14 Incredible North Conway Winter Activities
North Conway is a beautiful mountain town in the heart of the White Mountains in New Hampshire. Although it is a year-round destination, winter is one of the best seasons to visit! Not only is winter in North Conway peaceful and beautiful with its snow-capped mountains, but there are endless winter activities for the entire family!
Whether you want to take a scenic train ride, explore ice castles, or ski the day away, there is a winter activity in North Conway for everyone. This guide has everything you need to know about visiting North Conway in winter, including the best North Conway winter activities!
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Tips for Visiting North Conway in Winter
Pack warm clothes. Winters in North Conway are cold and snowy, so it is crucial to pack warm clothes. The weather in the mountains can also change quickly, so having the appropriate layers and gear is necessary when exploring. I recommend packing warm boots and multiple layers to prepare for the cold weather. You can learn more about how to layer your clothes in the What to Wear Winter Hiking Guide!
Be careful. Winter in North Conway brings many risks, so you must take caution with anything you do and ensure you have the proper equipment and skills for your adventure. If there is ever a situation where you are uncomfortable, please make the safe decision to turn around. There are many tours and guides that you can take to adventure in the White Mountains in winter that provide you with the appropriate gear and have trained guides to ensure your safety.
Buy any tickets in advance. If you plan on skiing, tubing, taking a tour, or anything that includes buying tickets, I recommend getting them in advance. Typically, you can find the best deals online when you purchase the tickets ahead of time instead of buying them when you arrive. Buying them in advance will also ensure your spot for the activity.
Start your days early. Although winter is not the busiest time in North Conway, there will still be crowds. Starting your day early will allow you to avoid most crowds. Since the winter days are short, you will also be able to take advantage of the daylight if you start it early!
Always remember to leave no trace. It’s crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Many of these places have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they don’t have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.
Where to Stay in North Conway in Winter
North Conway has year-round accommodations for every budget. Whether you want to stay in an adventure-themed hotel room or a cozy cabin tucked in the woods, North Conway has accommodations for everyone!
What to Pack When Visiting North Conway in Winter
Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and warmth on your trip, you need insulated hiking boots.
Microspikes: If you plan on winter hiking, you will need to bring microspikes.
Snowshoes: Also if you hike in the winter, you may need snowshoes.
Hiking Socks: Having moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks are just as important for exploring.
Hiking Backpack: You need something to carry all your food, clothes, and anything else you need while adventuring, so having a supportive hiking backpack is crucial.
Hydration Reservoir/Water Bottles: While hiking or just exploring, it is important to have enough water! I always pack a hydration reservoir.
Jackets: The weather is unpredictable, so I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Ten Essentials: The Ten Essentials are crucial for hiking!
The Best North Conway Winter Activities
Cranmore Mountain Resort
North Conway is near many fun ski resorts! Cranmore Mountain Resort is one mile from the heart of North Conway and offers fun activities year-round! In the winter, it has some of the best skiing in North Conway, with 56 trails on 170 acres and the best tubing park in New Hampshire! It is the perfect mountain for the entire family and all skiing levels.
It also has beautiful views of North Conway and the surrounding mountains! If you want to ski when you visit North Conway in winter and do not want to travel too far, Cranmore Mountain Resort is perfect for you!
Wildcat Mountain Resort
If you want a ski resort with more advanced trails, there are plenty to choose from for your winter getaway! Wildcat Mountain has 225 skiable acres with 48 trails and over 2,100 vertical feet. And the best part? The views are outstanding! You can enjoy breathtaking views of Mount Washington and the Presidential Range while you ski.
Wildcat Mountain is one of the best ski mountains in New Hampshire, so you will not be disappointed if you ski here during your winter getaway in North Conway!
Echo Lake State Park
Echo Lake State Park is a stunning 15.7-acre state park with a beautiful lake and rock ledges as its backdrop. The park is open year-round, so you can enjoy the beautiful views no matter when you visit. In the winter, Echo Lake State Park is a fun place to snowshoe! You can snowshoe around the lake or to Cathedral Ledge. Echo Lake Trail is an easy 1-mile loop around Echo Lake, offering beautiful views of the lake, Cathedral Ledge, and White Horse Ledge.
If you want to hike up to the ledges, you can take the 2.8-mile round trip trail to Cathedral Ledge or the 3.1-mile roundtrip trail to White Horse Ledge.
