New Hampshire White Mountains National Forest

The White Mountains were formed by glaciers that retreated over 10,000 years ago carving narrow steep mountain passes called notches through granite. The White Mountains National Forest comprises almost 800,000 acres in the north central part of New Hampshire and extends into Maine and almost into Vermont covering a landscape that is a little larger than the State of Rhode Island. This landscape ranges from hardwood forests to the largest alpine area east of the Rocky Mountains and south of Northern Quebec. It covers 728,150 acres in NH and 49,346 acres in ME. There are areas of steep topography interspersed with numerous peaks and valleys. The Presidential Range includes Mt. Washington (elev. 6,288 ft.), the highest mountain east of the Mississippi River and north of the Carolinas. In total, nearly 50 peaks above 4,000 feet in elevation can be found in the White Mountains. Eighty-seven percent of New Hampshire is forested. Rivers and streams are common throughout the state with the largest being the Connecticut River, which serves as the VT-NH state line below Beecher Falls. Lakes and ponds are also common

The White Mountain National Forest is one of the most heavily used forests in the country with over 6 million visitors annually. People come here to backpack, to camp and picnic, to enjoy scenic drives, to ski and even to go dog sledding

White Mountain National Forest Offices

Androscoggin Ranger District

Gorham Office
300 Glen Rd
Gorham, NH 03581-1399
(603) 466-2713 x 0
(603) 466-2856 TTY

Evans Notch Information Center
18 Mayville Rd
Bethel, ME 04217-4400
(207) 824-2134
(207) 824-3312 TTY

Pemigewasset Ranger District

Plymouth Office
1171 NH Rt 175
Holderness, NH 03245
(603) 536-1315 (Business Number)
(603) 536-3281 TTY

Bethlehem Office
660 Trudeau Rd
Bethlehem, NH 03574
(603) 869-2626 (Business Number)
(603) 869-3104 TTY

General Forest Information and Passes

(603) 745-3816 (seven days a week)

Saco Ranger District

33 Kancamagus Highway
Conway, NH 03818
(603) 447-5448 x 0
(603) 447-3121 TTY

White Mountain National Forest Supervisor's Office

719 Main Street
Laconia, NH 03246
(603) 528-8721
(603) 528-8722 TTY

New Hampton Information Center

PO Box 2
Exit 23, Rt 104
New Hampton, NH 03256
603-744-9165

White Mountain Gateway Visitor and Interpretive Center

200 Kancamagus Highway
North Woodstock, NH 03262
603-745-8720 or
1-800-346-3687

Pinkham Notch Visitor Center

PO Box 298
Gorham, NH 03581
(603) 466-2721
(603) 466-3871 FAX

White Mountain Attractions

Box 10MG
North Woodstock, NH 03262
603-745-8720 or
1-800-346-3687