Leaf peeping along New Hampshire’s Kancamagus National Scenic Byway

Discover eight spots along New Hampshire’s Kancamagus National Scenic Byway that give some of the world’s best fall views.

If you want to see the most dramatic foliage on planet Earth, look no further than our own Kancamagus National Scenic Byway. According to the National Scenic Byway Foundation, “The fall colors during leaf-peeping season, with breathtaking views of the Osceola Range, are considered to be the best in the world.”

Photo courtesy of The U.S. National Archives.

The “Kanc,” as the natives call it—Route 112 between North Conway and Lincoln—is a breathtaking road that curves, climbs, and dips through 34.5 miles of a boreal forest in the White Mountain National. Peak leaf peeping usually spans the first two weeks of October, but to be sure, you might want to check out the state’s NH Peak Foliage Map and Fall Foliage Webcams.

The highway was named after Kancamagus, “the Fearless One,” grandson of Penacook Chief Passaconaway known as a peacemaker and the creator of the Penacook Confederacy which united 12 of New Hampshire’s remaining tribes in the 17th century.

Here are eight of some of the best spots along the Kanc to take in all that autumn eye candy.

Photo courtesy of King of Hearts/CC BY-SA 4.0.

1. SABBADAY FALLS, Waterville Valley

Sabbaday Falls is a well-loved stop on the Kancamagus Highway, an easy half-mile walk on a gravel trail gets you to the perfect viewing spot of rolling cascades, rushing through a narrow flume. All this is framed by the amber, gold, and crimson of turning leaves. This could be your last chance to hike the mini-loop trail this season. It’s closed in the winter and spring.

2. THE PEMIGEWASSET OVERLOOK, Albany

Here’s where you’ll find one of the best views of the Osceola Mountains which virtually light up in the fall. A pavilion provides interpretive signs describing what you’re seeing. Hiking trails there follow in the way of old logging roads and railroad tracks—a remnant of what was once a busy lumber industry that left the forest bare over 100 years ago and since has been restored to its wild beauty.

3. C.L.GRAHAM OVERLOOK, Bartlett

This scenic spot, 3,000 feet high, is east of the Kancamagus Pass and was once a storage area for logging supplies. It now affords one of the most spectacular views in the state.

4. HANCOCK OVERLOOK, Lincoln

This overlook is famous for its hairpin turn through a kaleidoscope of fall foliage. You might want to pack a hearty lunch and enjoy it at the trail’s pavilion picnic area. Some peaks along the Osceola Range to the south are visible from the parking area.

5. SUGAR HILL SCENIC OVERLOOK, Albany

They don’t call it Sugar Hill for nothing. The autumn views from this spot are as sweet as can be. From the overlook, you’ll be able to ooh and ahh at the Swift River Valley, Mr. Tremont, Owl Cliff, Bear Mountain, and of course, Sugar Hill blazing in color this time of year. There is a paved parking lot and interpretive signs describing the landscape.

6. CHAMPNEY FALLS, Conway

The Champney Falls Trail, named for the 19th-century White Mountain artist Benjamin Champney, runs from the Kancamagus Highway to the Piper Trail between Mount Chocorua and the Three Sisters peaks. We get why it bears an artist’s name. The 3.1-mile, round-trip trail, leads to two different waterfalls surrounded by bursts of fall foliage.

 7. LINCOLN WOODS TRAILHEAD, Lincoln

This a fun stop on the Kanc, especially if you just want a nice view and a place to rest with or without a hike. The parking lot has spectacular views of the Pemigewasset River, and short nature trails between a suspension and pedestrian bridge, spanning the river. If you do choose a longer trek, this is the gateway to the Pemigewasset Wilderness—the biggest wilderness area in the Northeast. The stop also has a cabin, restrooms, drinkable water, and information on the history and geography of the area.

8. ROCKY GORGE, Albany

This stop on the Kanc is a rush—literally. Here on the north side of the road, the whitewater of the Swift River rushes through a deep crevice that can be reached by a paved path. At the Lower Falls, the Pemi rolls over and around a field of granite boulders before dropping into a wide pool.

By the way, the pronunciation of the highway has been a bone of contention in New Hampshire for years. Kancamagushighway.com has this to say about it.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.