The 13 Best Things to Do in Gorham, NH
Gorham is a beautiful mountain north of the White Mountains that offers so much to do year-round. In the warmer months, it is the perfect base camp for hiking and ATVing. In the winter, it’s a great base camp for snowmobiling and skiing. Even if you only want to enjoy a delicious bite to eat with beautiful mountain views, Gorham is the perfect place!
Gorham is often overlooked because the other towns near the White Mountains have more facilities, but this cute little mountain town will not disappoint. If you are looking to plan a trip to Gorham, this guide has everything you need to know, including the best hikes and things to do in Gorham, NH!
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Best Time to Visit Gorham NH
Winter
Gorham is the perfect place to visit in the winter if you want to ski, snowboard, or snowmobile and do not mind the cold. There are ski resorts within an hour from Gorham that offer fun trails. If you enjoy winter hiking, Gorham offers many trails for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing.
Spring
Spring in Gorham has beautiful weather, wildflowers, and flowing waterfalls. After the snowmelt, the waterfalls are gushing, so visiting them is one of the best things to do in Gorham in the spring! The beginning of spring is also a great time to ski without many layers. If you want to hike in Gorham, I highly recommend reading recent trail reviews and packing layers and extra traction. The snow can linger on the trails through June, especially in the higher elevations, so it is crucial to have the appropriate gear!
Summer
Summer has endless activities and things to do in Gorham. All trails are open in the summer, so the hiking opportunities are endless. There are also many beautiful swimming holes to cool off. If you enjoy ATVing, Gorham is one of the best spots for it! Summer is a popular time to visit Gorham, so I recommend arriving at the must-see attractions early to secure a parking spot.
Fall
Fall is one of the most popular seasons to visit Gorham because of the beautiful fall foliage it offers. The foliage paints the mountains and valleys in beautiful colors and will leave you speechless. The weather is cool with low humidity, so fall is one of the best times to hike in Gorham! Because fall is one of the most popular times to visit, many of the best things to do and hikes near Gorham will have crowds. I highly recommend visiting the must-see attractions early in the day to avoid most crowds.
Best Places to Stay in Gorham NH
Gorham has many cute inns, so you really can’t go wrong with where you choose to stay!
Best Hotels:
Best Campgrounds:
What to Pack for a Trip to Gorham NH
Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and support on your trip, hiking boots are the go to.
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!
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.
The Best Things to Do in Gorham NH
If you want to hike in Gorham, consider hiring a guide! They can provide amazing trail recommendations and help ensure you have a safe trip, and you will be supporting the local economy!
**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 when you finish the hike. If they don’t have trash bins, hold onto your trash until you can dispose of it properly.
Mount Washington
Do you want to explore the tallest mountain in the Northeast?! Mount Washington stands at 6,288 feet tall and offers views to almost every state in New England on a clear day.
And the best part? You don’t have to hike to the summit to enjoy the views! There are many ways to reach the summit, including hiking, driving the auto road, riding the Cog Railway, or touring in a SnowCoach in the winter.
If you are looking to hike, Mount Washington has many trails to choose from. All of the trails to Mount Washington are strenuous. You need the proper experience and gear to hike it.
If you do not want to hike, you can drive the 7.6-mile auto road or take the scenic train to the summit. In the winter, you can take a SnowCoach tour above the treeline. Exploring Mount Washington is one of the best things to do in Gorham, NH!
Great Glen Trails
The Great Glen Trails have over 28 trails that are open year-round! In the warmer months, you can enjoy a beautiful hike with views of the Presidentials. In the winter, you can cross-country ski, snowshoe, ride a fat bike, and tube.
And the best part? The Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center has rentals, so everything you need is near the trails. And the views from the trails are breathtaking! They have some of my favorite views in the area.
It is one of the most underrated trail systems, in my opinion, and one of the best things to do in Gorham, NH, in every season!
Moose Brook State Park
Moose Brook State Park has 755 acres of beautiful land where you can camp, hike, fish, and swim. Moose Brook feeds the swimming area with beautiful water and is perfect to cool off in summer.
If you want to hike, there are over 10 miles of trails you can walk on. The trails are also open to mountain biking! If you are also looking for a place to camp, Moose Brook State Park has over 50 campsites.
Wildcat Mountain
Wildcat Mountain is a stunning mountain standing over 4,000 feet and offers year-round fun! If you are visiting Gorham in the winter, you can ski or snowboard one of its 49 trails on its 225 acres. Wildcat Mountain has a vertical drop of 2,112 feet, the second-largest in New Hampshire and ninth-largest in the New England area! You can also enjoy stunning views overlooking Mount Washington and the Presidentials as you ski.
If you want to hike to the summit of Wildcat Mountain, you can take a 3.5-mile roundtrip trail to the top! Wildcat has stunning views overlooking the Presidential Range. This hike is strenuous because it gains over 2,000 feet of elevation on steep and rocky terrain. If you are not comfortable with rock scrambling, I recommend skipping this trail. It is not for the faint of heart but will reward you with stunning views from Wildcat Mountain!
