Basecamp: AMC Highland Lodge
- Winter hiking and snowshoeing picks at Crawford Notch
- Free, guided snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, naturalist programs, and GPS orienteering
- Trails less traveled: naturalist-led Lodge-to-Hut and self-guided backcountry adventure
- "Camp" for adults: week-long winter 50+ Adventure Camp
- Combine the outdoors with yoga, Pilates, and Qigong
- Getting outdoors with the family: new winter family camp and family adventure weekend series
- Spend more time on the slopes: ski and stay with Bretton Woods
- Peak experiences: tackling the 4,000 footers in winter
- Grab your ice axes and crampons: Crawford Notch ice climbing
For additional ideas, check out AMC's Winter Guide.
1. Winter hiking and snowshoeing picks at Crawford Notch
From the front door of the Highland Lodge, there are a variety of trailheads within walking distance for beginner to experienced hikers:
Ammonoosuc Lake Loop Trail
An easy hike for snowshoers of all ages is the one to two-mile loop trail around Ammonoosuc Lake, which is just a short walk from Highland Lodge. This trail is a good bet for views of Mt. Washington and the southern Presidential Range.
Elephant Head
For slightly more elevation gain, climb to the top of Elephant Head, the rock outcropping that makes up the eastern wall of the Gateway to the Notch. This easy snowshoe through the woods starts a short distance from the front door of the Highland Lodge and takes you to the top of the rock formation, where you can stand on the elephant’s head and take in a magnificent view of the notch, the Highland Lodge, and the Mount Washington Hotel in the distance.
Mt. Willard
A moderately challenging and enjoyable 3.2-mile round-trip snowshoe excursion starts behind the Crawford Depot at Highland Lodge and continues to the 2,800-foot summit of Mt. Willard. Catch some of the best views in the Whites, including nearby Mt. Webster and Mt. Willey draped in snow.
2. Free, guided snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, naturalist programs, and GPS orienteering
As part of AMC's extensive Outdoor Explorations program, Highland Lodge is offering guests free, daily activities that include interpretive or skills programs like GPS orienteering, winter ecology, and night-time sights and sounds snowshoe outings. Snowshoe hikes and cross-country ski tours will also be offered on weekdays, and refresher skills clinics for cross-country skiing, backcountry skiing, and snowshoeing on weekends. The lodge is in close proximity to a wide range of winter trails, many starting just outside the door, plus there is a connector trail to Bretton Woods’ groomed cross-country network.
3. Trails less traveled: naturalist-led Lodge-to-Hut and self-guided backcountry adventures
For a unique backcountry adventure, join a naturalist-led, Lodge-to-Hut snowshoe or cross-country ski tour to AMC's winter huts. Or take advantage of low self-service rates at AMC's winter huts. Backcountry safety, trail info, and local natural and cultural history are shared during informal Saturday evening talks and programs for hut guests.
Zealand Falls Hut, located in Zealand Notch, sits at 2,700 feet next to beautiful Zealand Falls:
Lonesome Lake Hut is nestled against the flank of New Hampshire's Cannon Mt. at 2,760 feet and rewards with a spectacular view of the Franconia Range across a frozen mountain lake:
Zealand Falls Hut:
Zealand Road to Zealand Trail
Make the trip to Zealand Falls Hut for a unique backcountry snowshoe or cross-country ski excursion.
Beginners and families should opt for the cross-country ski trail located off of Route 302, just east of Zealand Road, which eventually connects up with Zealand Trail and takes you to the north end of Zealand Notch before reaching Zealand Pond and the AMC hut a short distance beyond. The trip to the hut is six miles and takes about 3.5 hours. Views include Carrigan Notch, Mt. Anderson, Mt. Lowell, Whitewall, and Vose Spur.
Avalon to AZ Trail
Experienced winter backpackers will enjoy the 18-mile loop through the Willey Range and Zealand Notch, starting and finishing on the Avalon Trail with an overnight at Zealand Falls Hut. This 5.5-mile snowshoe trip typically takes four-plus hours.
Ethan Pond Trail
A 7.3-mile ski tour, the Ethan Pond Trail has some steep patches and requires good navigational skills for unbroken segments of trail. The trip should take approximately five hours, so start early to make it to the hut before dark.
Lonesome Lake Hut:
Lonesome Lake Trail
Take the Lonesome Lake Trail for a family-friendly, moderately steep backcountry snowshoe trek that is well traveled and just over 1.5 miles to the hut. It is skiable by intermediate to advanced backcountry skiers with skins.
