The White Mountains just gained a new home base. Hideaway Inn Franconia Notch opens its doors the weekend of July 17, 2026, bringing 32 individually designed rooms to one of the most scenic corners of northern New Hampshire. Set in the hills above Franconia Notch, minutes from Sugar Hill and the trailheads, gorges, and summits that define this region, the property gives outdoor-minded travelers a contactless, friction-free place to land after a day on the mountain.
Hideaway Inn Franconia Notch follows the brand blueprint guests already know from Lenox, Mt. Snow, and Mt. Sunapee: no front desk, no waiting in line, and no two rooms alike. Check-in is contactless, the design leans into the character of the building and its surroundings, and every detail is built around getting you outside faster. Whether you are here to ski Cannon, hike the Franconia Ridge, or simply slow down with mountain views, the inn is designed to disappear into the background of a great trip.
What sets this property apart is the location. Few hotels in the White Mountains sit this close to such a dense cluster of attractions. Within an hour you can ski four mountains, tour a Victorian natural history museum, walk through a granite gorge, and stand in the farmhouse where Robert Frost wrote some of his best-known poems. The sections below are your starting map, pulled from our Innsider Guide to the area.
Ski Mountains Near Hideaway Inn Franconia Notch
Four distinct mountains sit within easy reach, and each one rides differently. All four welcome skiers and snowboarders alike.
Cannon Mountain (about 10 minutes)
Your closest slopes, and a legend among Eastern skiers. Set inside Franconia Notch State Park, Cannon is a steep, no-frills, weather-exposed mountain that rewards strong skiers and riders with authentic terrain and uncrowded trails. It is home to North America’s first aerial tramway and skis harder than the resorts down the road, which is exactly why its fans love it.
Loon Mountain (about 30 minutes)
The area’s full-service destination resort, an easy run south on I-93. Loon spreads across three peaks with a four-passenger gondola, wide and immaculately groomed cruisers for green and blue skiers, plus glades, steeps, and a halfpipe for everyone else. Rentals, lessons, restaurants, and slopeside bars make it the natural choice for a group with mixed abilities.
Bretton Woods (about 35 minutes)
New Hampshire’s largest ski area, with the Presidential Range and Mount Washington filling the horizon. Bretton Woods runs 464 acres of famously well-groomed terrain served by a Skyway gondola and high-speed quads. The trail mix leans beginner and intermediate, with forgiving cruisers and a celebrated network of tree-skiing glades. It collects national nods for best snow and grooming in the East year after year, and the grand Omni Mount Washington hotel sits right across the road.
Burke Mountain (about 45 minutes)
Cross into Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom for the mountain locals quietly hope you will not discover. Burke trades resort polish for genuine terrain and near-empty lift lines, even on a packed Saturday. Two high-speed quads carry you to long, varied descents with serious fall-line pitches and views that run for miles.
Museums and Attractions Near Franconia Notch
The Frost Place (about 10 minutes)
Robert Frost’s actual Franconia farmhouse, tucked on a quiet road with a poetry trail winding through the grounds. Read his work in the landscape that inspired it, tour the home, and take in one of the finest views in town. A small admission, a big payoff, and a direct line into the literary history of these hills.
Franconia Notch State Park: Flume Gorge (about 20 minutes)
A boardwalk threads through an 800-foot granite gorge with waterfalls on either side, one of the most photographed natural attractions in the state. Reserve tickets ahead in peak season. The surrounding park also delivers Echo Lake, the bike path, and trailheads for everything from gentle walks to the demanding Franconia Ridge Loop.
Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves (about 30 minutes)
A boardwalk-and-cave adventure in North Woodstock where you climb, scramble, and squeeze through glacial boulder caves alongside waterfalls. Each cave is optional and marked, so families can choose their own level of challenge. A favorite for kids and anyone who likes a little exploring with their scenery.
Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium (about 45 minutes)
Step inside a barrel-vaulted Victorian hall in St. Johnsbury, Vermont and you will understand why locals have called this place a wonder cabinet since 1891. The collection is gloriously eclectic: mounted animals from every continent, meteorites and fossils, gems, shells, and a hands-on science wing. A butterfly house is included with admission, and overhead sits Vermont’s only public planetarium. Plan on a couple of hours, and call ahead to confirm show times.
White Mountain Museum and Gallery (about an hour)
In North Conway, a small but mighty gallery devoted to the White Mountain School of landscape painting, including works by Champney and lesser-known masters who captured these valleys more than a century ago. Free to visit and directly tied to the artistic heritage of the region. Worth the drive for anyone who loves landscapes and history.
A Sweet Stop: Ice Cream Near Sugar Hill
No mountain day is complete without ice cream. Our top pick is Super Secret Ice Cream in Bethlehem, about 15 minutes away, where house-made flavors like Mount Cabot Maple and vanilla bean creme fraiche come in homemade waffle cones, with a six-scoop flight for the indecisive. Closer to home, Sammy P’s in Franconia handles the quick after-hike craving, and Ice Cream Delights in Lincoln pours maple soft serve late into the evening right off I-93.
Plan Your Stay
Hideaway Inn Franconia Notch opens July 17, 2026. With four ski mountains, a granite gorge, a planetarium, and the home of a Pulitzer-winning poet all within an hour, this is the launch pad for a White Mountains trip done right. Browse rooms and book your stay, and dig into our full Innsider Guide for more on where to eat, hike, and explore around Sugar Hill and Franconia Notch.