Canaan is a mountain town drawing vacationers and second-home buyers
A small town in a scenic setting, Canaan offers a close-knit atmosphere and an outdoorsy lifestyle in the mountains of rural Grafton County. The town initially grew as a stagecoach stop before becoming a summer vacation destination in the late 1800s, a history shared in detail at the Canaan Historical Museum in the town’s original village. People still visit Canaan today to explore the area’s many hiking trails, swimming spots, and racing and equestrian facilities. The town appeals to second-home buyers looking for summer properties with lake and mountain views, though there is also a year-round population of fewer than 4,000 people. The aptly named Church Street features three churches, including Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, which has a 135-year history in Canaan.
Lakefront homes and mountain views east of Lebanon
Mature trees surround many of Canaan’s single-family homes, which rest along mountain roads that sometimes switch from pavement to gravel and dirt. With homes built between the early 1800s and today, the town’s architecture is diverse. The Canaan Historic District features historic Greek Revivals, Georgians and Cape Cods, some of which back up to Canaan Street Lake. The surrounding area features ranch-style homes, log cabins and custom designs. Some properties have mountain views. The median price for a single-family home is around $420,000, on par with the national median. Prices range from $160,000 to $695,000. Properties along waterways rest in or near flood hazard areas, according to flood maps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Outdoor recreation includes backcountry hikes and watersports
With lakes, ponds and mountainous forests, Canaan is an outdoor playground. Boating and swimming are popular pastimes at Canaan Street Lake, which offers ice fishing and snowmobiling when the water freezes over in the winter. Watersports are prohibited in the lake’s southeast end, as it’s Canaan’s water reservoir. Nearby, Mascoma State Forest offers hikers and snowshoers solitude as they trek along less-traveled trails shaded by both hardwood and softwood trees. More trails weave through diverse biomes at Bear Pond Natural Area. Relics of the town’s railroad past dot Reginald E. Barney Depot Park, which offers an access point for the nearly 60-mile Northern Rail Trail. Facilities such as the Heritage Farm Polo Club offer horseback riding and polo lessons. Racing is a favorite activity at the Canaan Motor Club and Canaan Lions Club Motocross Track. The region offers more adventures, from hunting in wildlife management areas and camping at Cardigan Mountain State Park to skiing down the slopes at Whaleback Mountain.
Public and private school options range in ratings, from A to C
The Mascoma Valley Regional School District receives a C overall rating from Niche. Three of the district’s four schools serve Canaan, starting with Canaan Elementary and Indian River Middle, which both earn C-plus ratings. Mascoma Valley Regional High gets a C and offers sophomores, juniors and seniors the chance to take classes at Hartford Area Career and Technical Center.
The A-rated Cardigan Mountain School, a private all-boys boarding school, is a popular alternative. The school, which rests on a peninsula in Canaan Street Lake, is one of the town’s top employers. The college-like campus features an ice arena, where the Cardigan Cougars play competitive ice hockey. The hockey program has produced six National Hockey League players, including Ben Lovejoy, who helped the Pittsburgh Penguins win their fourth Stanley Cup in 2016.
Canaan’s central village features century-old shops and casual eats
The rural village of Canaan serves as the town’s commercial center, home to small businesses, Victorian-style bed-and-breakfasts and humble restaurants, as well as the town library and government offices. Canaan Hardware and Supply has been open since 1923. Chappy’s serves American diner fare. Across the street, Poor House Bar-B-Q is a favorite for plates of smoked meats and comforting sides. The Canaan Farmers and Artisans Market takes over the Town Commons, a small triangular park in the village center, every Sunday from late May to early October. Residents typically drive to Lebanon to shop at national retailers and chain grocery stores.
Canaan Old Home Days celebrates tradition and community
Annual events in Canaan include a town yard sale in September and Christmas in Canaan in December. But the biggest event of the year is Canaan Old Home Days. The festival, held the first weekend of August since 1899, features three full days of events, including a craft fair, a cow flop drop contest and several tournament-style competitions. The main attraction is a themed parade down U.S. Route 4, that offers participants the chance to win prizes.
Getting around Canaan typically requires a car
While Advance Transit provides some bus service to and from Canaan, the town is primarily car dependent. Winding mountain roads lead to U.S. Route 4, a highway connecting several communities across the southern end of Grafton County. Lebanon is 15 miles away, while Hanover, home to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, is about 20 miles away. Lebanon Municipal Airport offers daily flights to Boston and White Plains, New York. However, residents typically drive more than 75 miles to catch flights out of Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.