ATV
If you love ATVing, you are in luck because it is one of the best things to do in Gorham, NH. The White Mountains has over 1,400 miles of trails, and there are multiple starting points in Gorham.
In the summer, it’s common to see more ATVs than cars in hotel parking lots. If you don’t have your own ATV, you can rent one from NorthEast Snowmobile and ATV Rentals or White Mt ATV Rentals. If you are up for an adventure, ATVing is one of the best things to do in Gorham, NH!
Snowmobile
Visiting in the winter and want to experience some fun? Snowmobiling is perfect for you! There are hundreds of miles of snowmobile trails near Gorham.
One of the most popular areas to snowmobile is Jericho Mountain State Park, which has beautiful snowmobile trails with stunning views. And don’t worry if you don’t have a snowmobile! You can rent one from NorthEast Snowmobile and ATV Rentals!
If you are visiting in the winter, snowmobiling is one of the best things to do in Gorham, NH! Gorham is one of the best places to visit in the White Mountains in the winter!
Mount Crag
Mount Crag is a lesser-known hike near Gorham, NH, but it does not lack beautiful views! The 2.5-mile roundtrip trail brings you to the summit of Mount Crag, which offers stunning views of the town below and the surrounding mountains. This great little hike is the perfect addition to any Gorham trip!
Imp Face
Imp Face is a beautiful cliff on the west side of North Carter Mountain in Pinkham Notch and provides stunning views overlooking the Presidentials and Pinkham Notch.
You can hike the Imp Trail as an out-and-back (4.3 miles) or a loop (5.9 miles). The Imp Trail is a loop trail but does not start and end in the same place and requires an additional 0.2-mile road walk. I recommend only hiking the 4.3-mile roundtrip trail from the northern trailhead as an out-and-back because it avoids river crossings.
If you want to hike the loop, I recommend starting on the Imp Trailhead North since it is the steepest section. Imp Face is one of my favorite hikes near Gorham, NH, and will quickly become one of your favorites!
Mount Moriah
Mount Moriah is an often overlooked mountain unless you hike the 4,000-footer list. The 9.1-mile roundtrip trail travels up steep rock slabs to Mount Moriah and rewards you with stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
The trailhead starts in Gorham, so it is the perfect hike to add to your trip! If you want to make the hike longer, you can add the Carters to create an epic day.
All of the trails leading to Mount Moriah are strenuous, but the views are worth it. Mount Moriah is one of the best hikes near Gorham, NH!
Mount Madison and Mount Adams
Mount Adams and Mount Madison are among the tallest mountains in New Hampshire, and the two mountains are often hiked together. Some consider the hike among the most difficult, but the views are well worth it!
If you are looking for an epic day hike near Gorham, NH, I highly recommend hiking to Mount Adams and Mount Madison. You can even make it an overnight hike by staying in the Lakes of the Clouds Hut or stopping by for a snack!
The most popular way to hike to Mount Adams and Mount Madison is via the 9.5-mile Airline and Valley Way Loop. The Airline Trail is extremely exposed and is considered one of the most strenuous trails in the area, so get ready for a fun hike!
Because the trail is exposed, the views are unmatched! You can also hike this as an out-and-back via Valley Way Trail, which is less exposed. No matter which trail you decide to take to Mount Adams and Mount Madison, you will quickly realize why it’s one of the best hikes near Gorham, NH!
Mount Isolation
If you are looking for another epic day hike near Gorham, NH, Mount Isolation is perfect! Mount Isolation is one of the most remote mountains in the White Mountains and is the second shortest 4,000-footer in New Hampshire behind Mount Tecumseh. Although it is one of the most remote mountains, it is near Mount Washington and offers incredible 360° views of the Presidentials!
The two most popular trails to Mount Isolation are the 12-mile roundtrip Glen Boulder Trail and the 13.3-mile roundtrip Rocky Branch Trail. Both trails are strenuous and will make you work for the views, but they are worth it! If you are up for a strenuous hike, Mount Isolation is one of the best hikes near Gorham, NH!
Crystal Cascades
Crystal Cascades is one of my favorite waterfalls near Gorham, NH. Crystal Cascades is a 100-foot waterfall on a 0.7 miles roundtrip trail. The trail leads to a small viewing platform that provides a beautiful view of Crystal Cascades. This waterfall will quickly become one of your favorites!
Glen Ellis Falls
NOTE: The Glen Ellis Scenic Area will be closed starting October 10, 2023 for approximately a year for reconstruction and rehabilitation work. Read more here.
Glen Ellis Falls is a gorgeous 64-foot waterfall near Gorham, NH, making it my favorite waterfall in the area. The beautiful waterfall only requires a 0.4-mile roundtrip hike that travels on a stone path down to the falls and is great for all ages!
Glen Ellis Falls is very popular, so on weekends, you will not be alone taking in the beauty of this waterfall, but you will quickly realize why it’s one of the best things to do in Gorham, NH!
If you plan a trip to Gorham, NH, this guide is a great place to start! It has everything you need to know, including the best hikes and things to do near Gorham, NH.
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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