It’s May – hooray! The start of this new month puts us one step closer to visiting all the best attractions in the White Mountains. Ride a historic train alongside rushing rivers. Slide down a zipline as the buds of spring begin to bloom. Chug to the top of the tallest mountain in the Northeast, taunt Wolfman, and crawl through an icy cave.
Whichever way you choose to play, start booking your tickets for summer adventures NOW. Keep reading for a full breakdown of 2026 opening dates. We’ll see you out there, White Mountains fans!
ALPINE ADVENTURES (Lincoln, NH)
Book an epic experience before summer heats up, and head to Alpine Adventures in Lincoln, NH. You’ll have your pick of Thrillsville (an aerial challenge course), offroad tours aboard a six-wheeled Pinzgauer, or ziplining through the forests of the White Mountains. Reservations are highly encouraged for ziplining and offroad tours.
2026 Dates: Spring: Open Friday – Monday plus select vacation week & holiday dates. Summer: Open daily, June 16 through Columbus Day. Visit AlpineZipline.com or call (603) 745-9911 for details, including hours of operation and tour availability.
BRETTON WOODS SKYWAY GONDOLA (Bretton Woods, NH)
Bretton Woods Skyway Gondola is your hub for summer fun! Enjoy a scenic gondola ride to the mountain-top Rosebrook Lodge where you can savor lunch and libations at Switchback Grille. Explore your inner adventurer on the Bretton Woods Canopy Tour featuring 9 ziplines, or climb to new heights on the guided West Wall Climb. Back at the base, challenge your friends and family to a round of disc golf, or see who can conquer the indoor Slopeside Climbing Wall. 27 holes of championship golf plus hiking and biking trails, special events and more summer fun awaits.
2026 Dates: Weekends Only: May 23 - June 14. Daily: June 20 – Oct. 18. Other summer activities include Canopy Tours, Golf, Mountain Biking, Disc Golf, Horseback Trail Rides, Carriage Rides, and Guided Tours) available soon. Visit BrettonWoods.com or call (603) 278–3320 for hours, tickets, and more information.
Visit BrettonWoods.com or call (603) 278–3320 for hours, tickets, and more information.
CANNON MOUNTAIN & ECHO LAKE BEACH (Franconia, NH)
Enjoy the beauty of 39-acre spring-fed Echo Lake, with sweeping views of Franconia Notch and the trails at Cannon Mountain. The cool, clear water and sandy beach are perfect for relaxing on a hot summer day. Rent a kayak or pedal boat and get out on the water!
2026 Dates: Weekends: May 2 – June 14. Daily: June 19 - Oct. 12. Visit CannonMt.com or call (603) 823-8800 for operating information, rates, and reservations. *Note, the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway is closed and retired. Follow NH State Parks on social media for the latest updates on the next generation of the Tram.
CLARK’S BEARS (Lincoln, NH)
Ready to watch a trained black bear show, meet Wolfman, ride a Segway, or take a slide down the Anaconda Escape? Book your tickets for Clark’s Bears in Lincoln, NH, and you’ll get to do all that and more!
2026 Dates: Weekends Only: May 23 – June 14; Sept. 12 – Oct. 11. Daily: June 19 – Sept. 7. Admission includes all rides and shows. Visit ClarksBears.com or call (603) 745-8913 for a complete calendar, schedule, and rates.
CONWAY SCENIC RAILROAD (North Conway, NH)
All aboard for a historic train tour! Choose from a variety of Heritage and Scenic railroad journeys at the Conway Scenic Railroad. Board the one-hour heritage Valley excursion to Conway that recreates traveling by train from town to town on vintage railcars through the Mount Washington Valley. Or, ride the scenic Mountaineer, which offers a premium 4-5 hour excursion over Crawford Notch.
2026 Dates: Spring: Valley Train & Mountaineer excursions on select weekend dates. Summer: Daily starting May 23 (schedule varies by excursion). Visit ConwayScenic.com or call (603) 356-5251 for departure times, special events, and more.
CRANMORE MOUNTAIN RESORT (North Conway, NH)
Make Memorial Day weekend something to remember and book a lift-serviced downhill mountain biking session at Cranmore Mountain Resort’s Mountain Bike Park. There are trails for all ability levels, plus a Mountain Adventure Park for those less inclined to peddling. In the Mountain Adventure Park, visitors can fly above Cranmore’s slopes while riding the Screaming Eagle, try out some summer tubing, or take a cruise down the classic Mountain Coaster.
