Franconia Notch State Park.

Stretching through a dramatic mountain pass in the heart of the White Mountains, Franconia Notch State Park serves as a dense corridor of New Hampshire’s most famous geological features. The landscape is defined by the Flume Gorge, a narrow granite chasm featuring 90-foot walls and the crashing Avalanche Falls. For those looking to skip the steep hike up Cannon Mountain, North America’s first aerial tramway runs to the 4,080-foot summit for views across the valley. Below, the Pemigewasset River carves out The Basin, a deep glacial pothole, while Echo Lake offers a high-altitude spot for swimming and boating. The park is highly accessible via a paved recreational trail that parallels the parkway, making it easy to hop between the New England Ski Museum and the various trailheads that lead into the high peaks of the Kinsman and Franconia ranges.