Hotel at a Glance: Kancamagus Lodge

Locals call it “the Kanc”—a 35-mile roadway that spirals up into the wilderness of the White Mountains. Officially, though, it’s called the Kancamagus Highway, an officially designated National Scenic Byways built to provide drive-in access to New Hampshire’s rocky gorges and plunging waterfalls. Kancamagus Lodge sits right at the start of it. Consequently, guests are uniquely positioned to access mountain vistas by car or on hikes at nearby forest campgrounds. Zip-lining at Alpine Adventures and skiing at Loon Mountain are both nearby as well.

• Where you’ll stay: Guest rooms are simply furnished but comfortable. Deluxe rooms feature steam showers and some have balconies; ground-level standard rooms offer easy access to the car lot.
• Use your dining credit at two onsite eateries, either CJ’s Penalty Box—one of the area’s only sports bars, or upstairs at Brittany’s Mountainside Food & Spirits (open seasonally), where chefs prepare a menu of comfort-food favorites amid views of the surrounding mountains
• Nearby skiing destinations: Loon Mountain (1 mi.), Cannon Mountain Ski Area (12 mi.) Waterville Valley Resort (16 mi.)

Lincoln, New Hampshire: Small Town Conveniently Located Near Ski Hills and Forests

Formerly a mill town, Lincoln is home to a modest collection of roadside diners and antique shops. But many visitors are drawn to Lincoln for its proximity to the White Mountains. Kancamagus Lodge sits just 1 mile from Loon Mountain, one of the area’s premiere skiing destinations. Most of the trails skew toward intermediate skiers, but experts can take advantage of the top-to-bottom runs and 15 acres of slopes. Terrain parks dotted with ramps and sliding rails are wide-open playgrounds for boarders, and a snow-tubing park was recently added for younger kids. Come summer, Loon Mountain opens its climbing walls, mountain-bike trails, and one of New Hampshire’s longest gondola rides.

Kancamagus Lodge puts visitors less than 10 miles from the Flume—a natural gorge framed by towering granite walls with a rushing stream at the base. Photogenic nature scenes can be found at almost every turn here. Birch trees jut out of the cliffs, and thick mats of moss are spread over rocks. Hikers flock to the area to navigate the wooded trails and catwalks, and on warmer days, travelers can shake hands with their reflection on the surface of various glistening lakes. The late spring in particular is an ideal time to visit, when snow melt from the winter builds up in the streams and gushes over the waterfalls.

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