Ferncroft, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Ferncroft is a village lying mostly in the town of Albany
in Carroll County
, New Hampshire
, United States
. Some of the roads and houses in Ferncroft stretch into the towns of Sandwich and Waterville Valley. The hamlet is a widely spaced cluster of houses centered around several fields lying along the Wonalancet River
on Ferncroft Road.
Ferncroft has about 50 seasonal residents and a few full-time residents residing in 11 houses and multiple barns and outbuildings.
Ferncroft was named for the Ferncroft Family Inn which once stood in the area. The area became known as Ferncroft to differentiate it from nearby Wonalancet.
, dale, or dell
, known as Birch Intervale. It lies south of a cirque
known as "The Bowl". Mountains surround the hamlet on three sides, and Ferncroft Road is the only way in or out, aside from hiking trails. This makes the village rather inaccessible. In fact the closest town center by road is Tamworth, 7 miles away. The center of Albany, Ferncroft’s main parent town, is 18.5 miles (29.8 km) away. Some of the houses in Ferncroft lie within the Waterville Valley town limits; however, the center of Waterville Valley is 47 miles (75.6 km) and 1.5 hours away by car.
and are maintained by the Tamworth Outing Club, Wonalancet Out-Door Club and United States Forest Service
. Mount Whiteface
, Mount Passaconaway
, Mount Wonalancet and Mount Paugus are just a few of the peaks easily accessible from Ferncroft.
In winter many shorter trails in the area are maintained and groomed by the Tamworth Outing Club for Nordic skiing
. Every February a 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) classic style Nordic ski race is held in Ferncroft on these trails, called the Wonalancet Wander.
in the town of Tamworth
. The general distinction is that the area within Tamworth is known as Wonalancet, while the area in the remaining three towns of Albany
, Sandwich
and Waterville Valley
is known as Ferncroft. The Wonalancet Chapel and post office are located at the beginning of Ferncroft Road. This area is often labeled on maps as "Wonalancet" or "Wonalancet P.O." even though the real center of Wonalancet village is about 1 mile east along Route 113A
; built around the Wonalancet Fire Station and Chinook Kennels. During the time when the Ferncroft Inn was operating, Ferncroft was considered a part of Wonalancet village.
Many other trails begin in nearby Whiteface village
, Wonalancet
and Fowler’s Mill, leading to other peaks such as Mount Chocorua
, Sandwich Dome and Mount Tripyramid
.
Albany, New Hampshire
Albany is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 735 at the 2010 census.Albany includes Mount Chocorua and Mount Paugus, as well as the southeastern corner of the White Mountain National Forest. Albany is the entrance to the Mount Washington Valley, and features...
in Carroll County
Carroll County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 43,666 people, 18,351 households, and 12,313 families residing in the county. The population density was 18/km² . There were 34,750 housing units at an average density of 14/km²...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Some of the roads and houses in Ferncroft stretch into the towns of Sandwich and Waterville Valley. The hamlet is a widely spaced cluster of houses centered around several fields lying along the Wonalancet River
Wonalancet River
The Wonalancet River is a 7.6-mile long river located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the southern Swift River, part of the Bearcamp River / Ossipee Lake / Saco River watershed leading to the Atlantic Ocean.The Wonalancet River rises in the heart...
on Ferncroft Road.
Ferncroft has about 50 seasonal residents and a few full-time residents residing in 11 houses and multiple barns and outbuildings.
Ferncroft was named for the Ferncroft Family Inn which once stood in the area. The area became known as Ferncroft to differentiate it from nearby Wonalancet.
Location
Ferncroft lies 7 miles (11.3 km) northeast of North Sandwich and 7 miles (11.3 km) northwest of Tamworth, off New Hampshire Route 113A. Ferncroft is located in a glenGlen
A glen is a valley, typically one that is long, deep, and often glacially U-shaped; or one with a watercourse running through such a valley. Whittow defines it as a "Scottish term for a deep valley in the Highlands" that is "narrower than a strath."...
, dale, or dell
Dell (landform)
In physical geography, a dell is a small wooded valley. Like "dale", the word "dell" is derived from the Old English word dæl.-See also:* Cirque* Combe * Coulee* Dells of the Wisconsin River...
, known as Birch Intervale. It lies south of a cirque
Cirque
Cirque may refer to:* Cirque, a geological formation* Makhtesh, an erosional landform found in the Negev desert of Israel and Sinai of Egypt*Cirque , an album by Biosphere* Cirque Corporation, a company that makes touchpads...
known as "The Bowl". Mountains surround the hamlet on three sides, and Ferncroft Road is the only way in or out, aside from hiking trails. This makes the village rather inaccessible. In fact the closest town center by road is Tamworth, 7 miles away. The center of Albany, Ferncroft’s main parent town, is 18.5 miles (29.8 km) away. Some of the houses in Ferncroft lie within the Waterville Valley town limits; however, the center of Waterville Valley is 47 miles (75.6 km) and 1.5 hours away by car.
Recreation
Ferncroft is a popular hiking center in summer, with several major trails beginning from a parking lot on the east side of Ferncroft Road. The trails travel into the Sandwich Range WildernessSandwich Range
The Sandwich Range is located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire in the United States, north of the Lakes Region and south of the Kancamagus Highway...
and are maintained by the Tamworth Outing Club, Wonalancet Out-Door Club and United States Forest Service
White Mountain National Forest
The White Mountain National Forest is a federally-managed forest contained within the White Mountains in the northeastern United States. It was established in 1918 as a result of the Weeks Act of 1911; federal acquisition of land had already begun in 1914. It has a total area of...
