Vermont and New Hampshire are both well known for outdoor adventures. From summer hikes, autumn foliage road trips, and winter ski vacations, both states have plenty to offer to anyone who loves nature.

As much fun as skiing is, places like Stowe, VT and Lincoln, NH can get crowded. Sometimes it’s nice to step away and go do something else in the outdoors during the winter. Here, I’ve put together a list of the best winter outdoors activities for these two incredible states that doesn’t include visiting a ski resort.

New Hampshire

Flume Gorge

Flume Gorge has to be one of the most well known natural attractions in all of New Hampshire. The hiking trail through the gorge is closed to hikers in the winter and the wood planks are pulled up and stored away. But, you can still go see the gorge during the frigid days of winter. However, if you are an experienced Ice Climber, then you can go climb the gorge walls during the frigid winter months.

Aside from Flume Gorge itself, there are two covered bridges along the hiking loop in the park that stay open year round. Sentinel Pine Covered Bridge (pictured below) and Historic Flume Gorge Covered Bridge!

Sentinel Pine Covered Bridge on the loop hike around Flume Gorge

Crawford Notch

Occupying the eastern side of the White Mountains, Crawford Notch is a great place to go for stunning vistas and more isolated nature. The Presidential Range is the focal point of the park with other natural sites scattered throughout (notably, Arethusa Falls). If you want a shorter hike, Mount Willard is a great option. The view from up top looks down into the valley that Route 302 follows. When the mountains are covered in snow, the scenery is spectacular. While it may not always be the case, Crawford Notch always feels much less crowded than other parts of the White Mountains like Franconia Notch and the Kancamagus Highway. If you’re looking for more solitude, Crawford Notch is a top pick in the winter. Just be sure to bring your snowshoes!

Sabbaday Falls

One of the most popular waterfalls in the state, Sabbaday Falls is typically packed with visitors in warmer weather. During the colder months, it’s much quieter. When I visited, I was the only one at the falls and it was absolutely gorgeous! The walkway near the falls can be a bit slick, so be prepared with proper footwear. Sabbaday Falls is great to tack on to a day with other outdoor activities as there are tons of other waterfalls and scenic spots along the Kancamagus Highway.

Franconia Ridge Trail

High up in Franconia Notch State Park, Franconia Ridge Trail traverses numerous peaks that cast shadows over I-93. This is a great trail for those looking for a challenge. The entire loop is nearly 9 miles long and has almost 4,000ft of elevation gain. While difficult, the views at the top are certainly worth it. I did a portion of the trail and went to the summit of Little Haystack Mountain. Most on the trail did the entire loop which will take up an entire day. Whether you do a portion of the hike or the entire loop, it’s worth it for those who are ready to brave the conditions. Note that at the top of the peaks, it’s significantly colder and much more windy than the forested sections of the hike. Even with a packed down trail, snowshoes or crampons are a must. Take weather conditions into account before attempting this hike.

Covered Bridges

New Hampshire has plenty of covered bridges to visit if you love old architecture. There are a number of maps online that show where you can find all of the covered bridges in the state. As mentioned above, Flume Gorge has two on offer (Sentinel Pine and Flume Covered Bridge). Other than those two, Haverhill Covered Bridge and Albany Covered Bridge are great options of ones to visit.

Vermont

Bingham Falls

Just outside of Stowe, VT you’ll find Bingham Falls. This waterfall is a great place to visit any time of year. Of all the frozen waterfalls in Vermont during my visit, Bingham Falls was my favorite. While there isn’t much exploration to be done at the falls, it’s a really peaceful place given how enclosed the waterfall is by rock walls with plant life all around.

Lake Willoughby

One of the most well photographed place in Northern Vermont, Lake Willougby sits in the valley between Wheeler Mountain and Mount Pisgah. Known for a towering tree filled cliff to the east of the lake, the lakeside drive is spectacular. Some of the most popular photographs from here are taken during Autumn, but winter looks just as good here. With snow covered trees and an icy lake, the scenery is still stunning, even without the fall foliage. For the best view, grab some snowshoes or spikes and hike up to the first overlook on the trek up to the summit of Mt. Pisgah. If you have a drone, the aerial views and photographs are absolutely stunning.

Stowe Pinnacle Hike

A 3.5 mile out & back trail, Stow Pinnacle is a great winter hiking trail that isn’t too challenging. AllTrails notes that this hike is subject to seasonal closures, however it is a well traversed trail during the winter. With good views up top, this one is definitely worth checking out if snowshoeing is your thing.

Moss Glen Falls

Ok, so there are two different Moss Glen Falls… both are pretty great to visit. This being a winter specific list, I don’t think Moss Glen Falls in Granville is worth a stop. Yes, it is technically accessible and a sight to see. But, I whole-heartedly believe Moss Glen Falls in Stowe is so much better in the winter. The falls are more secluded and the quick hike to the falls has more to see. I was lucky with the conditions and had a nice sort of snow sinkhole that was open underneath the solid snow drifts covering the falls. A sight to behold.

Covered Bridges

Vermont is well known for having some stunning covered bridges. Naturally, no list would be complete without covering some of the historical bridges. There are online resources that will have maps of all the covered bridges in the state if you are interested in looking into more than I can cover in this article. Comstock, Grist Mill, and Gold Brook Covered Bridges are all great choices for winter themed bridges. Grist Mill and Gold Brook are both relatively close to Stowe while Comstock is a bit of a drive north in Montgomery Center. Much like New Hampshire, if you find yourself just driving around on back roads, you’re bound to run into a hidden away covered bridge at some point in Vermont.

There are tons of options when it comes to winter activities in Vermont and New Hampshire. This list is by no means exhaustive and each state has so much more to explore. I recommend looking at AllTrails for other ideas if there aren’t enough places on this list for you.

Best Winter Outdoor Spots to Visit in New Hampshire and Vermont

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