2026 Dates: Weekends & Holidays: May 23 – June 14. Daily: June 20 – Sept. 7. Thursdays – Sundays (Plus Holidays): Sept. 10 – Oct. 18. Summer activities include the Scenic Chairlift, Mountain Adventure Park, and Bike Park. Purchase tickets online in advance to save. Visit Cranmore.com or call 800-768-6754 for hours, tickets, and more information.
THE FLUME GORGE (Lincoln, NH)
Franconia Notch State Park is home to many wonders, but we always make the Flume Gorge our first stop. With its towering rocky walls, cascading water, and wood boardwalks, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of walking the 2-mile loop through this natural wonder.
If visiting the Flume Gorge has been on your to-do list for quite some time, reserve a time slot for your visit on the NH State Parks website.
2026 Dates: Open May 8 through mid-October. Advance online reservations are recommended. Visit FlumeGorge.com or call (603) 745-8391 for more information.
GRANITE STATE SCENIC RAILWAY (Lincoln, NH)
Pack a picnic lunch and book your tickets for the Granite State Railway! We love the laidback, vintage vibes of this throwback train, as well as the serene views of the Pemigewasset River found just steps from the train tracks. For the full experience, you can’t go wrong bringing some local picnic snacks, as well as taking a few scenic snapshots during the ride.
And if you'd like to up the railroad adventures, book a brand new experience: going for a pedal on the tracks with Lincoln Rail Bikes!
2026 Dates: Train excursions: July 4 – Sep. 13 (weekends only); Sept. 18 – Oct. 17 (Fri. – Sun.). Rail Bike excursions: May 3 – May 26 (Fri. – Tues.); May 26 onwards (daily). Visit GSScenic.com or call (603) 745-2135 for hours, tickets, holiday events, and more information.
LIVING SHORES AQUARIUM (Glen, NH)
Year-round, right next door to Story Land. Living Shores Aquarium is an indoor walk-through adventure that allows the whole family to discover the wonders of the ocean and aquatic life, year round. The aquarium features over 32,000 sq. ft. of interactive tide pools, exhibits, and immersive activities, and you can even feed stingrays and tortoises! NEW: Alligator Exhibit and Crittertarium–featuring reptiles and amphibians of all sizes. Living Shores is a great addition to your White Mountains vacation, any time of year!
2026 Dates: Open year-round. Spring: Open Friday – Monday plus Vacation Weeks. Summer: Daily June 12 - Sept. 7. Visit LivingShores.com or call (603) 383-4186 for hours, tickets, and more information.
LOON MOUNTAIN RESORT (Lincoln, NH)
Loon Mountain Resort is one of the top attractions in Lincoln, NH, and that includes its summertime offerings. Take a trip to the summit for epic views as part of the Gondola Skyride experience, or try out the expansive Kanc8 chairlift for lift-serviced mountain biking – both options will give you a new perspective of the town, as well as the urge to summit more peaks in the White Mountains. Want to skip the lift? Explore the Ninja Wild obstacle course or holler as you ride a zipline over the Pemigewasset River.
2026 Dates: Open late-May through mid-Oct. for Gondola Skyride, Ninja Wild, Zipline, Downhill Mountain Biking, Glacial Caves, & Disc Golf. Daily schedule varies based on activity. Visit LoonMtn.com or call (603) 745-8111 hours, tickets, and more information.
LOST RIVER GORGE & BOULDER CAVES (North Woodstock, NH)
Adventurous families, look no further: Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves in North Woodstock, NH is the perfect kid-friendly activity in the White Mountains.
Crawl through 11 boulder caves and see if you can pass the famous Lemon Squeezer test. Stroll 1 mile of wooden boardwalk perched above the Lost River, and marvel at the moss-covered rocks and woods before taking a selfie inside the Giant Birds Nest. (Is it your first time visiting? Book your tickets online, wear practical, close-toed shoes, bring layers, and keep in mind that this time of year, some select caves will not be navigable due to spring runoff.)
2026 Dates: Open May 8 through mid-October. Online reservations recommended. Visit LostRiverGorge.com or call (603) 745-8031 for hours, tickets, and more information.
