Want to learn the best things to do in Lincoln, New Hampshire? There are many attractive things around the town for everyone. Travelers use it as a base while exploring the beauty of the White Mountains.Â
Lincoln is a town covered with the White Mountains and other beautiful attractions. Visiting Lincoln almost every season will make you feel happy and relaxed. In winter, it is the best place for snow skating, snowshoeing, and skiing.
Summer is best for hiking because the city has many footpaths or trails, and enjoying leaf peeping in the Fall. It is home to many wild species, and the natural landscape’s beauty will give you goosebumps. You can visit many parks, outstanding resorts, and outdoor activity areas.
It is near the Kancamagus highway, southwest of the White Mountains. It is recommended to follow some tips before starting the trip.
For example, you must book tickets in advance for skiing, tubing, or staying in the resorts. In winter, visiting the town is almost very risky, but you must take some precautionary measures followed by the town’s department.
Wearing proper warm clothing is essential due to the extremely windy air that may cause discomfort. Packing some micro spike, a hiking bag, hiking boots, water bottles, snow shoes, and an umbrella.
Travel to Lincoln, New Hampshire
The city has excellent worth among travelers, and they use it as a base and weekend getaway to explore the White Mountains’ eastern side.
What are the best things to do in Lincoln, NH?
The best and most entertaining things are checking out The Basin, exploring Flume Gorge, and visiting Loon Mountain.
How much time do you need in Lincoln?
You need a minimum of three days if you want to explore the local town’s surroundings.
How do you get to Lincoln?
Buses are also used, but a car is the most convenient option to access Lincoln. It is a two-hour drive from Boston and a one-and-a-half-hour drive from Manchester, New Hampshire.
However, if you come from Portland or Maine, you need a two-hour and a 15-minute drive to reach the destination.
What are the best things to do in Lincoln in the winter?
In winter, enjoy a lot with Alpine Adventures, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and skiing at Loon Mountain.
What’s the best time to visit Lincoln?
There are many suitable times to visit the city throughout the year. Going to Lincoln before the peak foliage period started in September would be best. June to October is filled with many travelers and is known as a peak season. For ski lovers, winter is the best time.
Things to Do in Lincoln, NH
In Lincoln, outdoor activities are a great choice to make your trip memorable. Spending most of your time outdoors exploring the mountain town area is necessary.
The neighboring town, North Woodstock, also offers many cool activities. It is a few minutes away from Lincoln.
Following are our favorite things to do in Lincoln.
Franconia Notch State Park:
| Admission cost for adults | $4 |
| Admission cost for children ages 6 to 11 | $2 |
It is located in the White Mountain National Forest. Franconia Notch State Park offers many activities and amenities for visitors.
It includes a boat ramp, boat rental, skiing, camping, fishing, snowmobiling, swimming, kayaking, and hiking. Restrooms, a picnic area, and a park store will also be found.
Franconia Notch State Park is a historic and pet-friendly site surrounding Grafton County. It is the home of Echo Lake and Flume Gorge. Pay an additional amount if you visit the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway or Flume Gorge.
Shop for Outdoor Gear:Â
Lincoln is not famous for fashion design but has many outdoor gear shops. Main Street is well-known for its great gear shops. For outdoor gear shopping, you can visit Lahout’s family-run business.
The shop is open for visitors throughout the year. The oldest United States ski shop has eight branches across Littleton and Lincoln.
Many big brands like Patagonia, Columbia, and North Face are partners of Lahout’s. It is an excellent place for outdoor sports fans because they have sold affordable outdoor gear for over four generations.Â
Secondly, Burgeon Outdoor is a popular business that sells locally-made outdoor apparel. Burgeon primarily aims to connect nature lovers, mountain communities, and the outdoors.
Thirdly, Sport Thoma earned the Best Ski Shops award six times. It is the best place if you are looking for ski gear. The Thomas staff is expert and professional, accommodating visitors in finding their desired things.
The business has a considerable inventory and fulfills all the customer’s demands. The footwear or Pedorthist specialists help you choose the best pair for your foot selection.
Kancamagus Highway:
It is a two-lane mountain scenic road with 35 miles of car drive. The Kanc is a famous highway for its beautiful scenery during the fall season. If you enjoy scenic views, you must visit and drive through the highway.Â
You will surely make a lot of stops to view the scenes and to take pictures. It will hardly take an hour to complete the road.
The problem is that no gas stations, shops, restaurants, or other things exist around the highway. So it is recommended to check everything necessary to get on the highway.
One must stop at trailhead parking in the national forest to see the leaves of falls. In winter, beautiful white snow is seen alongside the roads and above the mountains. During wintertime, do dozens of things while on the highway.
You can ski on Greeley Ponds trail, snowshoe in Lincoln Woods, and see the frozen waterfalls. Using a Kancamagus Highway audio guide that narrates all the surrounding items with the help of GPS is recommended.
