13 Fun Things to Do in North Conway NH (By a Local!)
North Conway is a beautiful mountain town in the White Mountains of New Hampshire that offers something to do every season. In the winter, it is the perfect ski town. In the spring and summer, it is a hiker’s paradise. And in the fall, North Conway turns into a colorful painting with beautiful fall foliage.
I spend most of my time in North Conway, so I can provide you with the best things to do. This guide has everything you need to know to visit North Conway, including the best hikes and things to do in North Conway, NH!
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Best Time to Visit North Conway
Winter
North Conway is the perfect place to visit in the winter if you want to ski or snowboard and do not mind the cold. There are five ski resorts within an hour from North Conway that offer incredible ski trails. I love visiting North Conway in the winter because it offers many trails for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. And of course, the snow-capped mountains are beautiful!
Spring
Spring in North Conway provides beautiful weather, wildflowers, and flowing waterfalls. After the snowmelt, the waterfalls are gushing, so visiting them is one of the best things to do in North Conway in the spring! The beginning of spring is also a great time to ski without many layers.
If you want to hike in North Conway, I highly recommend reading recent trail reviews and packing layers and extra traction. The snow can linger on the trails through June, especially in the higher elevations, so it is crucial to have the appropriate gear!
Summer
Summer provides endless activities and things to do in North Conway. All trails are open in the summer, so the hiking opportunities are endless. You can also visit the ski resorts for summer fun, including mountain biking, riding a mountain coaster, or ziplining.
As much as I love visiting North Conway in the summer, it is a popular time to visit North Conway. I recommend arriving at the must-see attractions early to secure a parking spot.
Fall
Fall is one of the most popular seasons to visit North Conway because of its beautiful fall foliage. The foliage paints the mountains and valleys in beautiful colors and will leave you speechless. The weather is cool with low humidity, so it is one of my favorite times to hike in North Conway!
Because fall is one of the most popular times to visit, many of the best things to do and hikes in North Conway will have crowds. I highly recommend visiting the must-see attractions early in the day to avoid most crowds.
Closest Airport to North Conway
North Conway is in central New Hampshire, and the closest airport to North Conway is Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, but it has limited flight options.
Boston Logan International Airport has more flight options and is only a three-house drive to North Conway. I highly recommend renting a car for your trip to North Conway because shuttle services are limited.
Best Places to Stay in North Conway NH
North Conway has everything you need to spend a night or longer, including a variety of hotels, restaurants, shops, and grocery stores. It is one of my favorite areas to stay in the White Mountains.
Best north conway hotels:
Best north conway campgrounds:
What to Pack
New Hampshire has unpredictable weather, so it is important to pack layers. We may not have the tallest mountains in the US, but the weather is just as unpredictable.
If you plan on hiking in North Conway, I highly recommend packing reliable hiking gear and layers no matter what season you visit. Weather in the mountains can change quickly, and the terrain in the White Mountains is rugged, so having the proper gear is crucial!
Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and support on your trip, hiking boots are the go to.
Hiking Socks: Having moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks are just as important for exploring.
Hiking Backpack: You need something to carry all your food, clothes, and anything else you need while adventuring, so having a supportive hiking backpack is crucial.
Hydration Reservoir/Water Bottles: While hiking or just exploring, it is important to have enough water! I always pack a hydration reservoir.
Jackets: The weather is unpredictable, so I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Ten Essentials: The Ten Essentials are crucial for hiking!
Microspikes: If you plan on winter hiking, you will need to bring microspikes.
Snowshoes: Also if you hike in the winter, you may need snowshoes.
The Best Things to Do in North Conway
If you want to hike in North Conway, consider hiring a guide! They can provide amazing trail recommendations and help ensure you have a safe trip, and you will be supporting the local economy!
**Always remember to leave no trace. It’s crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some of these spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they don’t have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.
Explore Echo Lake State Park
Time needed: 2-3 hours
Echo Lake State Park is a stunning 15.7-acre state park and one of the best things to do in North Conway, NH! It has a beautiful lake and rock ledges as its backdrop and is the perfect place to picnic, hike, and swim. The park is open year-round, so you can enjoy the beautiful views no matter when you visit. If you want to visit in summer, I highly recommend making a reservation up to 30 days in advance.
