April – May
Spring in New Hampshire
Spring arrives in New Hampshire not as a date on the calendar but as a slow thaw — sap running in the maples, waterfalls at full voice, and the muddy, hopeful stretch between the last ski day and the first lake swim. It is the quietest and most generous season.
Quick Facts
Sugar on the snow, first rapids, and the woods waking up.
Best Time
April – May
Temperatures
Highs 45–68°F · Lows 28–42°F
What to Pack
- Rain shell
- Mid-layer fleece
- Hiking boots
- Bug repellent
- Layers for shifting afternoons
- Dry socks
Signature Activities
Things to do in spring
Maple Sugaring & Sugar Shack Breakfasts
Watch the evaporator and sit down to pancakes with fresh sap syrup and a side of snow.
Waterfall Hikes at Peak Flow
Arethusa, Diana's Bath, and the flumes are at their loudest and most theatrical in April.
Spring Skiing
Soft corn snow, long lunches on the deck, and the season's easiest turns at Loon and Attitash.
Farmers Markets Opening
The first ramps, fiddleheads, and forcing-bed greens arrive in harbor-side markets.
Lilac & Apple Blossom Season
The state flower blooms in old farmstead rows; apple orchards follow a week or two behind.
Birdwatching Migration
Warblers and waterfowl move up the river valleys on their way north.
Early-Season Kayaking
Quiet, uncrowded water and the first warm days on the Squam and Winnipesaukee shorelines.
Antique Shops & Village Strolls
Open the shutters on the season in the brick-village main streets of the southwest.
Covered Bridge Drives
The state's historic bridges emerge from the snow, framing the first green of the banks.
River Rafting Spring Runoff
The snowpack lets go and the rivers answer; book a guided raft on the high-water weeks.
Events Calendar
Spring on the calendar
Maple Weekend
Statewide sugar shacks
Giant Pumpkin Regatta (spring seedling)
Derry
Spring Brewfest
Portsmouth
Sample Itineraries
A plan, to start with
The Sugar Season Loop
Day 1
Sap & Breakfast
Sugar shack breakfast in Merrimack; afternoon waterfall hike in the Whites.
Day 2
Spring Ski & Stroll
Soft turns at Loon; dinner in North Conway.
Day 3
Villages & Bridges
Covered bridge drive through the Monadnock region on the way home.
