Destinations
New Hampshire outdoors
Granite peaks, notch passes, and lake country: New Hampshire packs alpine hiking and famous fall color into a small state.
Top parks in New Hampshire
See all 76 parks
Crawford Notch State Park
A 5,775-acre White Mountains gorge on Route 302 in Harts Location: cascading waterfalls including Arethusa Falls, the historic Willey House, AMC trail access to the Presidential Range, and the Dry River Campground at the heart of one of New Hampshire's most dramatic notches.
Franconia Notch State Park
An eight-mile White Mountains parkway corridor: Flume Gorge tickets, Echo Lake, Franconia Ridge trailheads, Lafayette Place camping, and ReserveAmerica booking.
Monadnock State Park
Home to Mount Monadnock, one of the most-climbed mountains on Earth: a 3,165-foot bare-summit peak in Jaffrey with expansive 360-degree views, more than 40 miles of trails, and two campgrounds. Weekends sell out April through November and day-use reservations are required.
Mt. Washington State Park
A 58-acre summit park perched atop the Northeast's highest peak at 6,288 feet: the Sherman Adams visitor center with its cafeteria, gift shop, and Mount Washington Observatory museum, plus some of the most extreme and unpredictable weather in North America. Reached by the Auto Road, Cog Railway, or trail.
Cathedral Ledge State Park
A mile-long auto road leads to the top of 700-foot Cathedral Ledge, a popular rock and ice climbing wall with views across the Saco River Valley.
Bear Brook State Park
Bear Brook State Park, with over 10,000 acres, is the largest developed state park in New Hampshire.
Echo Lake State Park
Echo Lake State Park is a place for swimming and picnicking, with hiking trails that lead to Cathedral Ledge State Park.
Pawtuckaway State Park
Pawtuckaway State Park offers a 700-foot family beach, a mountaintop fire tower, marshes, and a field of glacial erratic boulders.
Ahern State Park
Ahern State Park spans 128 acres with 3,500 feet of shoreline on Lake Winnisquam.
Planning a New Hampshire trip
New Hampshire is small, but it punches above its size outdoors. The White Mountains anchor the north, a sprawling national forest of granite peaks, deep notch passes, waterfalls, and the highest summits in the Northeast. The Lakes Region in the center wraps around big Lake Winnipesaukee for swimming and paddling, and a short, busy seacoast caps the southeast corner. The state has no national park, so your trip is built around the White Mountain National Forest and a strong set of state parks rather than one headline destination.
Start with Franconia Notch State Park, a 6,400-acre mountain pass with the Flume Gorge, Echo Lake Beach, the Cannon Mountain tramway, and the classic Artist Bluff view. Crawford Notch State Park covers another 5,000-plus acres with reliable trails up to Arethusa Falls, Mount Willard, and Mount Webster. For the big objective, Mount Washington is the highest peak in the Northeast, with famously violent weather; treat it as a serious day, not a stroll. Smaller parks like Echo Lake and Weeks round out easier days for families.
Timing matters here. Summer (June to August) is warm and green, with lake days in the 70s F to low 80s F and the best window for high-summit hikes. Fall is the marquee season: foliage peaks around the second week of October near Franconia, a little earlier up north and later down south, and the notch roads glow. Spring is muddy and the highest trails hold snow into June. Winter brings real cold and serious wind on the summits.
Pack for fast-changing mountain weather even in summer. Layers, a rain shell, sturdy footwear, and more water than you think you need, because temperatures on Mount Washington and the Presidentials can drop 30 to 40 degrees F below the valley and conditions can turn in an hour. For lake days, swap in swim gear and sun protection.
Getting around New Hampshire
Two airports cover the state. Manchester-Boston Regional (MHT) sits in southern New Hampshire and is the closest hub, roughly an hour (about 50 miles) to the Lakes Region and a bit over two hours to the heart of the White Mountains. Boston Logan (BOS) in Massachusetts has far more flights and is the practical choice for most visitors, about two hours (around 105 miles) to Lake Winnipesaukee and 2.5 to 3 hours up I-93 to Franconia Notch.
