Best State Parks near Lincoln, NH
New Hampshire boasts some of the most incredible scenery and significant wildlands in New England; no surprise it also has an absolutely stellar lineup of state parks, better than 40 of them, as part of its vast network of public lands.
Along with ready access to the 750,852-acre White Mountain National Forest, our slopeside hotel here at The Mountain Club on Loon positions you close to one of the most celebrated of those New Hampshire state parks: Franconia Notch.
Franconia Notch State Park
Just a few miles from our Loon Mountain property, Franconia Notch State Park encompasses the namesake pass between the Kinsman Range and the Franconia Range, two of the great subranges of the White Mountains. There’s an awful lot of fascinating human history connected to this natural thoroughfare, not to mention deep-time geology composing this magnificent landscape.
The Notch’s most famous edging wall is formed by 4,080-foot Cannon Mountain of the Kinsman Range. Host to the only aerial tram in North America—an unforgettable way to enjoy its far-reaching summit views—Cannon Mountain also once famously supported the visage-like granite outcrop known as the Old Man of the Mountain or the Great Stone Face, which collapsed in 2003. You’ll still find plenty of information on that iconic rock formation—and a viewfinder that essentially resurrects it—in the park.
Here also lies the incredible Flume Gorge, which reaches as deep as 90 feet while narrowing in places to only about a dozen. Avalanche Falls marks the head of this astonishing, 800-foot-long whitewater slot at the foot of Mount Liberty, traced by one of the coolest trails in New Hampshire.
Other signature landmarks in Franconia Notch State Park include the glacier-carved pothole called the Basin and mountain-walled Echo Lake with its inviting beachfront and mesmerizing views of Cannon Mountain and Mount Lafayette.
Hiking, swimming, angling, biking: There’s loads to do in Franconia Notch State Park, one of the great distillations of White Mountain natural majesty anywhere.
Use The Mountain Club on Loon as a Springboard for Franconia Notch State Park
Just minutes away from the park, The Mountain Club on Loon serves as perfect accommodations for Franconia Notch daytrips. Relax in your well-appointed room or suite, relish farm-to-fork dining at our on-site eateries, and take a soak or enjoy a post-hike massage in our Mountain Spa & Wellness Center.
Summer’s a fabulous time to visit Franconia Notch State Park—and to enjoy our slopeside hospitality here at The Mountain Club on Loon! Make your reservation today.