Attractions
Family FavoriteClark's Bears
$25–$50Watch trained black bears perform, then ride a train over a covered bridge while the Wolfman chases you through the woods.
Photo: Sturgeonman, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.
Sport & OutdoorOutdoor AdventureFamily FavoriteFree
Franconia Notch State Park
260 Tramway Dr · Franconia, NH
Why you should go…
Franconia Notch State Park follows eight miles of Interstate 93 between the Kinsman and Franconia ranges in the White Mountains. You can walk through Flume Gorge, swim at Echo Lake, fly fish at Profile Lake and see the Basin, a granite pothole about 20 feet across beneath a waterfall on the Pemigewasset River. Cyclists ride the Recreational Trail, and hikers climb to Franconia Ridge on the Appalachian Trail. The park is free to enter, though Flume Gorge is ticketed.
- #state park
- #white mountains
- #flume gorge
- #hiking
- #swimming lake
Good to know
General sport & outdoor guidance
Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.
Weather calls the shots
Check the forecast the morning of and keep an indoor backup in your pocket for the day it turns.
Shoes, water, sun cover
The three things that decide whether you last the whole outing or cut it short after an hour.
Parking and launches fill early
On a nice weekend, lots and trailheads are often full by mid-morning.
Daylight shrinks in shoulder season
Spring and fall visits need an earlier start than the same trip in July.
What's around here?
The closest stops to Franconia Notch State Park, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.
7.0 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions
- ToursOutdoor Adventure
Granite State Railway
$25–$50Scenic train rides and electric rail bike adventures through the White Mountains.
7.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours
- SightseeingOutdoor Adventure
White Mountains
FreeNew Hampshire's mountain playground, home to Mount Washington, Franconia Notch, and the Kancamagus Highway.
7.9 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing
- Sport & OutdoorOutdoor Adventure
Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves
$25–$50Follow a mile of boardwalk trail down a glacial gorge in Kinsman Notch and squeeze through 11 granite boulder caves.
9.1 mi awayMore like this
- Sport & OutdoorOutdoor Adventure
Kancamagus Highway
FreeDrive 34.5 miles through White Mountain National Forest past overlooks, the Swift River and Sabbaday Falls.
13 mi awayMore like this
- Sport & OutdoorOutdoor Adventure
Crawford Notch State Park
FreeHike to Arethusa and Ripley Falls and stop at the historic Willey House site in a White Mountains pass.
14 mi awayMore like this
