Sight · Franconia Notch State Park
New England ski history, from vintage gear to the 10th Mountain Division.
Overview
The Franconia branch of the New England Ski Museum is a compact indoor museum at the base of Cannon Mountain’s aerial tramway. It covers New England ski history and its place in the wider U.S. story. If you’re curious about skiing, stop in; even if you don’t ski, there’s enough local context to make it interesting. It’s an easy add-on here, but I wouldn’t trade a major trail or the Flume for it on a tight day.
Parkwolf’s verdictA worthwhile change of paceMap
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Franconia Notch Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Franconia Notch State Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Franconia Notch audio tourRecorded for this place
Cannon Tramway Base and New England Ski Museum“Cannon's tramway base is coming up, with the New England Ski Museum beside it. If ski history interests you, this is a compact indoor stop I'd give half an hour.”
Plays as you drive up to New England Ski Museum (Franconia Branch) in the Parkwolf Franconia Notch Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Permanent displays run from skiing’s early roots to shaped skis, with New England ski-area history, Cannon Mountain milestones and Olympian Bode Miller’s career. The collection brings the story to life with skis, boots, clothing, books, posters, photographs and film; the 10th Mountain Division story is another strand to look for.
The nonprofit began collecting ski-history material in 1977. Its Franconia museum opened in December 1982 in a former Cannon Mountain vehicle-maintenance garage. The board raised $250,000 for renovations, then leased the building from New Hampshire for $1 a year.
The branch is at 135 Tramway Drive, beside the Cannon tramway base at I-93 Exit 34B. Admission is free; donations are welcome. There’s a museum store with ski-history books, prints and ski-themed gifts. Hours vary seasonally, so check before planning around a stop.
Wildlife
66 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
38 sightingsMooseMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
19 sightingsWild TurkeyMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
19 sightingsGreat Blue HeronMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
13 sightingsTurkey VultureMost seen around noonSighting map
23 sightingsRavenMost seen around 11 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Franconia Notch. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ChallengingCannon Mountain via Kinsman Ridge Trail4.1 mi · 3.5 hr · 0.2 mi awayA hard climb earns a clear view across Franconia Ridge.
ChallengingKinsman Ridge Trail15.8 mi · 12 hr · 0.2 mi awayA full day across Cannon, the Cannon Balls, and both Kinsmans.
ChallengingMount Lafayette via Greenleaf Trail6.6 mi · 6.5 hr · 0.3 mi awayEagle Pass, Greenleaf Hut, and a hard climb to Lafayette.
EasyPemi Trail4 mi · 2.5 hr · 0.4 mi awayA rough river trail connects Profile Lake with The Basin.
EasyProfile Lake via Pemi Trail1.3 mi · 45 min · 0.4 mi awayA short, rocky shore walk below Eagle Cliff
ModerateArtists Bluff and Bald Mountain Loop1.3 mi · 1.3 hr · 0.9 mi awayEcho Lake below, big peaks ahead, in a short two-viewpoint loop.
ModerateBald Mountain Trail0.7 mi · 30 min · 0.9 mi awayA short scramble to open rock and Franconia Notch views.EasyCannon Mountain Rim Trail Loop0.4 mi · 45 min · 1 mi awayA short summit loop with Franconia Notch views and exposed ledges.
Sight · At the trailheadCannon Mountain Aerial TramwayA 1938 lift that carried generations of skiers to the summit.
Sight · At the trailheadOld Man of the Mountain MuseumFive granite ledges shaped a face woven into New Hampshire's story.
Sight · 0.2 mi awayEcho Lake Boat LaunchA public put-in for your own boat on Echo Lake.
Beach · 0.6 mi awayEcho Lake BeachA mountain-framed swim beach with kayaks at the water’s edge.
Campground · 0.6 mi awayCannon Mountain RV ParkSeven RV sites beside Echo Lake Beach, close to Franconia Notch.
Sight · 0.6 mi awayOld Man of the Mountain Profile PlazaStand at the marker and line up the face that fell.
Sight · 0.8 mi awayArtists BluffA short, steep climb buys the Notch's best Echo Lake panorama.
Sight · 0.8 mi awayCannon Mountain Ski AreaA steep, old-school hill that puts skiing ahead of frills.Parkwolf’s Franconia Notch ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
