10 Prettiest Mountain Towns in New England
Don’t plan your winter travels without this list of the prettiest mountain towns in New England.
A classic Vermont town, Stowe sits by the Little River, just east of Mount Mansfield State Forest. Home to both a lively arts scene and year-round outdoor adventure, it has hosted travelers since the mid-19th century.
Photo Credit : Mark FlemingThe mountains and valleys of New England’s northern states, beautiful in every season, are especially charming and picturesque when blanketed with a dusting of pure white snow. Here’s a list of the 10 prettiest mountain towns in northern New England.
10 Prettiest Mountain Towns in New England
Stowe, Vermont
With its clusters of brick and clapboard homes, a white-spired church and a covered bridge, Stowe is a quintessential Vermont town, and without a doubt one of the prettiest mountain towns in New England. Sitting in a broad valley adjacent to the 4,395-foot Mount Mansfield, home to skiers’ paradise at Stowe Mountain Resort, the town welcomes visitors to shop, dine and play. To the east, two trailheads for the Pinnacle Trail take you to the summit of the Stowe Pinnacle, offering stunning views of the rugged wilderness in the C.C. Putnam State Forest.
SEE MORE:Holiday Season Visit to Stowe, Vermont
Jamaica, Vermont
In the rolling hills of Southern Vermont, tiny Jamaica harkens back to a simpler era. Sitting serenely off Route 30 along the eastern edge of Green Mountains, the village—chartered in 1780—boasts hot glass works, ski and sport shop, historic inn and fine art gallery. Home to the 770-acre Jamaica State Park, noted for its many waterfalls, it’s a short drive to the Stratton ski area.
Photo Credit : Mark Fleming
North Conway, New Hampshire
Nestled in the heart of Mt. Washington Valley, near the White Mountain National Forest, you’ll find another of the prettiest mountain towns in New England, the picture-perfect village of North Conway. Main Street’s storefront shops—offering everything from sporting goods to candles, children’s clothing to cigars—exude an old-time charm, as does the restored 1874 Boston & Maine railroad station, home to the Conway Scenic Railroad.
SEE MORE:Exploring Zeb’s General Store in North Conway, NH
Bridgton, Maine
Bridgton’s diverse historic architectural styles—from Greek Revival and Carpenters Gothic to Italianate, Craftsman, Gothic Revival and more—make this one-of-a-kind town a scenic winter destination. Skiers arrive for Shawnee Peak Ski Area on the northern end of nearby Pleasant Mountain. Shoppers enjoy strolling Main Street’s arts, crafts and antique galleries, indie bookstore, and restaurants including a retro diner and hip gastropub with brew cellar.
Sugar Hill, New Hampshire
Incorporated in 1962, Sugar Hill is as sweet as its name that was inspired by sugar maples in the surrounding hills. With a population of just over 500 people, and conveniently located near many ski centers, the town boasts a historical museum and meetinghouse, country store and inn, famous pancake parlor, and sweeping views from atop Sunset Hill Ridge of both the White and Green Mountain ranges.
Photo Credit : Courtesy of F. H. Gillingham & Sons
Woodstock, Vermont
The heart of this village is The Green, a central square bordered by historic churches and restored late Georgian, Greek Revival and Federal Style houses. Located on the banks of the Ottauquechee River, Woodstock also boasts three covered bridges, farmland silhouetted by rolling hills, and a historic shopping district with charming restaurants and boutique shops.
SEE MORE: Wassail Weekend | Holiday Fun in Woodstock, Vermont
Guildhall, Vermont
There’s only one road in and out of this picturesque village in northeastern Vermont. Set in a valley surrounded by Burnside Mountain on the west, and New Hampshire’s Cape Horn on the east, Guildhall’s town common is bordered by eleven mid-nineteenth century residential and public buildings. Most notable are the Greek Revival style Essex County Court House, the Guildhall United Church, and the former Essex County Jail and Queen Anne style Jailer’s House.
Waterford, Vermont
Framed by forests and perched along the Connecticut River, the small town of Waterford’s lower district is affectionately known as the “White Village” due to its white-painted buildings with green shutters—a tradition started in 1919. Visitors arrive for photo-ops and to stay in a former 18th-century tavern, now the Rabbit Hill Inn.
Photo Credit : Brenda Darroch
Keene, New Hampshire
The town of Keene in the Monadnock Region is a must-stop in winter for a picture-perfect glimpse of historic New England. Don’t miss the garland-strung gazebo, historic white-spired United Church of Christ, nearby covered bridges, Horatio Colony House Museum and Nature Preserve, and bustling downtown with boutique shops, galleries, and restaurants.
Bethel, Maine
The charming village of Bethel sits along Route 2, near where the White Mountain National Forest’s Mahoosuc Range spills across New Hampshire into Maine. Small boutique shops, bakery, cafes, B&Bs and a gem museum dot Main Street. Head to the surrounding hills for groomed cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing.
What would you add to our list of the prettiest mountain towns in New England? Let us know in the comments!
This post was first published in 2017 and has been updated.
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Necee Regis
Necee writes about travel with a focus on food, art, culture, luxury travel, and quirky, off-beat locations. She's a frequent contributor to the travel and food sections of The Boston Globe, and is a lifestyle and travel correspondent covering Europe and the Americas for ShowBoats International. Her writing has also been featured in the The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, American Way Magazine, The Robb Report, Modern Farmer, The Globe and Mail, The Huffington Post, and the literary magazine, Tin House. Her special interest—some might say obsession—is the world of oysters and shucking competitions.
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