Flume Gorge:
| Admission cost for adults | $18 |
| Admission cost for kids ages 6 to 12 | $16 |
| Location | 852 Daniel Webster Highway, Lincoln |
In the Franconia Notch State Park, this natural chasm is surrounded by enchanting sights, representing a natural wonder of the world. Flume Gorge has a long history and was formed during the Jurassic Period. It is a perfect place for a family-friendly hike.
A bus is available at the top of Avalanche Falls to bring the hikers back to the entrance. You can use a bus service if you feel tired. Visiting Flume Gorge can satisfy any tourist’s thirst for nature and beauty.
An enjoyable two-mile hike will provide excellent views of the mountains, remarkable waterfalls, and leaves-covered bridges.
This hike has a fee, so you should be prepared to pay for it. However, the trip’s price is a little high, especially for kids.
Alpine Adventures:
| Location | 41 Main Street, Lincoln |
Alpine Adventures is giving some thrilling adventure courses to families. They have a professional guided team to provide these exciting adventures, which makes people feel safe throughout their journey.
You can do rope ladders, climbing towers, snowmobile rides, cargo nets, zip lines, and airbag stunt zones. The canopy tour zip line is New England’s highest and longest zipline. The alpine will give the experience of visiting the safari course on the army vehicles.
Alpine Adventures offers three miles of ziplines, which can reach 100 feet above the forest. The Treetop Tour has five ziplines, each a maximum of 250 feet long, and a 30-foot suspension bridge. These ziplines are suitable for families and beginners.
There is Thirlsville, an aerial course with rope ladders, a treehouse, bridges, and a 50-foot rappel that offers self-guided tours.
Visit the Ice Castles:
| Admission costs for up to 12 | $20 from Monday to Friday $27 on Saturday and Sunday. |
| Admission costs for 4 to 11 | $1 from Monday to Friday $22 on weekends. |
Lincoln’s Ice Castle is one of the famous places to see the wonder of ice. Technically, it is located in Woodstock, but it is only a 5-minute ride from Lincoln. So, one can consider it in Lincoln.Â
This is a beautiful place made of icicles. It has many hand-carved things, including fountains, stairs, towers with LED lights, icy pavement, tunnels, etc.
The exciting thing is that they are renewed every year by professionals. See new and unique hand-carved things every year. It’s mainly open from January to March in terms of weather conditions.
Ski at Loon Mountain Resort:
| Location | 60 Loon Mountain Road Lincoln. |
The White Mountains Ski Area provides skiers with a stunning view of the mountains from the resorts. The resort has the most potent snowmaking organism of any ski resort in Connecticut. This system adds natural snow to the ideal mix of snow.Â
They have a wide range of terrain available for skiers of all levels. They also have a series of terrain parks that will serve people from all levels of ability, including a park explicitly made to meet the needs of young children learning the basics of snowboard riding.
There are 61 trails, 370 acres of ski area, and 10 chairlifts. There are 6 different types of amusement parks.Â
The Sno-Go sport is also available at Loon, an activity similar to riding a bicycle, but it is done skiing. In the Loon, you will see the mountain club, which has a full-service club with all the necessities.
Clark’s Bears:
| Location | 110 Daniel Webster Highway, US Route 3, Lincoln |
It is one of the unique tourist attractions in Lincoln, New Hampshire, to see Clark’s Bears. He is a trained bear and one of the last of his kind.
There have been 5 generations of Clark family members who have taken care of bereaved bear cubs. They cared for them when they were too young to survive in the wild.Â
Clark’s Bears is a fun combination of a theme park, a train ride, and an amusement park with a fair bit of history added to keep grown-ups entertained.
The bear show has many fun things, like the bear balancing the barrels, eating ice creams, riding swings, playing basketball, and even riding scooters and bicycles.
Moreover, Clark’s Bears have a splash park, vintage fire engine, stream train, Merlin mystical mansion, Segway rides, and a fun house for kids. It is a must-visit place if you come with children.
Seven Birches Winery:
| Location | 22 S Mountain Drive Lincoln. |
It is one of the most pleasurable activities in Lincoln for grown-ups to go wine tasting at Seven Birches. Sit on the balcony, drink wine, and see the stunning pools and mountain views. You can even go to the wine-making room and tasting room.
It is located in two locations: one is in Riverwalk Resort, and the other one is in the Lincoln Village shop. The Seven Birches Winery offers daily wine tastings to its visitors, and the wines are handcrafted using grapes sourced worldwide.Â
The winery tours are a fun way to get to know the winemakers, so if you have nothing else to do, book a winery tour and meet them. Having a toast at Seven Birches with your favorite person is one of the most romantic things that can be done in Lincoln for couples.
