Our last stop in Franconia Notch State Park was Cannon Mountain. This was my third chance to take an aerial tram – the first two were in South Africa at Table Mountain and Hartbeespoort.
The tram ascends over 2,000 feet and carries visitors to the top of the mountain in under 10 minutes. At the upper platform you’ll find an observation deck, cafeteria, restrooms, and walking paths. In the winter, Cannon Mountain is a favorite for skiers; in fact, the New England Ski Museum is near the tramway base.
In 2022, the tickets were $28 per person. It was $3 cheaper if you reserve online, so we chose to do that.
Cannon Mountain Summit
Cannon Mountain’s summit is 4,100-feet in elevation. From the tram platform, you can take the Rim Trail on a 0.3-mile walk to the observation deck for views of the surrounding White Mountains.
The Rim Trail is narrow at times and climbs over and around rocks. It was somewhat slick while we were there, so keep that in mind if you visit after a heavy rain.
The plant life up there was a little magical – the moss, bushes, and trees were such a saturated green. We joked that it was like a fairyland.
The Franconia Range to your left is made up of Mount Lafayette. Mount Lincoln, Little Haystack Mountain, and Mount Liberty.
When we started the trail the cloud and fog cover was a near white-out. I was worried that we wouldn’t be able to see anything. However, it cleared up and made for fantastic views!
It’s always awe-inspiring to be at those heights in the clouds, watching the valleys and rolling hills.
We heard it was low visibility that morning, so we were lucky. On a clear day, I’ve heard you can see New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Canada, and New York!
Due to the elevation and time of year, wildlife was sparse, but I did see a few birds including dark-eyed juncos.
This would be a perfect family trip to take in the beauty of the White Mountains region.