Visitors of the Mount Washington Hotel may be familiar with the beautiful art that decorates the walls around the lobby area. More observant visitors may even recognize some of the White Mountain tourist attractions that these illustrations show: the Basin, the Old Man of the Mountain, and Garnet Pool. 

Even the most well-versed of White Mountain aficionados may not have any idea what the Garnet Pool is. The picture in the lobby doesn’t do much to help, either, since it has no location listed. But a little bit of research and a little bit of traveling will lead visitors to one of the most serene swimming holes in the White Mountains.

Right near the base of Mount Washington, near the Auto Road entrance, the Garnet Pool can be found. These smooth, cold rocks, molded and eroded by years of rushing water,  house crystal-clear pools deep enough to swim. A popular attraction in the 1800s, the Garnet Pool’s proximity to the famous Mount Washington and the nearby towns of both Jackson and Gorham made it the perfect spot for a day trip. But in modern times, the attraction has fallen into deep obscurity. No signage, no trails, and even the most detailed maps of the White Mountain region always skip over this little blip in the woods.

Though it may not boast the same fame as the Sculptured Rocks or Thornton Falls, Garnet Pool is still a beautiful, serene, and stunning hideaway.