Franconia Notch State Park’s Old Man of the Mountain crumbled in 2003, but the rock formation also known as the Great Stone Face was just one of many natural wonders within this swath of New England greatness. Located in White Mountain National Forest in northern New Hampshire, Franconia Notch is a picturesque mountain pass extending from Flume Gorge at the south to Echo Lake at the north. Interstate 93 provides direct access, winding between the Kinsman and Franconia mountain ranges for eight miles.
The park’s 6,692 acres are home to the famous Flume Gorge, a natural gorge that extends 800 feet from the base of Mount Liberty. Its granite walls are just 12 to 20 feet apart, and a boardwalk gives visitors an up close look at the many fern and flower growths. A $14 ride on the Cannon Mountain Aerial tramway brings visitors to the 4,180-foot summit of Cannon Mountain, affording them panoramic views that reach to Maine, Vermont and Canada. Cannon Mountain RV Park, a seven-site park on the north shore of Echo Lake, is open year-round.
To find out more, visit www.nhstateparks.org and select Franconia Notch State Park from the drop-down menu.
