Pets allowed
Allowed with Restrictions
Guided tours
No
Backcountry camping
No
Lodging
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Castle in the Clouds is home to the Lucknow Estate, which at one time included 6,300 acres of land in the Ossipee Mountains of New Hampshire. After selling his shoe manufacturing business, millionaire Thomas G. Plant and his wife retired to the mountains, where they had a mountaintop mansion built in 1914. The mansion was designed by J. Williams Beal & Sons from Boston, who included various types of European and Japanese architecture in their design to create a truly unique home. Given the high elevation of the structure, there are incredible views from every window of the mansion as well as the yard.

Today, a one-way, seasonal road brings visitors past viewpoints and a waterfall, Falls of Song, to the Carriage House, which houses a restaurant, restrooms, and a small museum of historical information about the building and preservation of the Lucknow Mansion. A gift shop and picnic area are adjacent, and a trolley brings visitors up for a self-guided tour of the mansion. In addition to the property’s history, there are also recreational opportunities available. Feed the fish at Shannon Pond, ride horses at Riding in the Clouds, or hike the scenic trails to a number of waterfalls.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Summer
Fall
Spring

Congestion

Moderate

Parking Pass

Private or commercial fee

Open Year-round

Yes

Pros

Family friendly. Great views. Waterfalls. Horseback riding.

Cons

Mansion tours are seasonal.

Features

Family friendly
Horseback riding
Historically significant
Waterfalls
Flushing toilets
Big vistas
Picnic tables
Wildflowers
Wildlife

Location

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