Scenic Drives

Artists’ Covered Bridge - Newry, Maine

This bridge, built in 1872, is named the Artists’ Covered Bridge because of its reputation as being the most photographed and painted of the venerable covered bridges in Maine. The bridge, an 87-foot Paddleford truss, was closed to traffic in 1958 when a new bridge was built downstream. It is located about four miles off Route 2 on the Sunday River Road. 

Evans Notch/Kezar Lake Tour

Route 113 passes through the White Mountain National Forest and offers many scenic stops and hiking opportunities in Evans Notch. In Lovell, Maine, you will find Kezar Lake. Enjoy the serenity of "one of the three most beautiful lakes in the world", not to mention one of the most cleanest and clearest lakes in Maine. Hidden in the foothills of the White Mountains, the lake offers superb facilities for swimming, boating, fishing, dining, and all around summer fun.  Kezar Lake is home to a major Loon nesting area, and frequently you are treated to the sights of moose grazing in the shallows among the water lilies.  

Don’t forget to stop at the International Signpost in Lynchville.  This sign is widely known as a result of very popular postcards issued over the last 50 years. Though the foreign city sign gag is mimicked in other locales, this one wins by virtue of its geography. Those are real towns, with corresponding distances one would have to travel.

Follow Route 2 west to Gilead. (ten miles) Turn south (left) onto Route 113.  This is a beautiful drive through the Maine section of the White Mountain National Forest.  Follow Route 113 through Chatham, Stowe and Fryeburg.  In Fryeburg, turn north on to Route 5 to the “International Signpost” in Lynchville.   (Route 35 joins Route 5 here)  Follow Routes 5/35 north to Albany past Songo Pond and into Bethel. 

Mount Washington Auto Road

A drive on the Mount Washington Auto Road is a drive unlike any other. With the ever-changing weather conditions on New England's highest peak, no two trips are the same. Bluebird skies and stunning vistas may greet you one day. The next day you could have the adventure of a lifetime in the peak's strong winds, remarkable fog and rapidly moving clouds. On any day, your adventure awaits.

Home of the world-famous “This Car Climbed Mt. Washington” bumper sticker, the Mt. Washington Auto Road has seen the world grow and change, yet the route to the summit has remained the same. The Mt. Washington Auto Road opened as the Mt. Washington Carriage Road in 1861. As the oldest man-made attraction in the country, the Auto Road is 7.6 miles long with average grade of 12% and a 22% grade on the last 50 yards.  

Your driving adventure includes an audio tour on CD or cassette that shares classic tales about the road's history, geography, legends and lore.  Don’t want to drive? Guided tours are available from 8:30 am until 5:00 pm. For rates and other info, log onto http://www.mountwashingtonautoroad.com/.

• To get there, drive on Rt. 2 East to Rt. 16 South, in Gorham, NH. The Mt Washington Auto Road is located on Rt. 16, 8 miles south of Gorham, NH. 
• Approximately 37.7 miles from Sunday River – 58 minutes.

Mount Washington Loop through Crawford Notch State Park

Explore the heart of the White Mountain National Forest and cover some of New Hampshire’s most spectacular scenery.  Take a drive through a landscape unspoiled by overdevelopment. Enjoy the uninterrupted mountain and river views, wetlands, and woodlands.  This loop will take you around Mount Washington and gives you many views of all sides of The Presidential Range.   Halfway through your trip, you will arrive at Crawford Notch State Park, a 5,775 acre park that provides access to numerous hiking trails, waterfalls, fishing, wildlife viewing, and spectacular mountain views. There are picnicking areas, parking for hiking, and scenic pull-offs.

Head out on Route 2 East to Route 16 South, in Gorham, NH.   Route 16 is also known as the White Mountain Highway.  Take a right on Route 302 in Bartlett, NH.  This will take you through Crawford Notch State Park. In Twin Mountain, NH head North on Route three for 2 miles.  Then turn right onto Route 115.  This will take you back to Route 2 where you will head East through Randolph and Gorham, NH and back into Maine.

• Approximate distance is 139 miles – about 3.5 hours.

Rangeley Lake/Umbagog Lake Loop

The Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway covers an area of gleaming lakes and rolling hills, and is one of the loveliest reaches of Maine's outback. Unlike the area around Maine's coast, the Rangeley region is dense woodland opening up occasionally to make room for lakes, streams, and ponds. Fluid meadows dot the area with wildflowers waving in the wind. The serene quality of the area provides a place of unusual beauty and peace that allows wildlife to roam and thrive. While the best views and experiences can be had out in the open on a walk through nature's majesty, the sights gained at every turn on the byway are equally impressive. Drives lead to striking overlooks of mountains, lakes, and forests.

Just off of Route 26, you will find Lake Umbagog - more than 10 miles in length, covering more than 8500 acres, with more than 50 miles of shoreline, it has an average depth of only 15 feet. Due to a few large landowners the land around Umbagog Lake has  remained largely undeveloped. The area provides excellent wildlife habitat for migratory birds, endangered and threatened species, resident wildlife and rare plant species. Umbagog Lake has the largest nesting concentration of common loons in N.H. Abundant fish populations and wetland habitat support one of the highest concentrations of nesting Osprey in N.H. The area provides habitat for protected species like the Bald Eagles and other Raptors. The Umbagog area is truly an unspoiled woodlands and lakes recreation area

To start your tour, head East on Route 2 for approx. 8.7 miles.  Turn left onto Route 5, Ellis River Road.  Once in Andover, take Route 120 to Route 17 North.  That will lead you into the Rangeley Lake regions.  You will be on Route 17 for approximately 17 miles. To circle the lake, take a right onto South Shore Road.  Then left onto Route 4.  Route 4 will eventually turn into Route 16.  Follow 16 through Adamstown, Lincoln Plantation, Wentworth Location to Erroll, NH.  There you will pick up Route 26 to Newry.   In Newry, take Route 2 West to head back to Sunday River.

• Approximate distance is 143 miles – about 4 hours