Hobo Railroad:
| Admission Cost For Adults | $19 |
| Admission Cost For Children from 4-12 | $14 |
| Location | 64 Railroad Street, Lincoln, NH |
As far back as the 19th century, a steam train was popular among hoboes, and the Hobo Railroad was one of them. Historically, Lincoln’s mills produced paper and wood products transported all over the nearby towns by the railroad.
Secondly, Hobo Railroad takes almost 2 hours to complete the journey along the Pemigewasset River. It is especially interesting for the kids. The train ride is all ready for all the seasons, whether it is rain or snow.
The train has special occasions like Christmas and Thanksgiving to celebrate in the train. It is a ride along the waterways of Lake Winnipesaukee or the Pemigewasset River on a historic rail line. Hobo Railroad has majestic scenery outside the train and will please your eyes.
Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves:
| Online booking costs For kids under 4 | $22 |
| Online booking costs For above the age of 4 | $25 |
Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves is a beautiful attraction in Lincoln’s neighboring town, North Woodstock. It is similar to the Flume Gorge, an unforgettable natural wonder. The significant difference between both of them is that it has more caves.
During your journey, you will find some kid-sized and large caves. One cave also has a waterfall. It is a well-known entertaining activity if you come with kids.
A 1-mile wooden boardwalk is used to reach the Kinsman Notch. The trail to the gorge includes 11 boulder caves and the infamous Lemon Squeezer.
Explore green and gorgeous large boulders, waterfalls, rock walls, caves, and the Lost River during your journey. Â
Hike in the White Mountains:
Lincoln has many hikes because it is located in the center of the White Mountains. You should go hiking if the weather is pleasant and you have some extra time because it is a fantastic outdoor activity to experience nature.Â
Lincoln Woods Trail is a 9.8-mile hike. Compared to others, it is a long walk. You can hike one or two miles if you don’t want to complete all the distance. There is also a swimming hole that is the perfect hot day solution.
Secondly, consider the 3.7-mile Pemigewasset Trail. A moderate out-and-back trail is in Franconia State Park. They charge $2 for kids and $4 for adults as an admission cost.
Artist’s Bluff Trail is 1.5 miles long. Compared to others, it is an easy hike. From the summit, you can enjoy the iconic White Mountains views.
Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train:
It is Lincoln’s special train dinner. The dinner settings are extraordinary and offer a memorable dining experience. The Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train ride lasts two hours and serves a five-course meal. You have a chance to taste several flavors of meals.
It is a unique dining train consisting of 1950s railcars. Its station is located in Lincoln’s town, North Woodstock. The whole journey of Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train is 20 miles.
It travels along the Pemi River Valley. Before completing the journey, it covers a Christmas tree and a golf course.Â
It runs from May to October. A per-person train ride costs $95 for the main level and $120 for the dome level. The train costs include a five-course meal and train fare. It is a top choice if you want a place for a special occasion or a romantic dinner date.
Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway:
| Ticket costs for adults | $25 |
| Ticket costs for kids ages 6 to 11 | $20 |
It was New England’s first aerial tramway to enjoy stunning views from 4,080 feet. It is still the single New Hampshire aerial tramway.
A cable car takes a passenger in ten minutes at the summit. At the mountain’s summit, relish a lot with a cafe, walking paths, and a 360-degree viewing area. From the top, see Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, and New York if the weather is pleasant during the journey.
Along with it, you can also enjoy the stunning NH’s White Mountains and Vermont’s Green Mountains views. It is located in Lincoln’s neighboring town, Franconia State Park.Â
At the bottom of the mountain, a huge gift shop sells clothes, winter stuff, and various small items to take home. It is open from the end of May until the middle of October, depending on the weather.
Old Man of the Mountain Memorial:
Once, it was NH’s symbol. Old Man of the Mountain is located in Franconia Notch State Park. It is a natural rock that looks like an old man’s profile. Millions of visitors come to New Hampshire year-round to see the Old Man.
May 2003 was a mourning day for New Hampshire because Old Man tumbled down, and it was no more. After that, in 2011, at Profile Plaza, the people of Granite State commemorated the Old Man’s legacy.
Steel poles and Old Man’s sculpture are fixed at different heights to see artistic rendition. It is a fantastic option to learn about New Hampshire culture.
New England Ski Museum:
In Franconia State Park, the New England Ski Museum was opened in 1982. Whereas in North Conway, the New England Ski Museum was opened in 2018. Millions of people come each year to understand many new things in both branches.
It is located at Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway’s base. Its primary purpose is to educate visitors about the museum’s history by sharing knowledge, research, and artifacts.
