Hart's Location, population less than 100 people, is nestled in the heart of the White Mountains and is the newest town in New Hampshire, incorporated in 2001. Sorry Sugar Hill! It's roughly 11 miles long and 1.5 miles wide and follows the Crawford Notch and US Route 302.
It is the storybook village made popular by news crews covering presidential
elections, as is
Dixville Notch. Hart's location was parodied on the television series The West Wing. It is also the home to picturesque
Crawford Notch State Park which has "has 5,775 acres providing access to numerous hiking trails, waterfalls, fishing, wildlife viewing, and spectacular mountain views". The park is also home to
Dry River Campground with 35 sites.
Author Nathaniel Hawthorne was inspired to write the story The Ambitious Guest in 1835, based on a tragic event in Hart's Location. A landslide covered a family home, with only a Bible placed on a table remaining intact.
Keeping with our literary theme,
Frankenstein's Trestle, an intimidating railroad bridge, crosses a portion of Crawford Notch. The
Conway Scenic Railroad still provided thrills and chills as it passes over the rocky ridge and stunning scenery.
Hikers will be very familiar with Hart's Location, as it is an access point for
the
Appalachian Trail. If you are passing through on Route 302, you may wish to picnic at the state park. Ample tables, many with charcoal grills, are available, and there is picturesque Willey Pond with a dam on the Saco River, and fish & duck food is available by a quarter operated vending machine.
For dining and lodging,
The Notchland Inn on Route 302 is "understated elegance" surrounded by amazing scenery.
Bretton Woods and
North Conway are nearby for additional dining and lodging.
Don't blink or you'll miss the history and beauty of Hart's Location.