Ferncroft, New Hampshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ferncroft, New Hampshire
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Mount Whiteface (L) and Mount Wonalancet rising over Ferncroft (April 2024)
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 Ferncroft, New Hampshire
Location in New Hampshire
Ferncroft, New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Carroll |
| Towns | Albany, Sandwich |
| Elevation | 1,148 ft (350 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 603 |
| GNIS feature ID | 871878 |
Ferncroft is a small, spread-out community in New Hampshire, United States. It's not a formal town but a collection of houses and buildings. Most of Ferncroft is in the town of Albany, but some parts reach into Sandwich and Waterville Valley. The community is made up of houses and fields along the Wonalancet River on Ferncroft Road.
Ferncroft is home to about 50 people during certain seasons. A few people live there all year round. The community has 11 houses, along with many barns and other small buildings. Ferncroft got its name from the Ferncroft Family Inn, a place that used to be in the area. People started calling it Ferncroft to tell it apart from the nearby village of Wonalancet.
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Where is Ferncroft Located?
Ferncroft is about 7 miles (11 km) northeast of North Sandwich. It is also 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Tamworth. You can find it off New Hampshire Route 113A. Ferncroft is nestled in a low valley or dell called Birch Intervale. It sits south of a bowl-shaped valley known as "The Bowl."
Mountains surround Ferncroft on three sides. Ferncroft Road is the only way to drive in or out of the area. This makes the village quite hard to reach. The closest town center by road is Tamworth, which is seven miles away. The main town of Albany, where most of Ferncroft is located, is 18.5 miles (29.8 km) away. Some houses in Ferncroft are within the Waterville Valley town limits. However, the center of Waterville Valley is 47 miles (76 km) away and takes about 1.5 hours to reach by car.
Fun Things to Do in Ferncroft
Ferncroft is a very popular spot for outdoor activities.
Hiking Adventures
In the summer, Ferncroft is a great place to start a hike. Several major trails begin from a parking lot on the east side of Ferncroft Road. These trails lead into the Sandwich Range Wilderness. The Wonalancet Out-Door Club and the United States Forest Service help maintain these trails. You can easily reach peaks like Mount Whiteface, Mount Passaconaway, Mount Wonalancet, and Mount Paugus from Ferncroft.
Winter Sports
During winter, many shorter trails in the area are kept clear and smooth. The Tamworth Outing Club grooms them for Nordic skiing. Every February, a 10-kilometer (6.2 mi) classic style Nordic ski race is held in Ferncroft. This race is called the Wonalancet Wander.
Understanding Ferncroft and Wonalancet
People sometimes get Ferncroft mixed up with the nearby village of Wonalancet. Wonalancet is located in the town of Tamworth. When the Ferncroft Inn was open, Ferncroft was actually considered part of Wonalancet village.
Today, there's a general way to tell them apart. The area within Tamworth is known as Wonalancet. The area in the other three towns—Albany, Sandwich, and Waterville Valley—is known as Ferncroft. The Wonalancet Chapel and the post office are located at the beginning of Ferncroft Road.
Popular Hiking Trails Near Ferncroft
Here are some of the hiking trails you can find in the Ferncroft area:
- Blueberry Ledge Trail – Leads to Mt. Whiteface
- Rollins Trail – Leads to Mt. Whiteface & Mt. Passaconaway
- Tom Wiggin Trail – Leads to Mt. Whiteface
- Dicey Mill Trail – Leads to Mt Passaconaway
- Wonalancet Range Trail – Leads to Mt. Wonalancet & Mt Passaconaway
- McCrillis Path – Connects to Whiteface Intervale Rd.
- Mt. Katherine Trail – Leads to Mt. Katherine
- Gordon Path
- Kelly Trail – Goes towards Carrigain Col (a pass between Mt. Passaconaway and Mt. Paugus)
- Old Mast Rd. Trail – Also goes towards Carrigain Col
- Walden Trail – Leads to Mt. Passaconaway & Mt. Paugus
Many other trails start in nearby Whiteface village, Wonalancet, and Fowler's Mill. These trails can take you to other peaks like Mount Chocorua, Sandwich Dome, and Mount Tripyramid.
