Basecamp: AMC Highland Center
- Winter hiking and snowshoe picks at Crawford Notch
- Free snowshoe/cross-country ski clinics and tours with AMC Outdoor Explorations
- Tracks in the snow: animal tracking with an AMC naturalist
- Trails less traveled: naturalist-led Lodge-to-Hut and self-guided backcountry adventure
- 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
- A mix of green-friendly design, mountain photography, and winter outdoor skills: soaking in the Highland Center
- "Camp" for adults: week-long winter 50+ Adventure Camp
Ideal for beginners and well-seasoned outdoor enthusiasts alike, Highland Center offers a range of backcountry skiing and snowshoeing trails outside the lodge, with groomed trails and downhill skiing just a few miles up the road in Bretton Woods.
Highland Lodge is the hub of activity at Highland Center, which also includes Thayer Hall, Crawford Depot and Macomber Family Information Center, and Shapleigh Bunkhouse. Highland Lodge offers the convenience of an all-inclusive lodging experience, which not only factors in lodging and meals, but also outdoor gear and daily activities.
AMC Outdoor Explorations programs provide guests with more opportunities to try new outdoor activities and enjoy guided adventures - and many programs are free to guests. On a daily basis, Highland Center's expert staff offers guests free, one-hour winter skills clinics and a naturalist-led guided snowshoe or cross-country ski tour. Every weekend, Highland Center adds a free, one-hour cross-country ski or snowshoe clinic to brush up on the basics.
For more ideas and details about AMC Outdoor Explorations, check out the AMC's Winter Planning Guide.
Seasonal Highland Center packages and specials offered this winter include the annual Thanksgiving Family Fun Fall Harvest Package, Family Gingerbread Weekend, Audubon Christmas Bird Count, and Ski and Stay with Bretton Woods.
1. Winter hiking and snowshoe picks at Crawford Notch
From the front door of the Highland Center, 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 the Highland Center. 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 Center 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 Center, and the Mount Washington Hotel in the distance.
Mt. Willard
A moderately challenging and enjoyable 3.2-mile roundtrip snowshoe excursion starts behind the Crawford Depot at Highland Center 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 snowshoe/cross-country ski clinics and tours with "AMC Outdoor Explorations"
As part of AMC's extensive Outdoor Explorations program, Highland Center is offering guests free, naturalist-led snowshoe or cross-country ski tours on a daily basis. Every weekend, Highland Center also features free, one-hour cross-country ski or snowshoe clinics to brush up on the basics or learn a new skill or two. 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. Tracks in the snow: animal tracking with an AMC naturalist
At Highland Center, animal-based winter AMC Outdoor Explorations programs include tracking, winter dens, ruffed grouse, red and gray fox, and moose hikes. All animal tracking and snowshoe excursions are family-friendly, last about one-hour, and usually start with a 15-minute indoor presentation followed by 45 minutes outdoors snowshoeing. Not to mention that guests can borrow much of the necessary equipment, including trekking poles, boots, snowshoes, fleece jackets, hats, mittens, and backpacks. Come during winter weekends and holiday weeks and daily programming usually includes other alternatives to more traditional backyard pastimes, such as snowshelters and moonlit and star-gazing snowshoe walks.
4. Trails less traveled: naturalist-led Lodge-to-Hut and self-guided backcountry adventures
For a unique backcountry adventure, take a naturalist-led snowshoe or cross-country ski tour to AMC's winter huts - or take advantage of self-service rates, which start at just $27 per person, plus taxes, at AMC's winter huts. New this winter, AMC experts will offer guests Saturday evening talks and programs to share backcountry safety, trail info, and local natural and cultural history.
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 snowshoeing or skiing 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 the hut before dark.
AMC Outdoor Explorations
The Winter Ecology and Cross-Country Skiing Lodge-to-Hut naturalist-led trip begins with an orientation session and overnight at AMC's Highland Center before setting out for AMC's backcountry Zealand Falls hut. Spend two nights at the hut exploring, learning, and refining ski techniques and learning about winter ecology in the White Mountains. The terrain is moderate and the pace will be comfortable.
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.
AMC Outdoor Explorations
Especially for families with kids ages 10+, the Family Winter Adventure Lodge-to-Hut naturalist-led trip begins with an orientation session and overnight at AMC’s Highland Center. The next day, strap on snowshoes and trek to AMC’s backcountry hut at Lonesome Lake. Explore the forest along the way, listening for wintertime birds and following animal tracks. Spend one night at the hut exploring, learning, and refining snowshoe techniques and learning about winter ecology in the White Mountains. The terrain is beginner to moderate, and the pace will be comfortable with plenty of time to explore and learn.
5. Spend more time on the slopes: ski and stay with Bretton Woods
Take advantage of Highland Center'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 (or snowshoeing) 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 the Highland Center’s backdoor and ski three miles north of Crawford Notch along the Highland connector trail. Bretton Woods also offers downhill trails for skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts.
6. Peak experiences: tackling the 4,000 footers in winter
Webster-Jackson loop trip
Four thousand footer buffs, rejoice! The Highland Center 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 Center 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 Center and skirts around the summits of Mt. Pierce, Mt. Eisenhower, and Mt. Monroe - offering views of the winter Presidentials and Pemigewasset Wilderness peaks.
7. 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.
8. A mix of green-friendly design, mountain photography, and winter outdoor skills: soaking in the Highland Center
Take a green tour of Highland Center and learn about the many environmentally sensitive choices made in its design and construction. Then, depending on the roster of AMC Outdoor Explorations programs scheduled throughout the day, take part in a naturalist workshop or bone up on skills such as map and compass navigation or Leave No Trace.
Thayer Hall, next to the Highland Lodge, includes exhibit and meeting space and currently features a display and audio tour of mountain photography by mountaineering and cartography pioneer, Bradford Washburn.
At night, gather for an evening program, including snowshoe hikes by the light of a full moon.
9. "Camp" for adults: weeklong winter 50+ Adventure Camp
AMC is expanding its 50+ Adventure Camp at AMC’s Highland Center to a year-round program with the addition of two snow sports camps in February and March. The choice of group excursions will range from easy, short walks to more challenging snowshoe treks, including a day hike to AMC’s Zealand Falls Hut and a winter summit hike to one of New Hampshire’s famous 4,000-foot peaks. On a typical day, participants can join an early morning nature walk, followed by a longer winter hike, snowshoe, or cross-country ski tour when expert guides will share the best techniques. Indoor programs and evening presentations focused on winter sports and gear, the history of skiing, and winter safety and survival round out the daily activities. Participants also have the flexibility and downtime to explore on their own at any point during the week.
