The Valley
North Conway (44.05 N; 71.13 W) is a village within the town of Conway that is located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The town of Conway borders the White Mountain National Forest, which is a federally managed area that protects more than 784,000 acres of land in New Hampshire and Maine. North Conway's close proximity to the White Mountains enables locals and visitors to have complete access to hundreds of hiking trails, multiple ski resorts, as well as many lakes and rivers.
Mountains
There are more than forty-eight summits that surpass four thousand feet in the White Mountains. The most notable range of mountains within the area is called the Presidential Mountain Range. Mount Washington stands tall at 6,288 feet and is the highest summit in New Hampshire and in the northeastern United States. The summit once held the world record for the highest surface wind speed ever recorded (231 mph in 1931). Five other peaks exceed 5,000 feet, which include the likes of Mount Adams, Mount Monroe, and Mount Jefferson. These mountains help to form the greatest contiguous area above alpine east of the Mississippi River. In northern New Hampshire, tree line begins around 4,500 feet, which is considerably lower when compared to the western United States.
Other ranges in close proximity to North Conway include the Moat Mountain Range, Baldface Range, and the Green Hills. The Moat Mountain Range includes three significant peaks that are just to the west of North Conway. Water cascades, such a Diana's Baths, and impressive ledges, including Cathedral and Whitehorse, are located near the base of these mountains.
The Baldface Range extends towards the northeast of North Conway and has an impressive prominence along the eastern side of the mountains. A major forest fire burned nearly all of the vegetation on South Baldface during 1903, which in turn created a bald appearance near the summit. Towards the south, the Green Hills are smaller peaks that are located on the eastern side of North Conway. At 2,369 feet, the summit of Black Cap is the highest point in North Conway. The Hurricane Mountain Road is located between Black Cap and Kearsarge North. It provides an exciting seasonal byway to Evans Notch.
History
All of the mountains within the White Mountain National Forest were formed more than 100 million years ago when the North American Plate moved towards the west over the New England Hotspot. Some of the summits are made up of metamorphic rocks that were once sediments at the base of a shallow ocean. Glaciers are also responsible for the formation of the White Mountains. Millions of years ago, they helped to carve the highest peaks and deepest ravines throughout the area.
Forests and Rivers
A thick forest of deciduous and evergreen trees covers most of the area. Conifers, such as red spruce and balsam fir, grow throughout the higher elevations while sugar maple, white birch, and others hardwood trees are popular in the lower elevations. Moose, white-tailed deer, black bears, beavers, and many other wildlife can be found at any time throughout the forests.
The animals in the area have a bountiful amount of water to utilize. Aside from numerous mountain streams, the Saco River is the largest river that flows through North Conway. The river begins at Saco Lake in Crawford Notch as a small brook, but quickly grows larger as the river winds its way towards the Atlantic Ocean. During the summer months, the Saco River draws thousands of people because of it being a very popular recreational spot for canoeing. Two noteworthy tributaries that enter the Saco in and around North Conway include the Ellis and Swift rivers. The Ellis begins on the eastern slopes of Mount Washington and then flows towards the south through Pinkham Notch. The Swift River begins its journey near Kancamagus Pass and eventually flows towards Conway alongside the Kancamagus Highway.