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After a little looking around Vermont’s only National Forest on our last trip, we decided it was time to check out neighboring New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest. With a birthday to celebrate and couple days off along with a favorable forecast (can you say 60’s and sunny in November?) we hit the road. In my opinion there’s no better way to celebrate another successful orbit around the sun than to get outside and see something new.

Getting out and about in November is a bit tricky, because it seems like everything is closed for “the season”. I’m not sure who makes these seasons, and although I’m grateful for less crowds, come on, do we really need to close up every campground, road and trailhead because it’s not “the season”? It seems like we encounter this at all times of the year. Tis the season.

Our first stop was to see the site where New Hampshire’s famous Old Man of the Mountain used to be. He fell off the cliff in a rockfall in 2003, but the view has been creatively recreated at the viewing plaza where you can stand at just the right angle and see his likeness superimposed on the mountain side.

We then moved on and found one of the only campgrounds not closed for the season and set up camp for the day before heading out on an afternoon hike to Franconia Falls. The hike followed an old logging railroad bed, and the ties can still be seen in portions of the trail.

Franconia Falls is quite stunning, with all the different paths the water takes as it moves through the falls.

We were camped at Hancock campground, at the start of the Kancamagus National Scenic Byway, so the next morning we began our explorations along the byway. The clear fall day made for a great day to be out enjoying the byway.

After finishing they byway we headed north toward the only other campground I could find that was open. We noted very little backroads or other access areas on the White Mountain National Forest that would have allowed for dispersed camping. It seemed like the few roads that were there were gated, and a good portion of the forest seems to be set aside as Wilderness. That led us to the area of Pinkham Notch where we found our hikes for the day. We set out on a short hike to Crystal Cascades first.

We also found the trail to Glen Ellis falls close by and took that as well. This trip turned out to be one featuring a lot of waterfalls.

As much as I love the fall, I wish the sun would hang around a bit longer. Our day had already passed so we headed to camp once again. We were treated to the songs of coyotes in the not so distant distance as we enjoyed a little time around the fire.

We had one more scenic byway to explore, the White Mountain Scenic Byway, and we headed there the next morning. Mt. Washington, highest peak in the east, could be seen from a few different vantage points. You can also drive to the top, or take a train to the top, but I think both options were closed, you guessed it, for the season. That trip wasn’t in the cards for us anyway, but we did have another hike in mind.

We stopped in Crawford Notch State Park and with the temps nearing 70 degrees we headed up the trail to Arethusa Falls.

On our way back down we took a side trail just to put a little variety in the hike. I’m sure glad we didn’t take this trail on the way up. It ended up being nearly vertical and not much of a trail, but more of a scramble, but we were rewarded with three more falls that were quite a sight to see.

Back at the trailhead, our time in the White Mountains had pretty much come to a close. We were headed back to Vermont after a quick stop for lunch along the byway.

We had hopes of escaping to Maine before the nice fall weather we had been experiencing slipped away but just as we were about to go snow showed up in the forecast. It’s that time of year again where trips out become more of a challenge in these northern latitudes. Just thinking about it gives me cabin fever. Now as we approach Thanksgiving, the truck is unloaded and I’ll be dreaming all winter of “the season” when we can get back out and pop the top for our next camp.