If you want to hike in Echo Lake State Park, there are many trails to enjoy:
Echo Lake Trail, an easy 1-mile loop around Echo Lake, offers beautiful views of the lake, Cathedral Ledge, and White Horse Ledge, making it one of the best hikes. I love hiking around Echo Lake in the winter because the views are gorgeous!
You can also hike to Cathedral Ledge on a 2.8-mile round trip trail. The views from the top are unmatched!
White Horse Ledge also offers incredible views of the surrounding mountains. You can hike a 3.1-mile roundtrip trail to White Horse Ledge.
No matter how you experience Echo Lake State Park, it will become one of your favorite things to do in North Conway year-round.
Drive to Cathedral Ledge
Time needed: 2-3 hours
Cathedral Ledge is one of the ledges you can see from Echo Lake State Park and offers stunning views of the surrounding area. It is one of my favorite viewpoints near North Conway because it is easily accessible by driving on a one-mile road in the summer. You can also hike the 2.1-mile Bryce Path Trail to multiple beautiful overlooks.
For those who enjoy rock climbing, Cathedral Ledge has a cliff face that is a perfect spot for climbing. North Conway has many guides who offer rock climbing adventures, too.
You can also hike to White Horse Ledge from the top of Cathedral Ledge if you want to enjoy another beautiful overlook! Cathedral Ledge is one of the best things to do in North Conway, NH.
Hike to Diana’s Bath
Time needed: 2-4 hours
Diana’s Bath is a beautiful 75-foot waterfall near North Conway and one of the most popular places to visit. An easy 1.3-mile trail leads to beautiful cascading falls, ledges, and pools and is one of the best hikes in North Conway. Diana’s Bath is a great spot to view the waterfall or swim in the summer!
Since it is a popular swimming spot in the summer, I highly recommend arriving early to secure a parking spot. The parking lot fills up quickly. We drove by it once around 9:00 AM, and it was already full!
Drive the Kancamagus Highway
Time needed: Half-day or full-day
Driving the Kancamagus Highway is one of my favorite things to do in North Conway and should be on every bucket list! The beautiful 34-mile scenic byway runs through the White Mountain, connecting Lincoln and Conway. It offers some of my favorite views in the area!
Although it only takes an hour to drive the entire byway, I highly recommend allocating a full day to explore everything it has to offer, including overlooks, trails, and waterfalls.
And the best part? The Kancamagus Highway is open year-round and offers beautiful views every season! I love driving it in the winter because it has fewer crowds and offers stunning views of the snow-capped mountains.
If you plan on driving the Kancamagus Highway in the fall, I highly recommend starting your day as early as you can. The Kancamagus Highway is one of the most beautiful fall foliage drives in the world, so it is busy during the fall.
Visit Cranmore Mountain Resort
Time needed: Half-day
Cranmore Mountain Resort is one mile from the heart of North Conway and offers fun activities year-round! In the winter, it has some of the best skiing in North Conway, with 56 trails on 170 acres and the best tubing park in New Hampshire.
In the summer and fall, it has a scenic chairlift, mountain coaster, zip line, giant swing, and downhill mountain biking. I love visiting in the summer because its activities are so fun!
You can also hike to the top of Cranmore Mountain on the 3.7-mile roundtrip Cranmore Trail. Visiting Cranmore Mountain during any season is one of the best things to do in North Conway, NH, for all ages!
Visit Attitash Mountain Resort
Time needed: Half-day
Attitash Mountain Resort is another fantastic area for skiing in North Conway and offers fun activities year-round! It has 68 ski trails on 311 acres, offering stunning views of the White Mountains.
In the summer, Attitash Mountain Resort offers a mountain coaster, the longest zip line in the east, the longest alpine slide in North America, downhill mountain biking, and an outdoor water park. No matter what season you visit, Attitash Mountain Resort is one of the best things to do in North Conway, NH!
