By: Haley Lesmerises, Interpretive Ranger at Franconia Notch State Park Cannon Mountain is known for its winter fun. The 4080′ mountain offers nearly 100 ski trails and glades covering 25 miles and the highest ski area summit in NH! But Cannon offers plenty of summer attractions as well. I decided to take a trip up […]
Franconia Notch
Franconia Notch is More Than its Old Man
For those traveling through New Hampshire, one thing is abundantly clear, they love their old man. The face of this iconic figure can be found on almost everything from the state quarter, license plates, tea cups, road signs, and other tchotchkes. What may not be immediately clear is that the Old Man is no longer […]
Hiker Safety 101: Franconia Notch
There are many amazing ways to discover the outdoors. Today, hiking is perhaps one of the most popular ways to enjoy the natural world. For many people, myself included, hiking is an amazing way to decompress, find spiritual renewal, and reset my mind from the everyday hustle and bustle. However, if not taken seriously, hiking […]
Birding Throughout the Notch
Franconia Notch State Park is home to a wide variety of hawks, owls, and other birds. Walking along Profile Lake you will usually notice a Great Blue Heron hanging out with the fly-fishers waiting for the opportune moment to steal a fish. While hiking on Franconia Ridge you might be able to hear some Peregrine […]
Nightlife of the Notch
After my night programs, it is usually dark. As I walk home to our humble abode (the hiker cabin), I can’t help but notice the starry sky on a clear night. The constellations are so visible, it is unreal. Franconia Notch is just over 1,000ft above sea level. You don’t even have to climb a […]
Franconia Notch: Welcome to the Wild
One of the first things you notice as you drive into Franconia Notch State Park is the massive amount of wildflowers covering the highway and hillsides. Wild Lupines flood the median that splits North and South Interstate 93, which cuts through the heart of Franconia. Mountains line the highways and in every direction you look […]
“Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn.”
When you commit yourself to ten months of service, something with a definitive end, it is easy to get wrapped up in the world of countdowns. I can tell you that there’s only one weekend left of interpretive programming left at Bear Brook, Pawtuckaway, Umbagog, and Franconia Notch State Parks, but that’s not what we’re […]
Fall in Franconia Notch
Back in May, before I had moved to Franconia Notch State Park to be an Interpretive Ranger with Monica Casey (my fellow interpreter), the two of us rented a movie from the local library about the park. We were excited to learn more about where we would be spending the upcoming months. This video, similar […]
Four Favorite NH Bike Rides
There are lots of great places to go biking in New Hampshire, in and out of the State Parks. Here are just a few of my favorites! The Northern Rail Trail near Lebanon, NH is a 48 mile long trail – but you don’t need to do all of it. I rode from the Icehouse […]
From Hotels to Hiking Trails
Franconia Notch State Park has been a destination for people looking to explore the White Mountains for a very long time. People are instantly captivated by the natural attractions such as the mountain views, the Flume Gorge and the Basin. These landmarks are really something special, however, I have discovered that one of the most […]