. Mount Whiteface
Mount Whiteface
Mount Whiteface is a mountain located in Grafton County, New Hampshire. The mountain is part of the Sandwich Range of the White Mountains. Whiteface is flanked to the northwest by Mount Tripyramid, and to the northeast by Mount Passaconaway. Whiteface is on the eastern border of the Sandwich Range...
, Mount Passaconaway
Mount Passaconaway
Mount Passaconaway is a mountain in the Sandwich Range Wilderness of the White Mountain National Forest near the eastern boundary of Waterville Valley...
, Mount Wonalancet and Mount Paugus are just a few of the peaks easily accessible from Ferncroft.
In winter many shorter trails in the area are maintained and groomed by the Tamworth Outing Club for Nordic skiing
Nordic skiing
Nordic skiing is a winter sport that encompasses all types of skiing where the heel of the boot cannot be fixed to the ski, as opposed to Alpine skiing....
. Every February a 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) classic style Nordic ski race is held in Ferncroft on these trails, called the Wonalancet Wander.
Confusion with Wonalancet
Ferncroft can often be confused with the neighboring village of WonalancetWonalancet, New Hampshire
Wonalancet is a village in the northwestern corner of the town of Tamworth in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. Many popular hiking trails into the Sandwich Range of the White Mountains have trailheads in the area, particularly in the locale known as Ferncroft, up a short spur road...
in the town of Tamworth
Tamworth, New Hampshire
Tamworth is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,856 at the 2010 census. Tamworth includes the villages of Chocorua, South Tamworth, Wonalancet, and Whittier. The White Mountain National Forest is to the north...
. The general distinction is that the area within Tamworth is known as Wonalancet, while the area in the remaining three towns of Albany
Albany, New Hampshire
Albany is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 735 at the 2010 census.Albany includes Mount Chocorua and Mount Paugus, as well as the southeastern corner of the White Mountain National Forest. Albany is the entrance to the Mount Washington Valley, and features...
, Sandwich
Sandwich, New Hampshire
Sandwich is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,326 at the 2010 census. Sandwich includes the villages of Center Sandwich and North Sandwich...
and Waterville Valley
Waterville Valley, New Hampshire
Waterville Valley is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 247 at the 2010 census.Waterville Valley attracts many visitors in the winter months with alpine skiing at Waterville Valley Resort and many miles of trails for cross-country skiing. During the summer,...
is known as Ferncroft. The Wonalancet Chapel and post office are located at the beginning of Ferncroft Road. This area is often labeled on maps as "Wonalancet" or "Wonalancet P.O." even though the real center of Wonalancet village is about 1 mile east along Route 113A
New Hampshire Route 113
New Hampshire Route 113 is a long east–west state highway in east-central New Hampshire. Route 113 begins in the Lakes Region at an intersection with U.S. Route 3 and New Hampshire Route 25 in Holderness, and stretches eastward across the central part of the state, ending at an intersection with...
; built around the Wonalancet Fire Station and Chinook Kennels. During the time when the Ferncroft Inn was operating, Ferncroft was considered a part of Wonalancet village.
Hiking trails in the Ferncroft area
- Blueberry Ledge Trail – Mt. WhitefaceMount WhitefaceMount Whiteface is a mountain located in Grafton County, New Hampshire. The mountain is part of the Sandwich Range of the White Mountains. Whiteface is flanked to the northwest by Mount Tripyramid, and to the northeast by Mount Passaconaway. Whiteface is on the eastern border of the Sandwich Range...
- Rollins Trail – Mt. Whiteface & Mt. PassaconawayMount PassaconawayMount Passaconaway is a mountain in the Sandwich Range Wilderness of the White Mountain National Forest near the eastern boundary of Waterville Valley...
- Tom Wiggin Trail – Mt. Whiteface
- Dicey Mill Trail – Mt Passaconaway
- Wonalancet Range Trail – Mt. Wonalancet & Mt Passaconaway
- McCrillis Path – Whiteface Intervale Rd.
- Mt. Katherine Trail – Mt. Katherine
- Gordon Path
- Kelly Trail – Carrigain Col (between Mt. Passaconaway and Mt. Paugus)
- Old Mast Rd. Trail – Carrigain Col
- Walden Trail – Mt. Passaconaway & Mt. Paugus
Many other trails begin in nearby Whiteface village
Sandwich, New Hampshire
Sandwich is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,326 at the 2010 census. Sandwich includes the villages of Center Sandwich and North Sandwich...
, Wonalancet
Wonalancet, New Hampshire
Wonalancet is a village in the northwestern corner of the town of Tamworth in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. Many popular hiking trails into the Sandwich Range of the White Mountains have trailheads in the area, particularly in the locale known as Ferncroft, up a short spur road...
and Fowler’s Mill, leading to other peaks such as Mount Chocorua
Mount Chocorua
Mount Chocorua is a summit in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. At an elevation of it is the easternmost peak of the Sandwich Range....
, Sandwich Dome and Mount Tripyramid
Mount Tripyramid (New Hampshire)
Mount Tripyramid is a mountain located in Grafton County, New Hampshire. The mountain, so-called because of the three distinct peaks along its mile-long summit ridge, is part of the Sandwich Range of the White Mountains. Scaur Peak and The Fool Killer are subsidiary peaks to the northwest and...
.