Outside Online Picked 5 Mysterious Places to Visit in the White Mountains
New Hampshire’s White Mountains are known for hiking trails, beautiful peaks, and colorful autumn scenery. But there is also a collection of unusual historical sites and local legends. In a recent article for Outside Online, writer Brisa Sylvestre highlighted five “mysterious” locations, from an abandoned logging settlement to a World War II aircraft crash site.
The five featured locations are:
- Livermore
- Mount Waternomee
- Lincoln
- Profile Lake
- Mount Chocorua
Livermore: An Abandoned Logging Settlement
Deep in the forest near Route 302, the former settlement of Livermore has largely disappeared beneath vegetation and fallen leaves.
Livermore’s population declined as the timber industry changed, and the settlement was abandoned during the 20th century. Its remaining structures and artefacts are signs of the industry that helped shape northern New Hampshire.
The area can be reached from Sawyer River Road, with hiking routes providing access to the former settlement.
Mount Waternomee: A WWII Bomber Crash Site
On the wooded slopes of Mount Waternomee near Woodstock lie the remains of a Douglas B-18A bomber that crashed in January 1942. The aircraft had been conducting a North Atlantic patrol mission, searching for German submarines during World War II.
While returning towards its airfield in western Massachusetts, the plane became lost in poor conditions and crashed into the mountainside. Locals helped rescue the surviving crew during a snowstorm.
Pieces of the aircraft remain scattered across the crash site, including sections of the fuselage and engine components. American flags placed among the wreckage mark the location and acknowledge the crew’s experience.
Reaching the site involves a forest hike from Walker Brook Road, off Route 118.
Lincoln: The Barney and Betty Hill UFO Marker
One of New Hampshire’s best-known unexplained stories began with a nighttime drive through the White Mountains. In 1961, Barney and Betty Hill reported seeing an unusual light following their car along Route 3.
The couple later described an encounter with an unidentified craft and claimed they had experienced missing time. They recalled hearing an “ear-piercing beep” during the incident. Their account became one of the most widely discussed alleged UFO abduction cases in American history.
Visitors can stop along Route 3 to read about the reported encounter and consider how the account became part of New Hampshire folklore.
Profile Lake: The Lost Old Man of the Mountain
Profile Lake sits beneath the cliffs of Franconia Notch, where a rock formation once resembled the face of an elderly man. Known as the Old Man of the Mountain, the formation was a symbol of New Hampshire before collapsing in May 2003.
Visitors can reach the lake via a short paved path from the parking area near Exit 34B on Interstate 93.
Mount Chocorua: A Mountain Shaped by Legend
Mount Chocorua rises above the forest in Albany and is known for its exposed summit and a local legend. The story concerns Chief Chocorua, a Pequawket leader whose death is associated with the mountain.
Hikers can reach the summit using several established routes, with trails passing through woodland before opening onto rocky terrain. A historical marker along Route 16 in nearby Tamworth recounts the legend.