Picnic in the Shadow of the Presidentials - Eisenhower Memorial Wayside Park
Written: Jul 14 '04 (Updated Jul 14 '04)
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Pros: free, picnic areas, views of Mount Washington and the other mountains of the Presidential Range
Cons: no services
The Bottom Line: A worthy stop for anyone traveling along Route 302, the Eisenhower Memorial Wayside Park is a small park that boasts excellent views of Mount Washington
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| jps246's Full Review: Eisenhower Memorial Wayside Park |
A small seven acre wayside park on Route 302 in the heart of New Hampshire’s White Mountains, the Eisenhower Memorial Wayside Park is a great place to stop for a break from driving and to get some memorable views of the Presidential Range and other nearby mountains.
Basics
The park was created in 1979 as a gift from the Bretton Woods Corporation (they own both the Bretton Woods ski area and the Mount Washington Hotel nearby) to honor the late President Eisenhower.
The park is located in Carroll, New Hampshire on Route 302, which is about 5 miles or so to the south of the Bretton Woods ski area, the road to the Mount Washington Cog Railway and the Mount Washington Hotel and about 20 miles or so north of Bartlett, New Hampshire on the southern side of Crawford Notch (the notch in the mountains that Route 302 passes through).
There are no fees to use the park. There’s adequate parking for a number of cars and there are picnic tables available for those looking to stop for lunch. Pets are allowed in this park, but must stay leashed and under control.
What’s there?
What makes a highway pull-off so special? The Eisenhower Memorial Wayside Park is located in the heart of the White Mountains and right next to the Presidential Range, which is the highest and most impressive mountain ranges in the White Mountains.
With a quick walk to the top of the small hill (a walk of maybe 100 yards) you have excellent views of Mount Washington and the other Presidentials. This vantage point gives you an excellent spot to take pictures of the mountains and if you get to the park very early or late – you can watch the sun striking the mountains first thing in the morning, or the reddish alpine glow of the mountains as the sun sets.
A large area of the park is mown regularly and there are picnic tables scattered strategically throughout the park in this mowed area that provide plenty of space for visitors to spread out and enjoy a picnic meal. Fires are not allowed in the park though, so picnickers are limited to foods that they can bring and don’t have to cook. If you don’t want to bother with a picnic table, there are plenty of places to just sit down on the grass and enjoy the views.
There’s no trash service at the park, so everything you bring with you, you must make sure to carry out with you.
Anything Else?
This is a self-service park, no park staff is on duty. The only person you might run across when stopping there, is the maintenance guy mowing some grass. Thus don’t expect anyone to help you with directions to attractions or anything like this. The Eisenhower Memorial Wayside Park really is a glorified highway rest area without any services.
Why Stop?
Why not stop at the Eisenhower Memorial Wayside Park is the better question. Even nowadays after I spent several years living nearby, on a nice, clear day I still stop at the Eisenhower Memorial Wayside Park to take in the view of Mount Washington and the other mountains of the Presidential Range.
That’s especially true if I have someone with me who is unfamiliar with the White Mountains, the park makes an excellent stop to introduce people to the Presidential Range and provides the first good, close-up view of the range if you are traveling north on Route 302 from the south. If you’re heading south on Route 302, then this is your last chance to get a really good luck at the mountains.
Final Thoughts
A worthy stop for anyone traveling along New Hampshire’s Route 302, the Eisenhower Memorial Wayside Park is a small park that boasts excellent views of Mount Washington and the other mountains in the Presidential Mountain Range.
You can stop for just a few minutes to catch the view, or you can take a more leisurely stop and walk around the small park and have a picnic – either way you are going to enjoy the Eisenhower Memorial Wayside Park.
More White Mountain Attractions
Mount Washington Auto Road / Wildcat Mountain / Cannon Mountain / Tuckerman Ravine / White Mountain National Forest / Mount Washignton Cog Railway / America's Stonehenge
Recommended:
Yes
Best time to go: Anytime
Recommended for: Anybody
Review Topic: Overview
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