White Mountain National Forest

The White Mountain National Forest in the northeastern USA consists of the White Mountain. It offers you majestic alpine peaks and mountainous hardwood forests. White Mountain National Forest offers you breathtaking scenery, year-round outdoor recreation opportunities, wildlife, and clear mountain lakes and streams.

The total forest land is more than 750,000 acres (1171.88 sq mi or 3035.14 sq km). It consists of 6 designated Federal Wilderness Areas. They are Presidential Range/Dry River Wilderness, Great Gulf Wilderness, Pemigewasset Wilderness, Sandwich Range Wilderness, Caribou/Speckled Mountain Wilderness, and Wild River Wilderness. It is one of the most visited outdoor recreation sites situated to the east of the Mississippi.

Where is White Mountain National Forest

White Mountain National Forest is spread across western Maine and eastern New Hampshire. This national forest in the northeastern USA is situated within the White Mountains.

Places to Visit

There are many attractions near White Mountain National Forest, including:

Sabbaday Falls
Northern Extremes Snowmobiling
Arethusa Falls
Crawford Notch State Park
Sugar Hill Scenic Vista
Monkey Trunks
Mount Chocorua
Rocky Gorge
Bear Notch Ski Touring Centre
Lake Chocorua
Waterville Valley Resort – Ski Area
Northern Extremes Snowmobile
Rocky Gorge
Lower Falls
Pemigewasset Overlook
Albany Covered Bridge
Waterville Valley Ice Arena
Greeley Pond
Waterville Valley Golf Course
Hancock Overlook and many more

The cities and towns near White Mountain National Forest are:

Berlin
Bethlehem
Campton
Conway
Gorham
Lincoln
Littleton
North Conway
Whitefield and others

Things to Do

Bicycling
- Mountain Biking
Camping & Cabins
- Cabin Rentals
- Campground Camping
- Dispersed Camping
- Group Camping
Climbing
- Rock Climbing
Fishing
- Lake and Pond Fishing
- River and Stream Fishing
Hiking
- Backpacking
- Day Hiking
Hunting
Nature Viewing
- Viewing Plants
- Viewing Scenery
- Viewing Wildlife
Outdoor Learning
- Interpretive Areas
Picnicking
Group Picnicking
Rocks & Minerals
- Gold Panning
- Rockhounding
Scenic Driving
Water Activities
- Boating – Non-Motorized
- Swimming
Winter Sports
- Skiing/Snowboarding
- Sledging/Tubing
- Snowmobiling
- XC Skiing/Snowshoeing
Drone Use
Recreational Metal Detecting
Recreational Target Shooting

Hiking

White Mountain National Forest offers you more than 1,200 miles of non-motorized trails. You will get hiking experiences, from challenging climbs above the treeline to strolls into the woods.