Hike to Black Cap Mountain
Time needed: 2-4 hours
Black Cap is a beautiful peak near North Conway that offers stunning views of New Hampshire and Maine. The best trail is Black Cap Trail is an easy 2.3-mile trail with beautiful wildflowers and views.
Because it is a popular trail, the parking lot fills up quickly. I recommend arriving in the morning before the midday crowds arrive. Although you can only access it in the summer and fall, it is one of the best things to do in North Conway!
Hike to Peaked Mountain
Time needed: 3-5 hours
Peaked Mountain is another one of the best hikes in North Conway, offering stunning views of the Moat Mountain range, Mount Chocorua, and the surrounding mountains. There is a 3.5-mile roundtrip trail that loops through the preserve and to the summit of Peaked Mountain.
If you are looking for a longer trail, you can add Middle Mountain for a beautiful 5-mile roundtrip hike. I love hiking the longer trail because the views are incredible!
Hike to Mount Kearsarge North
Time needed: At least a half-day
Mount Kearsarge North has arguably some of the best views in the area, making it one of the best hikes in North Conway! But you will have to work for them! The 6.4-mile roundtrip hike is strenuous, gaining over 2,500 feet of elevation.
Once you are at the top, you have stunning 360-degree views and a fire tower built in 1913. If you are up for a strenuous hike, you will not be disappointed with Mount Kearsarge North!
Hike to South Moat, Middle Moat, and North Moat Mountains
Time needed: Full day
If you are looking for one of the best hikes in North Conway that requires a full-day adventure, the Moat Mountains are perfect! This hike is one of my favorites in the area! South Moat, Middle Moat, and North Moat Mountains are three stunning peaks west of North Conway that offer some of the most beautiful views in the area.
The 10.8-mile roundtrip hike is strenuous, gaining over 3,500 feet of elevation, so you will have to work for the views. I promise it is worth it, though! The summits and trail offer stunning 360-degree views of the White Mountains that will take your breath away.
If you do not want to hike to all three peaks, you can hike to South Moat for a 6-mile round trip hike. No matter which way you enjoy the Moats, the hike will quickly become one of your favorite North Conway hikes!
Tube in the Saco River
Time needed: 2-7 hours
The Saco River is 136 miles long, running through New Hampshire and Maine, and is the best place to swim and tube in the summer near North Conway! If you want to spend a few hours tubing down the river, you can choose from a 1-mile float to a 7-mile float. Tubing in the Saco is one of my favorite summer activities in North Conway!
You can rent a tube and have a shuttle bring you to the launching point where you can enjoy a relaxing float in the waters back to your car. Tubing in the Saco River is one of the best things to do in North Conway for all ages!
Experience Mount Washington
Time needed: Full-day for hiking; half-day for the Cog Railway, Snowcoach tours, and driving the auto road
Do you want to explore the tallest mountain in the Northeast?! Mount Washington stands at 6,288 feet tall and offers views to almost every state in New England on a clear day. And the best part? You don’t have to hike to the summit to enjoy the views!
There are many ways to reach the summit, including hiking, driving the auto road, riding the Cog Railway, or touring in a SnowCoach in the winter. If you are looking to hike, Mount Washington has many trails you can enjoy. I have hiked multiple trails to the summit, and all are strenuous. You should only hike it if you have the proper experience and gear.
If you do not want to hike, you can drive the 7.6-mile auto road or take the scenic train to the summit. In the winter, you can take a SnowCoach tour above the treeline. Exploring Mount Washington is one of the best things to do in North Conway, NH!
Ride the Conway Scenic Railroad
Time needed: Half-day
If you are looking to explore the Mount Washington Valley, riding the iconic Conway Scenic Railroad is one of the best ways to see it all! It is one of my favorite family-friendly activities that I enjoyed growing up.
There are three trains to choose from, and the best train ride, in my opinion, is the Mountaineer because it provides beautiful views of the Mount Washington Valley and Crawford Notch that will leave you speechless. The train ride is around five hours and is one of the best things to do in North Conway!
If you are looking for the perfect place to visit year-round in the White Mountains, North Conway is for you! I spend a lot of time in North Conway, so I made this guide with everything you need to know about the best things to do in North Conway, NH!
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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