A car is essential; trailheads, notch parks, and lake towns are spread out and transit is minimal. The main artery north is I-93, which runs straight through Franconia Notch on a scenic parkway stretch. From the Lakes Region, plan on roughly 60 to 90 minutes north to the White Mountains. Crawford Notch and the Mount Washington area sit along Route 302 and Route 16 on the eastern side, about 45 minutes to an hour from Franconia by mountain roads. The seacoast around Portsmouth is about two hours southeast of the White Mountains. Distances look short on a map, but mountain roads and fall-foliage traffic slow things down, so build in extra time in October.
All 4 New Hampshire park guides
State park directory
Every New Hampshire state park
A source-backed inventory layer for planning breadth. Full Kit Authority guides are marked when a park has camping detail, rules, and packing notes; the rest link straight to the official page. Looking for rail trails and state trails? They have their own Trail Guide.
76 parks
4 full guides · 54 with photos
Crawford Notch State Park
State Park
Crawford Notch State Park has 5,775 acres providing access to hiking trails, waterfalls, fishing, and mountain views.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Wildlife Viewing
- Camping
New Hampshire State Parks
Full guideFranconia Notch State Park
State Park
Franconia Notch State Park is a spectacular mountain pass in the heart of the White Mountain National Forest, traversed by a unique parkway.
- Swimming
- Fishing
- Boating
- Hiking
New Hampshire State Parks
Full guideMonadnock State Park
State Park
Mount Monadnock, at 3,165 feet, has a bare rocky summit providing expansive views and was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1987.
- Hiking
- Camping
- Picnicking
- Winter Sports
New Hampshire State Parks
Full guideMt. Washington State Park
State Park
Mount Washington State Park is a 58.8-acre parcel on the 6,288-foot summit of the Northeast's highest peak, surrounded by the White Mountain National Forest.
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Historic Site
New Hampshire State Parks
Full guideAhern State Park
State Park
Ahern State Park spans 128 acres with 3,500 feet of shoreline on Lake Winnisquam.
- Fishing
- Paddling
- Biking
- Hiking
New Hampshire State Parks
Official pageAndroscoggin Wayside Park
State Wayside
Androscoggin Wayside Park lies along the Androscoggin River within the Thirteen Mile Woods, a scenic spot for picnicking, fishing, and canoeing.
- Picnicking
- Fishing
- Paddling
New Hampshire State Parks
Official pageBear Brook State Park
State Park
Bear Brook State Park, with over 10,000 acres, is the largest developed state park in New Hampshire.
- Camping
- Hiking
- Biking
- Swimming
New Hampshire State Parks
Official pageBeaver Brook Falls Wayside
State Wayside
Beaver Brook Falls Wayside is a 7.3-acre park popular for hiking and picnicking around a scenic waterfall.
- Hiking
- Picnicking
New Hampshire State Parks
Official pageBedell Bridge State Historic Site
State Historic Site
Bedell Bridge State Park is a 74-acre park along the Connecticut River, the former site of a historic two-span covered bridge.
- Fishing
- Paddling
- Picnicking
- Nature Trails
New Hampshire State Parks
Official pageCannon Mountain Aerial Tramway
State park system area
The Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway carries passengers in enclosed cable cars to the 4,080-foot summit of Cannon Mountain for panoramic views.
- Winter Sports
- Picnicking
New Hampshire State Parks
Official pageCannon Mountain Ski Area
State park system area
Cannon Mountain is New Hampshire's only state-owned premiere ski area, offering 11 lifts servicing 285 acres of skiing in Franconia Notch State Park.
- Winter Sports
New Hampshire State Parks
Official pageCardigan Mountain State Park
State Park
Cardigan Mountain State Park spans 5,655 acres and features trails to the 3,121-foot treeless granite summit of Mount Cardigan.
- Hiking
- Camping
- Picnicking
New Hampshire State Parks
Official pageCathedral Ledge State Park
State Park
A mile-long auto road leads to the top of 700-foot Cathedral Ledge, a popular rock and ice climbing wall with views across the Saco River Valley.