All Hiking Trails

Day Hikes Only
- Androscoggin Ranger District
  - Albany Mountain Trailhead
  - Alpine Garden Trailhead
  - Barnes Field Group Campground
  - Burnt Mill Brook Trailhead
  - Crocker Pond Campground
  - Daniel Webster Trailhead
  - Direttissma Trailhead
  - Glen Ellis Scenic Area
  - Great Glen Nordic Ski Area
  - Hermit Lake Shelters
  - Imp Shelter
  - Landing Camp Trailhead
  - Madison Gulf / Old Jackson Road North Trailhead
  - Mt Cabot Cabin
  - Nelson Crag Trailhead
  - Pine Mountain Trailhead
  - Pine Mtn / Pine Link Trailhead
  - Roost North Trailhead
  - Roost South Trailhead
  - Shelburne North Trailhead
  - Shelburne South Trailhead
  - Thompson Falls Trailhead
  - Townline Brook Trailhead
  - Unknown Pond North Trailhead
  - Unknown Pond South Trailhead
  - Unknown Pond Tentsite
  - Valley Way Tentsite
  - Wamsutta Trailhead
  - Wheeler Brook East Trailhead
  - Wheeler Brook West Trailhead
  - Wild River Campground
  - York Pond East Trailhead
- Pemigewasset Ranger District
  - Algonquin Trailhead
  - Ammonoosuc Ravine Trailhead
  - Atwell Hill Trailhead
  - Baker Pond Trailhead
  - Basin Cascade Trailhead
  - Beaver Brook Trailhead
  - Benton Trailhead
  - Black Mtn Trailhead
  - Blueberry Mt N Trailhead
  - Blueberry Mt S Trailhead
  - Caps Ridge Trailhead
  - Cherry Mountain Trailhead (Cherry Mountain Road)
  - Cherry Mtn Trailhead (Forest Rd 115)
  - Chippewa Trailhead
  - Cobble Hill Trailhead
  - Coppermine Trailhead
  - Crawford Connector Trailhead
  - Crawford Path Trailhead (Rte 302)
  - Crawford Ridgepole Trailhead
  - Discovery Trail Interpretive Site
  - Drakes Brook/Sandwich Mtn Trailhead
  - East Pond Trailhead (Kancamagus Hwy)
  - East Pond Trailhead (Tripoli Rd)
  - Edmands Path Trailhead
  - Franconia Brook Tentsite
  - Gale River Trailhead
  - Garfield Trailhead
  - Glencliff / Hurricane Trailhead
  - Greeley Pond Trailhead (Kancamagus Hwy)
  - Guinea Pond Trailhead
  - Hale Brook Trailhead
  - Hancock Notch Trailhead
  - Hubbard Brook Trailhead
  - Jericho Road Trailhead
  - Liberty Springs Tentsite
  - Lincoln Woods Trailhead
  - Livermore S Trailhead
  - Mad River Trailhead
  - Moose Mountain Trailhead
  - Moosilauke Carriage Road Trailhead
  - Mt Cilley Trailhead
  - Mt Tecumseh Trailhead
  - North Twin Trailhead
  - Old Waterville Road Trailhead
  - Ore Hill Trailhead
  - Osceola Trailhead
  - Owls Head Trailhead
  - Peaked Hill Pond Trailhead
  - Rattlesnake Mtn Trailhead
  - Ravine Lodge Trailhead
  - Skookumchuck Trailhead
  - Smarts Brook Trailhead
  - Smarts Mountain Trailhead
  - Snow’s Mt N Trailhead
  - Stinson Mtn Trailhead
  - Sugarloaf Trailhead
  - Tecumseh Trailhead (Tripoli Rd)
  - Thirteen Falls Tentsite
  - Three Ponds Trailhead
  - Townline N Trailhead
  - Townline S / Wachipauka N Trailhead
  - Trescott Road Trailhead
  - Tunnel Brook North Trailhead
  - Tunnel Brook S Trailhead
  - Wachipauka Pond S Trailhead
  - Welch-Dickey Trailhead
  - Zealand Trailhead (Forest Rd 16)
- Saco Ranger District
  - Albany Covered Bridge
  - Attitash Trailhead
  - Baldface Trailhead
  - Bear Notch Ski Touring
  - Black Mountain Ski Trailhead
  - Bog Brook Trailhead
  - Boulder Loop Trailhead
  - Brickett Place Interpretive Site
  - Cabin Trailhead
  - Camp Penacook Shelter
  - Carter Ledge Trailhead
  - Champney Falls Trailhead
  - Church Pond Trailhead
  - Cold Brook Trailhead
  - Cold River Overlook
  - Deer Hills Trailhead
  - Diana’s Baths
  - Doublehead Cabin
  - Doublehead Trailhead
  - Dry River Shelter #3
  - Dry River Trailhead
  - East Branch Trailhead
  - Ethan Pond – Ripley Falls Trailhead
  - Ferncroft Trailhead
  - Flat Mountain Pond Shelter
  - Flat Mountain Pond Trailhead (Bennett Street)
  - Flat Mtn Pond Trail / White Face Trailhead (Intervale)
  - Great Brook Trailhead
  - Hammond Trailhead
  - Horseshoe Pond Trailhead
  - Hutmen’s Trailhead
  - Iron Mtn Trailhead
  - Kearsarge North Trailhead
  - Kearsarge Tower Observation Site
  - Laughing Lion Trailhead
  - Lily Pond Vista
  - Livermore N Trailhead
  - Mead Explorer Base Camp
  - Miles Notch Trailhead
  - Mount Langdon Shelter
  - Mountain Pond Shelter
  - Mountain Pond Trailhead
  - Mt Carrigan Observation Site
  - Mt Meader Trailhead
  - Mt. Langdon Trailhead
  - Mt. Stanton Trailhead
  - Mt. Tremont Trailhead
  - Nancy Pond Trailhead
  - Pine Bend Brook Trailhead
  - Piper Trailhead
  - Province Brook Trailhead
  - Province Pond Shelter
  - Rocky Branch Trail
  - Royce Mtn Trailhead
  - Sabbaday Falls Observation Site
  - Sawyer Pond Shelter & Tentsite
  - Sawyer Pond Trailhead (Kancamagus Hwy)
  - Shell Pond Trailhead
  - Slippery Brook Trailhead
  - South Moat Mountain Trailhead
  - Stone House / White Cairn Trailhead
  - Webster – Jackson Trailhead
  - Webster Cliff Trailhead
  - Weeks Brook Trailhead
  - Wentworth Trail / Mead BaseTrailhead
  - White Ledge Campground
  - White Ledge Trailhead
  - Winniweta Falls Trailhead

