5 Picnic Spots for Couples in New Hampshire’s White Mountains

Enjoying a leisurely picnic lunch or dinner is a rite of summer in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, where waterfalls, lakes and lofty mountain views are everywhere. Along with all the popular White Mountain attractions for family travels, there are plenty of less known places where couples can find a scenic spot to unpack their picnic basket.

Artists Bluff

A backpack might prove a better carrier for your picnic at the top of this ledge overlooking Echo Lake and Franconia Notch, as it’s reached by a 1.5-mile loop trail. Don’t expect to be alone here in the middle of a summer day, but by late afternoon you’ll find it a beautiful spot for an early picnic dinner.

Mount Willard

Another hike with just as impressive a view and less company, Mount Willard overlooks the head of Crawford Notch. Reach it via an old carriage path from the little Victorian Rail Station near the AMC Highland Center in Bretton Woods. There’s a visitor information center at the old depot.

Beecher’s Cascade

A shorter hike from the same base in Bretton Woods will take you to a little-known set of cascades perfect for picnicking beside. The cool forest is especially welcome on a hot summer day.

Otter Rocks

Every traveler in the White Mountains has heard of the Kancamagus Highway, a scenic road that winds in hairpin curves to the top of a mountain pass between Lincoln and Conway. But few notice the sign for Otter Rocks at the Lincoln end of the route. A mountain stream tumbles and slides down a series of ledges carved and worn smooth by the rushing water, and you can picnic on the flat rocks or at one of the two tables in the woods beside the falls.

Beaver Pond

After a strenuous climb through nearby Lost River Gorge, you’ll have an appetite for a picnic beside Beaver Pond in Kinsman Notch. The beautiful little pond lies at the base of Mount Moosilauke and has picnic tables that are seldom busy.