Intervale Town Guide: Where to Eat, Stay and Explore

Most people drive through Intervale without realizing they have left North Conway. That is part of its appeal. The village sits a few minutes north of the outlet stores and traffic lights on Route 16, but it feels like a different place: a stretch of inns, river meadows and mountain views where the valley opens up toward Mount Washington. If you are looking for things to do in Intervale NH, the short answer is that the village is a quiet base for everything the Mount Washington Valley offers, with a handful of good places to sleep, eat and find a guide right on its doorstep.

Where Intervale is

Intervale is an unincorporated village in Carroll County, on the boundary between the towns of Bartlett and Conway. It has its own ZIP code, 03845, and it is part of the Mount Washington Valley, the resort area that also includes North Conway and Jackson.

The name describes the land. An intervale is a low, flat stretch of land along a river, and the village sits above the broad meadows of the Saco River valley. From the right spot, the view runs north up the valley toward the Presidential Range, which is why the area has drawn painters and summer visitors since the 1800s.

Practically, Intervale puts you a short drive from North Conway village, from Jackson and the road to Pinkham Notch, and from the Kancamagus Highway via Conway. It is close to everything without being in the middle of it.

Where to stay in Intervale

Intervale is an inn village at heart, and the lodging here leans toward character over chain hotels.

• The 1785 Inn is a historic inn whose dining room serves a classic New England menu with mountain views. It is listed in our directory for its restaurant, and it is one of the best-known addresses in the village.
• Riverside Inn is a Victorian country bed and breakfast overlooking the East Branch of the Saco River. It suits travelers who want a small, quiet inn rather than a resort.
• Cathedral Ledge Resort takes its name from the granite cliff just across the valley and gives you an Intervale base close to North Conway.

Staying here rather than in the busiest part of North Conway means quieter evenings and easier mornings. You can be at a trailhead or on the river before the day-trippers arrive.

Where to eat and drink

Dinner at the 1785 Inn is the classic Intervale evening: a historic dining room, a traditional menu and a view toward the mountains. Reserve ahead, especially on weekends.

For something more casual, Ledge Brewing Company is a community brewery at the foot of Mount Washington built with outdoor people in mind. It is the natural stop after a day on the rock, the river or the trails. North Conway village, a few minutes south, adds many more restaurants within an easy drive.

Getting outside with a local guide

Intervale is a good place to hire expertise, because two of the valley's best outdoor specialties are based here.

Climbing and mountaineering

Synnott Mountain Guides runs guided ice climbs and mountaineering courses out of Intervale, with trips at Frankenstein Cliff and in Crawford Notch. The Mount Washington Valley has a deep climbing history, and a guide is the safest way to learn it, whether you are new to ropes or building toward bigger winter objectives. In April, ask what is still in condition: late-season ice and early-season rock can overlap, and a guide will know which is which.

Fishing

Floating Feathers Guide Service is an Intervale-based fishing guide. The Saco and its tributaries run right past the village, and a local guide is the fastest way to learn where and how to fish the valley's water. Anyone 16 or older needs a New Hampshire fishing license, which you can buy online from New Hampshire Fish and Game.

Cathedral Ledge and Echo Lake

The granite wall you see from Intervale is Cathedral Ledge, one of two cliffs in Echo Lake State Park in North Conway. The other is White Horse Ledge. The park also holds 15.7-acre Echo Lake, with a one-mile trail around the shoreline, swimming, picnicking, non-motorized boating and fishing.

Cathedral Ledge is one of the best-known rock climbing areas in New England, and the overlook at the top gives a broad view of the Saco River valley. Echo Lake's loop is flat and easy, which makes it a good walk for families and a good choice in spring when higher trails are still muddy or icy. Check the New Hampshire State Parks site for seasonal road and facility status before you go.

Intervale by season

Spring. April and May are mud season in the White Mountains. Higher trails can still hold snow and ice, and wet trails erode easily, so this is the time for low-elevation walks, river views, the Echo Lake loop and a guided outing with someone who knows current conditions.

Summer. The Saco River is the summer draw, along with hiking, climbing and evenings on a porch in Intervale.

Fall. The view up the valley toward the Presidentials is one of the classic foliage scenes in the state, and Intervale's inns are well placed for it. Book early.

Winter. Ice climbing, nearby ski areas and cross-country skiing in Jackson make Intervale a year-round base.

A simple Intervale weekend

1. Day one, morning: walk the Echo Lake loop and look up at Cathedral and White Horse ledges.

2. Day one, afternoon: a guided climb or a few hours fishing with a local guide.

3. Day one, evening: a beer at Ledge Brewing, then dinner at the 1785 Inn.

4. Day two: drive north to Jackson and Pinkham Notch, or south through North Conway toward the Kancamagus Highway.

Tips for visiting

• Book lodging early for foliage season and holiday weekends.
• Check conditions before any hike or climb. Mount Washington's weather is famously severe, and conditions change fast at higher elevations.
• Buy your fishing license before you head to the river if you are 16 or older.
• Expect quiet. Intervale is a village, not a town center, so plan on driving to North Conway for most shopping.

FAQ

Where is Intervale, NH?

Intervale is an unincorporated village in Carroll County, on the boundary between Bartlett and Conway, just north of North Conway in the Mount Washington Valley.

Is Intervale the same as North Conway?

No. Intervale is a separate village with its own ZIP code, 03845, though it sits only a few minutes north of North Conway village.

What is there to do in Intervale?

Stay at a historic inn, eat at the 1785 Inn, drink at Ledge Brewing, hire a climbing or fishing guide, and use the village as a base for Echo Lake State Park and the rest of the Mount Washington Valley.

Is Intervale a good base for hiking?

Yes. It is close to Echo Lake State Park, Pinkham Notch and the Kancamagus Highway. In spring, stick to lower trails until higher ones dry out.

Business owners

If your Intervale business is listed in New Hampshire Travel Guides, check that your details are correct and claim your free listing from its page.

Sources

• Intervale, New Hampshire, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intervale,_New_Hampshire
• Echo Lake State Park, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echo_Lake_State_Park
• New Hampshire Fish and Game, fishing licenses: https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/licensing
• The 1785 Inn: https://www.the1785inn.com/
• Ledge Brewing Company: https://ledgebrewing.com/
• Synnott Mountain Guides: https://www.newhampshireclimbing.com/
• Cathedral Ledge Resort: https://www.cathedralledgeresort.com