MT. WASHINGTON AUTO ROAD (Gorham, NH)
Experience the dramatic beauty of the White Mountains as you journey to the highest peak in the Northeast when you Drive Yourself or take a Guided Tour along the 7.6-mile Mt. Washington Auto Road, featuring four distinct ecological zones. First opened in 1861, the Mt. Washington Auto Road is America’s original man-made attraction. Visit gift shops, the Red Barn Museum, and our award-winning full-service bar & restaurant at the energy-efficient Glen House Hotel. Make a day of it and book your guided wildlife kayak trip and bike rental at Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center.
2026 Dates: Spring: Spring Adventure Tours through May 17. Summer: Guided Coach Tours to Summit: Daily, May 23 onwards; Drive Yourself to the Summit: May 2 onwards – May 22 (weekends only); May 23 – Nov. 1 (daily). Advance reservations recommended for guided tours only. Access is weather-permitting. Visit Mt-Washington.com or call (603) 466-3988 for hours, reservations, special events, and more information.
MOUNT WASHINGTON COG RAILWAY (Mount Washington, NH)
If the Mount Washington Cog Railway is on your White Mountain to-do list, you’re in luck: the Cog is open year-round, seven days a week!
Trip durations and destinations change depending on the weather and the amount of snow dusting Mount Washington, but each journey offers plenty of visually stunning moments. Our favorite part (besides the view)? Letting our feet dangle during the return journey back down the mountain and marveling at the steep angle each train can tackle with the assistance of a few mighty cogs.
Book your tickets online ahead of time if you want to guarantee a seat – the Cog Railway is one of the most popular places to visit in the White Mountains.
2026 Dates: Open year-round, seven days a week. Waumbek (Mid-Mountain): Through May 1. Pre-Season Summit Excursion: May 2 – May 22. Summit (6,288’, weather permitting): May 23 – Oct. 18. Post-Season Summit: Oct. 19 – Oct. 25. Visit TheCog.com or call (603) 274-5404 for hours, full schedule, tickets, and more information.
POLAR CAVES (Rumney, NH)
Have you ever explored cliffside caves? Polar Caves in Rumney, NH has an amazing mix of nine granite boulder caves to crawl through, as well as a small animal park complete with a herd of adorable fallow deer and a gift shop filled with all kinds of White Mountains souvenirs.
2026 Dates: Early season: May 13 through June 7 (Wed. – Sun. plus select holidays). Summer: Daily, June 13 – Sept. 7. Visit PolarCaves.com or call (603) 536-1888 for hours, tickets, and more information.
SANTA’S VILLAGE (Jefferson, NH)
The magic of Christmas is something we love even during summer, and Santa’s Village in Jefferson, NH brings those happy vibes like nowhere else. Dash around the park and find all the elves, or feed a reindeer. Pack your swimsuit and cool off at the polar-themed water park. Whichever activity sets your heart alight, Santa’s Village is one of the most family-friendly activities in the White Mountains!
2026 Dates: Spring: Weekends, May 23 – June 14. Daily: June 20 - Aug. 31. Rates vary. Buy tickets online in advance. Visit SantasVillage.com or call (603) 586-4445 for hours, special events, tickets, and more information.
STORY LAND (Glen, NH)
Fairytales come to life is just one part of the allure of Story Land, a Glen, NH institution since 1954. Expect characters in costume, the surprisingly swift Roar-O-Saurus wooden rollercoaster, throwback rides for the kiddos, and plenty of nostalgia to go around, including special 21+ Nostalgia Nights on select summer dates.
2026 Dates: Weekends Only: Memorial Day – June 12; Sept. 12 – Oct. 25. Daily: June 13 – Sept. 7. Visit StoryLandNH.com or call (603) 383-4186 for hours, tickets, special events, and more information.
WHALE’S TALE WATERPARK (Lincoln, NH)
When you think of the White Mountains, how often do you think “water park”? Whale, that’s about to change! Whale’s Tale Water Park in Lincoln, NH is a spectacular spot for water enthusiasts looking to cool off with a view. Heart-pounding slides, a playful wave beach and lazy river, and a simulated surfing wave are just a few of the aquatic wonders waiting at Whale’s Tale.
2026 Dates:Daily, June 20 – Sept. 7. Visit WhalesTaleWaterPark.net for hours, tickets, special events, and more information.
Our website regularly updates the operating hours for all major Attractions in the White Mountains; feel free to use this list as a trip planning resource. While you’re at it, why not scroll through some of the best lodging and dining in the White Mountains? Trust us, there’s plenty of trip-worthy stops!