Kinsman Ridge Trail
More experienced hikers can go up to the Kinsman Ridge Trail for a longer route over steeper, rougher terrain. The next morning, pack up your gear and descend into Franconia Notch.
Basin Cascade to Cascade Brook Trail
This two-hour, 2.5-mile journey to Lonesome Lake Hut makes for a good snowshoe or ski. Lightly used, this trail follows a river and requires significant snow for skiing and can be challenging to navigate if the snow is not packed.
Cascade Brook Trail (Appalachian Trail)
A slightly longer trip than the Basin Cascade to Cascade Brook Trail, this three-mile route has similar terrain and is seldom traveled. The travel time is approximately 2.5 hours.
4. "Camp" for adults: weeklong winter 50+ Adventure Camp
In addition to weeks at Highland Lodge, AMC is expanding its winter 50+ Adventure Camp to Joe Dodge Lodge this year, providing a choice of two locations in the heart of New Hampshire ’s White Mountains. The camp at both lodges brings together outdoor enthusiasts ages 50 and older for a variety of easy, moderate, and advanced snowshoe hikes and cross-country ski tours, outdoor skills workshops, cultural and historical tours and talks, evening programs, and social activities.
5. Combine the outdoors with yoga, Pilates, and Qigong
AMC this winter is introducing a new, expert-led health and wellness weekend series at Highland Lodge, connecting the natural world with mind-body exercises that include yoga, Pilates, and Qigong. Guided hikes or snowshoe tours will complement indoor programs, revealing the serenity of the outdoors as the group explores local trails. Personal time for reflection and relaxation is also set aside as part of every weekend’s daily activities, along with a varied mix of featured talks on topics such as stress management, nutrition, and women’s health.
6. Getting outdoors with the family: new winter family camp and family adventure weekend series
AMC is extending its newly introduced family weekend series throughout this upcoming winter, to include the sixth annual Gingerbread Weekend being hosted at Highland Lodge. AMC’s family camp, being offered at Highland Lodge for the first time in winter this year, will feature a week of snowshoe walks, snow shelter building, cross-country ski tours, and dog-sled rides for kids ages five-12 in the comfort of a lodge setting.
7. Spend more time on the slopes: ski and stay with Bretton Woods
Take advantage of Highland Lodge's cross-country and downhill Ski & Stay packages and experience some of the best skiing and snowboarding in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. If cross-country skiing is your pleasure, then hook up with the Bretton Woods Nordic Ski Area, one of the largest in the east. Slip into your skis outside Highland Lodge's backdoor and ski three miles north of Crawford Notch along the Highland connector trail. There are also downhill trails for Alpine skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts.
8. Peak experiences: tackling the 4,000 footers in winter
Webster-Jackson loop trip
Four thousand footer buffs, rejoice! The Highland Lodge also offers at-your-doorstep access to a handful of the highest places in the Whites. One trail for those looking to bag the 4,000-footers in winter is the 6.5-mile Webster-Jackson loop trip, which summits Mt. Jackson and its not quite 4,000-foot neighbor, Mt. Webster. In addition to this classic loop hike, Highland Lodge also offers easy access to 4,000-foot peaks in the Willey Range, including Mt. Tom, Mt. Field, and Mt. Willey.
Mt. Washington via the Crawford Path
For an ambitious trek that requires more winter experience, proper clothing for extreme weather, good outdoor skills, and some technical mountaineering equipment, set your sights on conquering all or part of the 8.5-mile ascent of Mt. Washington via the historic Crawford Path. This trail begins a few steps from the Highland Lodge and skirts around the summits of Mt. Pierce, Mt. Eisenhower, and Mt. Monroe - offering views of the winter Presidentials and Pemigewasset Wilderness peaks.
9. Grab your ice axes and crampons: Crawford Notch ice climbing
Named for Godfrey N. Frankenstein, a nineteenth-century White Mountain School of Art painter, Frankenstein Cliff is arguably a premier ice-climbing destination in the White Mountains. Frankenstein’s popularity stems from its range of difficulty and appeal to all skill levels. Shorter ledges make it suitable for beginners just learning the basics, and steeper waterfall ice routes offer a challenge for more advanced climbers. So pack up your ice axes and crampons and head out on the Frankenstein Cliff Trail just south of the Willey House site in Crawford Notch State Park. Other ice-climbing destinations in Crawford Notch include the longer routes on Willey Slide off Route 302, which offer excellent views of the Webster Cliffs on the other side of the Notch, Cinema Gully on Mt. Willard, and Mt. Webster. Check out AMC Outdoor Explorations for ice climbing courses.