Bear Notch Snowmobiling
Snowmobiling is one of the best North Conway winter activities! Bear Notch has a 50-mile trail system that interconnects and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. The trails are easy to follow, so they are great for beginners! Northern Extremes offers snowmobile rentals and guided tours for your adventures.
Conway Scenic Railroad
If you want to explore Mount Washington Valley in the winter, riding the iconic Conway Scenic Railroad is one of the best ways to see it all! In the winter, the railroad offers an hour-long train ride, Santa’s Holiday Express, perfect for all ages! The railroad also has a winter scenic train ride through the mountains, offering beautiful snowy mountain views.
Schouler Park Ice Rink
Schouler Park is outside the Conway Scenic Railroad Station in downtown North Conway. It hosts events year-round, and the town builds an ice rink for everyone to enjoy in the winter! The rink is outdoors, allowing you to ice skate while enjoying the gorgeous mountain views! It is a fun North Conway winter activity for the entire family.
Kancamgus Highway
Did you know the Kancamagus Highway is open year-round? The beautiful 34-mile scenic byway runs through the White Mountain, connecting Lincoln and Conway. The Kancamagus Highway is maintained in the winter, allowing you can drive the beautiful scenic drive through snow-covered mountains.
The scenic overlooks are stunning in the winter, especially after it has snowed recently. There are also plenty of things to do along the Kancamagus Highway in the winter! You can snowshoe in Lincoln Woods, cross-country ski on Greeley Ponds Trail, or explore frozen waterfalls. The Kancamgus Highway is one of the best places to visit in North Conway in winter!
Mount Washington Cog Railway
The Mount Washington Cog Railway is a scenic train that travels up Mount Washington. In the summer and fall, the train travels to the top of Mount Washington. In the winter, it stops at the Waumbek Station above 4,000 feet on the side of Mount Washington.
Although the Cog Railway does not travel to the top of Mount Washington in the winter, you can enjoy stunning views from Waumbek Station of the surrounding mountains. It is a great way to get to the higher elevations without hiking, making it one of the best North Conway winter activities!
Mount Washington SnowCoach
If you want a different way to travel up Mount Washington in the winter, you can take a SnowCoach Tour! The SnowCoach Tour brings you above the treeline to 4,200 feet on Mount Washington, where you can take in some of the best views in the area.
The entire experience is incredible, and it will quickly become one of your favorite things to do in winter in North Conway! I promise the cold trip is well worth it for the views! Also, you will need to make reservations in advance, which you can do directly on their website.
Great Glen Trails
If you are looking for a scenic area to cross-country ski near North Conway, the Great Glen Trails is for you! The Great Glen Trails has 30 miles of cross-country ski trails for all levels while enjoying beautiful views of the Presidential Range. The Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center also offers lessons through their ski school and rentals if you need them.
Nestlenook Farm Sleigh Rides
Nestlebrook Farm is a 65-acre farm that offers sleigh rides, snowshoeing, and ice skating. One of the best winter activities at the farm is its sleigh rides. The rides are about a half hour long and travel through the beautiful farm. It is a wonderful thing to do in North Conway in winter for the entire family!
New Hampshire Ice Castle
Did you know New Hampshire is home to one of only a few Ice Castles in North America? Professionals build the ice castle each year using hundreds of thousands of icicles. You can walk around the Ice Castle and explore ice slides, fountains, and tunnels.
The Ice Castles are on the other side of the Kancamgus Highway and are the perfect addition to your day after you enjoy the scenic drive. Visiting the Ice Castles is one of the best winter activities in North Conway for the entire family!
North Conway Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing in the White Mountains is one of the best things to do in the winter! North Conway is home to many beautiful trails that lead to mountain summits, waterfalls, and scenic vistas that are great for snowshoeing. There are plenty of easy trails throughout the White Mountains to enjoy a stroll if you want something less strenuous. You can also join a tour from Alpine Adventures if you want to snowshoe with a professional guide!
Ice Climbing in North Conway With a Guide
One of the most fun things to do in North Conway in winter is climbing frozen waterfalls! The International Mountain Climbing School offers a variety of guided trips for all levels and provides you with the gear and safety tips you need. Their experienced guides are flexible to accommodate your skill levels, so you can have fun climbing frozen waterfalls! Climbing frozen waterfalls is one of the best winter activities, and you will not be disappointed with the adventure.
If you want to visit North Conway in winter, this guide is the perfect place to start planning your trip! It has everything you need to know about the best North Conway winter activities for the entire family!
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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