Clark's Bears

The Clark family established their trading post in the 1920s, and over the decades it grew from a simple stop into a full family attraction. The trained-bear shows became the heart of it, with generations of the family raising and working with the bears and building the act into a White Mountains institution.

That continuity is central to the charm. Clark's has stayed in the same family, and it wears its long history openly, from vintage buildings to attractions that parents remember from their own childhoods. It is the kind of place people return to across generations, bringing their children to see what they once saw.

One of the highlights is a ride on the White Mountain Central Railroad, pulled by a real steam locomotive along a stretch of track that crosses a historic covered bridge over the Pemigewasset River. The train and the bridge are authentic pieces of railroad and engineering history preserved and put to joyful use.

The ride is famous for a bit of theater: a wild mountain character emerges to chase the train, a gag that has become part of the Clark's experience. It is exactly the sort of homemade, good-natured showmanship that defines the whole place.

Beyond the bears and the train, Clark's is a treasury of the offbeat. There are museums of antique tools, cars, firefighting gear, and curiosities collected over the years, alongside rides, games, and a tower to climb. Everything is on a human scale, walkable in an afternoon, and much of it hand-built.

The appeal is deliberately nostalgic. Clark's does not try to compete with big amusement parks; it offers something they cannot, the feel of a genuine mid-century roadside attraction that has been cared for rather than modernized away, an increasingly rare thing to find intact.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Clark's Bears, in Lincoln in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, is a classic and beloved family amusement attraction, a nostalgic White Mountains institution operating for generations. Long famous for its trained bear shows, the family-run park offers a mix of entertainment and attractions, including a scenic train ride, acrobatic and variety shows, climbing and play areas, museums of Americana and curiosities, and old-fashioned fun. A cherished throwback that has delighted White Mountains visitors for decades, Clark's Bears offers wholesome, quirky family entertainment. With its shows, train ride, and family fun, Clark's Bears offers an entertaining destination in New Hampshire.

You can enjoy a variety of shows and entertainment, ride the scenic train that comes with a fun signature bit of theater, explore museums of Americana, antiques, and curiosities, let children enjoy climbing structures and play areas, and take in the nostalgic, old-fashioned White Mountains atmosphere. The entertaining shows, the train ride, the quirky museums, and the family attractions are the draws, offering a fun, wholesome outing especially suited to families with children. It is a cherished regional tradition. With its shows and attractions, Clark's Bears offers an enjoyable experience in Lincoln, New Hampshire.

Yes, Clark's Bears is a wonderful family destination, built around wholesome, old-fashioned entertainment that especially delights children, with variety shows, a fun train ride, play and climbing areas, and quirky museums to explore. Its nostalgic charm appeals to parents and grandparents who may have visited in years past, making it a multigenerational favorite. Checking current hours and the show schedule before you go is wise, as it is seasonal. With its shows, train, and family attractions, Clark's Bears makes an excellent family destination in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

Clark's Bears operates seasonally, generally from late spring through fall, with summer the peak season when all the shows and attractions are running and the weather is warm, though also the busiest, and fall offering beautiful foliage in the surrounding mountains. Because it is seasonal and show schedules vary, checking the current operating schedule and show times before you go is wise. For the full experience with all shows and attractions, aim for the summer season at Clark's Bears in Lincoln, New Hampshire.

Clark's Bears is in Lincoln in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, within reach of Franconia Notch State Park with the Flume Gorge and Cannon Mountain, Lost River Gorge, Georgiana Falls, and the Kancamagus Highway. That makes Clark's Bears a fun stop to combine with Franconia Notch State Park, Lost River Gorge, and the other attractions of the White Mountains on a visit to New Hampshire.