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A FOLIAGE TOUR ON THE ROADS LESS
TRAVELED (a 6 hour trip)
 Evans Notch is your destination for a quiet fall
drive. And the colors here may vary from the nearby
areas since White Mountain foliage peaks at varying
times .To begin your exploration of this shunpike (the
name for a less traveled New England byway), drive south
on Route # 16 for 7 miles to the Hurricane Mountain Road
across from the North Conway Scenic Vista and turn left
onto an authentic roller coaster ride that brings you to
Route #113. As you turn north and pass through the
bucolic valley of the lower Saco River, the delights of
the traditional countryside reminiscent of times past
greets you at every turn. Stop for a bag of apples or
other fruits of the harvest at a roadside farm before
heading into the mountain notch. The narrow wooded road
through Evans Notch twists past rounded peaks which
seem magnified by their comparison to the sharp peaks of
the Presidential Range. North Baldface peak at 3610’
tops this range. Most of Evans Notch actually lies in
Maine and includes the newest wilderness area of the
White Mountain National Forest designated in 1991. This
less accessible notch in the White Mountains, which is
closed in winter, is a good place for those seeking
solitude.
The circle tour brings you back to
Jackson west via Route # 2 winding through moose
country. Strung out along the Androscoggin River, (once
a highway for logs from the great north woods), is a
famous stand of white birches near the town of
Shelburne. Down the road, stop in Gorham, a town that
has been catering to tourists since 1851 when the
Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad (now the Canadian
National) started bringing tourists to the
White
Mountains as evidenced by the train on display in
the park.
Route #16 goes south from Gorham 17
miles back to Jackson. The majesty of the Mount
Washington takes on a different dimension as it is
approached from the north. You may want to view the
magnificent fall colors from the
Wildcat Ski Area Gondola which also offers you a
stunning look at the ravines of Mount Washington.
Along this famous Pinkham Notch
Road are several not-to be–missed destinations for any
visitor to New Hampshire.
Great Glens Trails complex is the headquarters for
the eight mile auto road to the summit of Mount
Washington, the oldest continuously operating attraction
in the country. Then , continuing south, take time to
learn about the environs at the northern headquarters of
the
Appalachian Mountain Club as well as the history of
this organization which maintains a string of the huts
in high places accessible only on foot. A moderate 30
minute hike to the Crystal Cascades give you a taste of
the trails -and a hearty appetite as you head down the
last 10 miles back to Jackson just in time for dinner at
one of our highly rated restaurants.
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