Skip to main content

A scenic drive along NH 112

NH 112 crosses over the Wild Ammonoosuc River at Beaver Pond (October 2005)
In my opinion, New Hampshire State Route 112 from Swiftwater to North Woodstock is an overlooked New England scenic drive.  Although not as popular as the Kancamagus Highway that NH 112 follows as it continues east over the White Mountains, this western segment of NH 112 still has amazing scenic views especially in the fall.  I thoroughly enjoyed this drive in the autumns of 2003 and 05.

I picked up NH 112 at its western beginning at US 302 near Bath.  This is only a few miles from where US 302 enters New Hampshire from Vermont over the Connecticut River.  Immediately at the start of the route is an abandoned truss bridge that once carried US 302 and NH 10 over the Wild Ammonoosuc River.

The former US 302 bridge over the Wild Ammonoosuc River (Top: October 2005 / Bottom: October 2003)

Continuing east about two miles on NH 112 from US 302, the Swiftwater Covered Bridge sits just to the north at Porter Road.  Erected in 1849, the bridge is actually the fourth to cross the Wild Ammonoosuc here.  The first bridge was built in 1810 but would be destroyed via flood eight years later.  A new bridge was immediately built and lasted for about ten year until another flood destroyed it.   The third span would be built in 1829 only to be demolished and replaced by the current span in 1849.



Throughout NH 112's journey along the Wild Ammonoosuc, there are some amazing views.  Views that are breathtaking any time of year.  As the highway continues eastwards towards North Woodstock, peaks of the White Mountain Range - some of which tower over 4,000 feet - come into view





At the Beaver Brook Trailhead - where the Appalachian Trail crosses the highway, a scenic overlook at Beaver Pond provides an opportunity for some great views especially in the fall.




From this point, NH 112 heads into the Lost River Valley into North Woodstock before continuing east to begin its journey as the Kancamagus Highway towards Conway.

All photos taken by post author - October 2003 & October 2005.

How To Get There:




Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Abandoned US Route 40 in the Truckee River Canyon

Within the Truckee River Canyon in the Sierra Nevada range numerous abandoned portions of US Route 40 can be found alongside modern Interstate 80.   This segment of highway was opened during 1926 as a bypass of the Dog Valley Grade which carried the early North Lincoln Highway and Victory Highway. The corridor of the Truckee River Canyon State Highway would be assigned as US Route 40 when the US Route System was commissioned during November 1926. During 1958 the segment of Interstate 80 between Boca, California and the Nevada state line was complete. When Interstate 80 opened east of Boca numerous obsolete portions of US Route 40 were abandoned. Some of these abandoned segments have been incorporated into the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail.  Part 1; the history of US Route 40 in the Truckee River Canyon The Truckee River Canyon for centuries has been an established corridor of travel known to native tribes crossing the Sierra Nevada range.  The first documented wagon crossi...

Former US Route 50 and the South Lincoln Highway from Folsom east to Placerville

The corridor of Folsom of Sacramento County east to Placerville of El Dorado County has been a long established corridor of overland travel dating back to the California Gold Rush.  The Folsom-Placerville corridor was once part of the path of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road which became the first California State Highway and later the South Lincoln Highway.  In time the South Lincoln Highway's surface alignment was inherited by US Route 50.  The Folsom-Placerville corridor also includes the communities of; Clarksville, Shingle Springs and El Dorado. Part 1; the history of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road, South Lincoln Highway and US Route 50 through Folsom-Placerville Folsom is located on the American River/Lake Natoma of eastern Sacramento County.  That lands now occupied by the City of Folsom were part of Rancho Rio de los Americanos prior to the finding of gold at Sutter's Mill during 1848.  During the California Gold Rush the lands of Rancho Rio de los Americanos were p...

Former US Route 50 and the Pioneer Route Lincoln Highway on Johnson's Pass Road

Johnson's Pass Road is one of the oldest highway corridors in California.  Johnson's Pass was part of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road as it was completed during 1856 over the Sierra Nevada.  The pass would later be incorporated into the Pioneer Branch of the Lincoln Highway in 1913 and US Route 50 in 1926.  Johnson's Pass Road would be bypassed by a new alignment of US Route 50 over Echo Summit in 1938.  A replacement of the Meyers Grade east of Johnson's Pass would be opened to traffic in 1947.   Johnson's Pass Road remains accessible to traffic and is still signed by the Lincoln Highway Association.  Pictured as the blog cover is the view from the top of Johnson's Pass Road overlooking modern US Route 50 and Lake Tahoe.   Part 1; the history of Johnson's Pass Much of the history of what become the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road is discussed in the  September 1950 California Highways & Public Works  during its Centennial Edition.  The or...