Kancamagus Scenic Byway.
The Kancamagus Highway, also known as “The Kanc,” is often misspelled and mispronounced Kangamangus Highway, Kangumangus Hiway, or Kancamangus Highway. The correct way to pronounce Kancamagus is “Kank-ah-mah-gus.” Also see: How to Pronounce Kancamagus.
The Kancamagus Highway is a 34.5 mile scenic drive along NH’s Rt. 112 in Northern New Hampshire that is well known as one of the best Fall Foliage viewing areas in the country. The Kancamagus Highway is now designated an American Scenic Byway for its rich history, aesthetic beauty and culture.
The Kancamagus Scenic Byway takes you through a path cut through the White Mountain National Forest with breathtaking views of the White Mountains, the Swift River, Sabbaday Falls, Lower Falls, and Rocky Gorge. The Kanc takes you to an elevation of just under 3,000 feet at its highest point at Kancamagus Pass on the flank of Mt. Kancamagus near Lincoln, NH.
My Scenic Drives
Multi-Notch Mountain Ride.
(Approx. 142 miles)
This loop has several variations. From Conway, turn west on Rt. 112, the Kancamagus Highway (locals call it the Kanc), which offers 34.5 miles of stunning mountain scenery through the White Mountain National Forest. In Lincoln, you can either turn north onto I-93 through Franconia Notch State Park and its soaring mountain peaks, then onto Rt. 3 to Twin Mountain and the junction with Rt. 302 or you can continue west on Rt. 112 through Kinsman Notch to Rt. 302, which heads to Bath, Lisbon, Littleton, Bethlehem, Twin Mountain and Bretton Woods, home of the Mount Washington Hotel. Rt. 302 continues east through Crawford Notch and past some of the most spectacular scenery in the East. In Bartlett, you can turn south on Bear Notch Road, a seasonal road that connects to the Kancamagus Highway west of Conway; or you can join Rt. 16 in Glen and follow it back to your starting point in Conway. If you turn north on Rt. 16 in Glen, you’ll go through Pinkham Notch, past the Mt. Washington Auto Road, to Gorham and the Great North Woods Ride.
Mt. Washington Auto Road.
The 7.6-mile Mt. Washington Auto Road is America’s oldest and continuously operating attraction. It was first opened to the public in 1861 as the Mt. Washington Carriage Road, in a time when guests made the four-hour journey to the summit in specially built, horse-drawn Abbot Downing Mountain Wagons. As a family-owned business, the company takes great pride in its progression through the years and has preserved that history for all their current-day guests to enjoy.
Mount Washington Auto Road
Franconia Notch.
A road between two mountains, “the notch” is known as one of the best scenic drives in the Western Whites. If you stay on 93N, and continue beyond exit 33, you will start to see the highway get skinnier and skinnier as you driving the winding path. The speed limit goes down to 45 mph, so there’s plenty of time to take in the scenery. Massive rock faces and ski trails surround the road as you make your way north towards Littleton. This road is known to have a lot of moose accidents, so make sure to slow down and stay alert. If you want to pull over and check out the area, there are plenty of “scenic stops” that are marked along the way.