There are many things in museums, including ski equipment, ski posters, Bodhe Miller’s Olympic gold medals, etc. There is no admission cost to visit a museum. However, donations are accepted. Â
Whale’s Tale Waterpark:
| Admission cost for ages 4 & above | $50 |
| Admission costs for ages 1 to 3 | $10 |
| Location | 481 Daniel Webster Highway, Lincoln |
It is a 17-acre park with all the amenities. Whale’s Tale Waterpark is considered one of the best waterparks in New England. Adults, teens, and kids of all ages can enjoy the cool water in the hot summer months. There are many slides, rides, and pools for all ages.
For little kids, there is a peaceful area with a zero-grade water level. The pools have the effect of artificial water waves for surfing. A little kiddie can also learn surfing at Whale’s Tale Waterpark.
There is a rest area and a lawn for adults to relax and have some food. You can bring your food and snacks. Plus, the park has shops for food and drinks of all kinds.
Winter Gondola Skyride:
This scenic gondola ride is the longest in New Hampshire. It provides a panoramic view of the western White Mountains from its 1.3-mile length. Winter Gondola Skyride is also a popular destination for tourists visiting Loon Mountain during summer.Â
Secondly, ride in this gondola throughout all four seasons, but seeing the beautiful leaves’ colors in autumn is especially fun. Enjoy the stunning surrounding views once you reach the top, about 1.3 miles above the ground.Â
Play disc golf at the nine-hole course that is located at the summit. You can even climb through the glacial cavities. The hiking trails that lead back to the base are also available for you to follow.
Go Snowmobiling:
In New Hampshire, it is a well-known winter season activity. It is a great place for practice or learning skills if you are not trained in Snowmobiling.
For Snowmobiling, people come here from all across New England because the city has many trails and offers a chance to enjoy winter.
In Lincoln, visit Sledventures if you are looking for the best snowmobile rental shop. The riders use the newest and best snowmobiles to teach the visitors from beginner to expert level. A per-hour snowmobile tour costs $100 and $300 for four hours.
Where to Stay in Lincoln, New Hampshire
Here, we featured New Hampshire’s best accommodation options.Â
Lincoln’s Best Luxury Hotel:
InnSeason Pollard Brook Resort is considered the best luxury accommodation. The luxury palace is located across from Loon Mountain and in the White Mountain National Forest. It has all the amenities, including kitchens, balconies, baths, and patios.
There is a hot tub, WI-FI, an indoor swimming pool, a gym, an outdoor swimming pool, and unique shuttles to Loon Mountain.
Lincoln’s Best Mid-Range Hotel:
Consider the Woodstock Inn Brewery if you are looking for the best Mid-Range Hotel. It is located in a Woodstock renovated railway station five minutes from Lincoln.
The train station has six different buildings with decorated and furnished rooms. Mini-fridges, tubs, and fireplaces are available in some rooms. Get breakfast each morning. The property also has 4 pubs, a restaurant, a spa center, and Woodstock Brewery.
Lincoln’s Best Budget Hotel:
Inn 32 is an affordable option for visitors with all the basic amenities. The accommodation is located in North Woodstock.
From rooms, enjoy a lot with the stunning mountain views and easily explore the White Mountain area.
All rooms are equipped with a microwave, a television, a private bathroom, Wi-Fi, a fridge, and air conditioning.
How Much Time to Spend in Lincoln, NH
It is a common question in many people’s minds how much time we need to explore Lincoln. A single-day trip is sufficient to explore downtown, go hiking, and see one or two more attractions.
On the other hand, you need more days if you want to enjoy Lincoln’s natural beauty. Lost River Gorge, Flume Gorge, the Basin, and other attractions demand more time.
In terms of time, plan a weekend trip to explore the top cool things. Having more time for more extended hiking, outdoors, and the Kancamagus Highway trips.
How to Get to Lincoln, NH?
The best way to access the city is by car. If you come from Manchester, it’s a ninety-minute and two-hour drive from Boston.
In contrast, if you come from Maine or Portland, react to the destination within two hours and 15 minutes. All the above cities also have international airports.Â
On the other hand, it’s a one-hour drive from Concord and North Conway. From Portsmouth and Keene, it’s a two-hour drive. Concord Coach Lines has fewer bus options for Lincoln.
Best Time to Visit Lincoln
According to experiences and available activities, summer is the best time to make a trip entertaining. If you love fall foliage, you should go in the Fall. Winter months are best for snowboarding and skiing.
We are always planning to visit in September to enjoy the White Mountains. At that time, the weather was pleasant, beautiful, and quiet. You will experience bright color glimpses on trees. From early to mid-October, fall foliage tends to peak.
Compared to other months, it is the most expensive vacation time. At that time, it was crowded because visitors from all over the United States and other countries came to enjoy nature. It is difficult to get cheap accommodation due to the traveling folks.
Is Lincoln Worth It?
It’s worth a lot due to its impressive nature and friendly activities. The city is a base to explore the attractions of the White Mountains.