- Hiking
- Biking
- Picnicking
- Nature Trails
New Hampshire State Parks
Official pageChesterfield Gorge Natural Area
State park system area
Chesterfield Gorge is a dramatic rock canyon with towering 70-foot walls and a popular hiking trail.
- Hiking
- Picnicking
New Hampshire State Parks
Official pageClough State Park
State Park
Clough State Park sits on the shore of 150-acre Everett Lake with a 900-foot sandy beach for swimming and grilling.
- Swimming
- Paddling
- Fishing
- Biking
New Hampshire State Parks
Official pageColeman State Park
State Park
Coleman State Park lies on the shore of Little Diamond Pond in Stewartstown, known for excellent trout fishing in New Hampshire's remote north country.
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Boating
- Camping
New Hampshire State Parks
Official pageDaniel Webster Birthplace
State park system area
The Daniel Webster Birthplace is associated with the birth and early childhood of statesman Daniel Webster and offers a glimpse of 1700s farm life.
- Picnicking
- Historic Site
New Hampshire State Parks
Official pageDixville Notch State Park
State Park
Dixville Notch State Park spans 127 acres with breathtaking views along a scenic gorge and waterfalls on two mountain brooks.
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Nature Trails
New Hampshire State Parks
Official pageEcho Lake State Park
State Park
Echo Lake State Park is a place for swimming and picnicking, with hiking trails that lead to Cathedral Ledge State Park.
- Swimming
- Hiking
- Paddling
- Fishing
New Hampshire State Parks
Official pageEllacoya State Park
State Park
Ellacoya State Park sits on the southwest shore of Lake Winnipesaukee with a 600-foot sandy beach and a 37-site RV campground.
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Fishing
- Boating
New Hampshire State Parks
Official pageEndicott Rock Historic Site
State park system area
Endicott Rock may be the oldest public monument in New England, inscribed in 1652 to mark the assumed headwaters of the Merrimack River.
- Historic Site
New Hampshire State Parks
Official pageFlume Gorge
State park system area
The Flume is a natural granite gorge extending 800 feet at the base of Mount Liberty, with walls rising 70 to 90 feet.
- Hiking
- Winter Sports
- Picnicking
New Hampshire State Parks
Official pageForest Lake State Park
State Park
Forest Lake State Park, one of the ten original state parks created in 1935, spans 397 acres with a 200-foot sandy beach on Forest Lake.
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Biking
- Fishing
New Hampshire State Parks
Official pageFort Stark State Historic Site
State Historic Site
Fort Stark Historic Site is a former military installation on New Castle Island overlooking the Piscataqua River, Little Harbor, and the Atlantic Ocean.
- Fishing
- Paddling
- Picnicking
- Nature Trails
New Hampshire State Parks
Official page
Inventory source: USGS PAD-US 4.1. Photos are public-domain or Creative Commons via Wikimedia Commons, credited per image. Official reservations and rules remain state-specific, so use the state booking links before committing to dates.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit New Hampshire parks?
Early fall is the standout, with foliage peaking around the second week of October in the White Mountains (earlier up north, later in the south). Summer, from June through August, is best for high-summit hikes and lake swimming, with valley temperatures in the 70s F and 80s F. Spring trails stay muddy and snowy at elevation into June, and winter brings severe cold and wind on the higher peaks.
Does New Hampshire have a national park?
No. New Hampshire has no national park, so outdoor trips center on the White Mountain National Forest and the state park system instead. Franconia Notch and Crawford Notch State Parks are the marquee destinations, and Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast, anchors the high country.
What should I pack for hiking in the White Mountains?
Pack for fast-changing mountain weather even in summer: warm layers, a waterproof shell, sturdy hiking footwear, and plenty of water. Summits like Mount Washington can run 30 to 40 degrees F colder than the valleys, with wind and storms arriving within an hour. Add swim gear and sun protection if you are also planning Lakes Region days.