathedral Ledge lifts its cliff above the valley. Back toward the western side, Lost River Gorge threads the boulders of Kinsman Notch.
Up to Mount Washington country
North of the highway, the route extends into the country of Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast. Crawford Notch is the pass toward it, Arethusa Falls drops in the woods beside the notch, and the Cog Railway climbs the mountain's western slope.
The White Mountains and the gateway
The whole region is filed in the atlas under White Mountains, with Lake Winnipesaukee lying south as an easy addition, and two smaller atlas places — Polar Caves and Sculptured Rocks — sitting just off the road as detours.
Planning the route
This is a suggested route from the Old Route Retro atlas, not an official itinerary. The drive itself — roughly thirty-four miles — fits naturally in a day, with a day or two more for Mount Washington and the trails. The highway is famous for fall foliage, when the hillsides turn; summer is the busy season. Weather can close the road at any time of year, so check current conditions before travelling.
The atlas's other great mountain roads are the Beartooth Highway and Going-to-the-Sun Road — three passes, one atlas. Every stop in this guide is a real page: open the New Hampshire route to browse every design currently filed under it.
How long does this route take?
As a suggested route it has no fixed length. The highway itself — roughly thirty-four miles — fits naturally in a day, with a day or two more for Mount Washington and the trails around it. Each place page stands alone, so you can follow any single stop on its own.
When is the best time for fall foliage?
The Kancamagus Highway is famous for its fall foliage, and the colors usually peak in the autumn — the exact timing shifts from year to year, so check current foliage reports before travelling. The road is also a summer favorite for the cool mountain air.
Where does the Kancamagus Highway start and end?
The highway runs roughly thirty-four miles between Lincoln at its western end and Conway at its eastern end, crossing the White Mountain National Forest. In the atlas it is filed as the Kancamagus Highway, among the peaks and notches around it.