White Mountain National Forest

After we left Acadia National Park we were headed towards the border between Vermont and New Hampshire.  We could have taken the drive back down the way we'd come along the Maine coast, but I didn't want to go over the same ground twice if we could help it.  Instead we headed across Maine towards the White Mountains in New Hampshire.  It looked like it would be a beautiful scenic route.

The White Mountain National Forest in eastern New Hampshire and western Maine ranges from mountainous hardwood forests to majestic alpine peaks. Come experience the breathtaking scenery, clear mountain lakes and streams, wildlife, and outdoor recreation opportunities year round.
--from White Mountain National Forest website

We drove through the National Forest along the Kancamagus Highway.

We made our first stop at the Rocky Gorge Scenic Area.  While the National Forest is free to drive through the various sites are technically fee areas.  We were covered by our Interagency pass and so didn't have to worry about paying, though I did put our pass in the hang tag on our review mirror the whole time we were in the area.

We walked along a short trail towards Rocky Gorge once we left the parking lot.

I spotted this beautiful leaf at one point along the path.  I thought it was fascinating to see the shading of three different colors.

 I enjoy seeing evergreen boughs up close.

The view from the bottom of the gorge was simply amazing, though I had to wait a bit to get a shot with no people in it.

We even crossed over the bridge and walked a bit on the other side.

In the gorge itself you can get a good view of the bridge and more of the gorge downstream.

Using my iPhone I took a Live Photo and then turned it into a long exposure of the waterfall.

After we kept driving we eventually passed over the Kancamagus pass.

Our next stop as at Pemigewasset Overlook, a small rest area just beyond the pass.

I walked down to this small pavilion and then looked out over the mountains.

Once again the scenery was breathtaking.  I wish that we'd had time to explore the area instead of just driving through.

Finally in what felt like a reversal of our normal policy we exited the National Forest as we came to North Woodstock, Vermont, and there we stopped at a visitor center for the area.

Inside I got to see the whole extent of the National Forest.

We even saw a large stuffed moose.  Sadly we didn't see any live moose on the trip.

Unlike National Park Service lands that are typically preserved National Forest lands are often managed.

The rest of the exhibits told the history of the area from lumber operations to artists to tourists.  You can view all of the pictures from our time in the National Forest in this album.

~Matt