Backpacking Hikes Only
- Androscoggin Ranger District
  - Rattle River Shelter

Day Hikes and Backpacking Hikes (Both)
- Androscoggin Ranger District
  - Albany Brook Trailhead
  - Appalachia Trailhead
  - Caribou East Trailhead
  - Caribou West / Mud Brook Trailhead
  - Carter / Moriah Trailhead
  - Castle Trailhead
  - Centennial Trailhead
  - Chandler Brook Trailhead
  - E Royce / Spruce Hill Trailhead
  - Gentian Pond Shelter
  - Great Gulf Link Trailhead
  - Great Gulf Wilderness Trailhead
  - Hastings Trailhead
  - Haystack Notch East / Miles Notch North Trailhead
  - Haystack Notch East Trailhead
  - Howker Ridge / Randolph Path Trailhead
  - Huntington Ravine Trailhead
  - Imp South Trailhead
  - Kilkenny Ridge Trailhead
  - Lowes Path Trailhead
  - Mill Brook Trailhead
  - Nineteen Mile Brook Trailhead
  - Pinkham Notch Trailhead
  - Rattle River Trailhead
  - Starr King Trailhead
  - Stony Brook Trailhead
  - Tuckerman Ravine Trail
  - Wild River / Basin Trailhead
- Saco Ranger District
  - Davis Path Trailhead

Facts

The White Mountain National Forest is spread across 750,852 acres (3,038.6 sq mi or 1,173.21 sq km).

It was established as a national park on May 16, 1918.

More than 6-million people visit White Mountain National Forest annually.

Best Time To Visit

Late spring to mid-fall is the best time to visit White Mountain National Forest.

Visiting Hours

White Mountain National Forest remains open to visitors throughout the year.
The attractions in this national forest remain open 7-days a week from 8.30 am to 5 pm.
Visiting Hours of Visitor Centres:
- White Mountain Visitor Centre
  - Summer Hours:
    - Friday to Sunday: 9 am to 2 pm
  - Winter Hours:
    - Daily: 9 am to 3:30 pm
- Lincoln Woods Visitor Centre
  - Intermittently staffed for visitor information services
Visiting Hours of Forest Headquarters and District offices:
- Forest Supervisor’s Office
  - Monday to Friday: From 8 am to 4.30 pm
- Pemigewasset Ranger District Offices
  - Monday to Friday: From 8 am to 4.30 pm
- Androscoggin Ranger District Offices
  - 7-days a week from 8 am to 4 pm.
- Saco Ranger District Offices
  - Monday: From 9 am to 4.30 pm
  - Tuesday to Sunday: From 8 am to 4.30 pm

Tickets Price

Annual Pass: US$30
Annual Household Pass: US$40
Daily Pass: US$5
Interagency Annual Pass: US$80
4th Graders (Every Kid Outdoors): Free
Interagency Military Pass: Free
Veterans and Gold Star Family Members: Free
Interagency Senior Pass:
- Annual Senior Pass: US$20
- Lifetime Senior Pass: US$80
Interagency Access Pass: Free (Lifetime)
Interagency Volunteer Pass: Free

White Mountain National Forest Map