From the world-famous UFO abduction of Barney and Betty Hill to the mountainside crash of a WWII-era bomber, the forests of the White Mountains are full of rich legends, oddities, and strange happenings alongside spectacular mountain vistas and vibrant fall foliage, making it a perfect destination for fall travel. Here are five mysterious places to visit that continue to inspire stories and legends in the White Mountain region, among locals and visitors alike. The Lore: Beneath layers of moss and decaying leaves lie rusty artifacts, scattered bricks, and the occasional stone foundation that are the only remnants of the former lumberjack town of Livermore that once stood in the area.
According to local history, Livermore was incorporated during the early years of the logging industry in the White Mountains. A little less than a century later, the town would be vacant, turning Livermore into a hidden ghost town in the 20th century. How to Visit: Livermore is located off Route 302 via a hike down Sawyer River Road and can be explored through trailheads in the area.
Army plane engines, parts, and fuselage pieces twist into the ground and surrounding landscape on the side of Mount Waternomee, along with carefully placed American flags showing the crash site is still visited by hikers. A challenging trek into the forest in Woodstock reveals the wreckage of the Douglas B-18A bomber that crashed in January 1942. The bomber took off on its mission: to patrol the North Atlantic for German U-Boats during World War II.
However, disaster struck on return to the airfield in Western Massachusetts as flight miscalculations and wind unexpectedly sent the plane over the White Mountains, and the bomber subsequently crashed on Mount Waternomee. Survivors were rescued by locals during a snowstorm, and the wreckage remains gnarled and woven into the surrounding mountainscape—a stark reminder of the unforgiving nature of New England terrain and weather. How to Visit: The trail is accessible via a hike down Walker Brook Road off Route 118, and the remaining wreckage commands respect for an era past.
The Lore: Flashing lights, dark skies, and gray visitors from another galaxy. The connection to outer space feels a little closer in northern New Hampshire as thousands of stars illuminate the night sky with minimal light pollution. It’s no surprise the White Mountains are home to the chilling Barney and Betty Hill UFO abduction legend.
According to the Hills, the couple traveled home through the White Mountains a half century ago when a white light in the sky appeared to follow them down U.S. Route 3, the primary highway through the White Mountain region. The couple observed the strange light as it zipped around before their car made an unsettling vibration sound, and the couple recalled hearing an ear-piercing beep.
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