Explore camping, hiking and puzzle-solving at New Hampshire’s outdoor gems
New Hampshire has 93 state parks offering recreation for outdoor-lovers (or just the outdoor curious) of all interests. And not all the action is up north — there are several parks in and close to the southern part of the state providing you a place to camp, hike and have other adventures out in the fresh air. Looking for something new to do this summer? Here are some ideas to help you get the most out of our state parks.
Camp it up
Get away at a local state park
By Matt Ingersoll
You don’t need to go far to find a campsite within New Hampshire’s state park system — there are 23 campgrounds statewide with a total of 1,419 campsites, offering a wide variety of opportunities from tents and cabins to some RV sites with water, sewer and electric hookups.
New Hampshire has experienced a steadily large increase in outdoor recreational activity across the board, including camping in state parks and private campgrounds. According to Shawn Hamilton, deputy supervisor of state park operations, the 2021 calendar year saw a record-breaking number of campers — more than 135,000 — within the state park system. Two years earlier, in 2019, a total of 118,000 campers utilized the parks, also a record at the time.
“We have campers who have been coming to the state parks every summer for 50 to 60 years, and that’s not an exaggeration,” Hamilton said. “It’s almost like a badge of honor for them, something that they take pride in. … It’s such a nostalgic experience for people to go back every summer and experience what they have with their parents, and now they share it with their kids.”
Campgrounds within the New Hampshire state park system are operationally self-funded, and there are all kinds of ongoing projects to improve their quality and accessibility. Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown, for instance, has 110 sites with recently renovated cabins, Hamilton said. Five dishwashing stations were also recently installed at Greenfield State Park’s campsites.
A majority of the state park campgrounds offer traditional tent camping or cabins, but there are three — Hampton Beach State Park, Franconia Notch State Park and Ellacoya State Park in Gilford — that have full-service RV parks with hookup sites.
“We just recently upgraded the amperage at Hampton Beach State Park to better accommodate some of the newer RVs that are coming on to the market,” Hamilton said. “We’re planning to do the same at Ellacoya in the near future.”
Other sites, like Pawtuckaway State Park in Nottingham, offer multiple activities to campers.
“You can go to the beach one day, rent some boats and go out on the water … but then at the same time, the next day you can go out on the hiking trails,” Hamilton said, “so I think that type of versatility in terms of what we offer is really what people respond to. … At most of the parks we offer playgrounds as well. We make a concerted effort to add and upgrade the playgrounds so that the kids are fully occupied and having fun for the whole day.”
While July and August are two busiest months of the year for camping in the state parks system, Hamilton said the season runs from April through October. Campsite reservations can be made on the state park’s website up to 11 months in advance of your arrival date.
“Some of the campgrounds offer a couple hundred sites just in and of themselves … so there’s a lot of opportunity within each park as well,” Hamilton said.
Where to camp at some of New Hampshire’s state parks
Here’s a list of southern- and central-area campgrounds and RV parks within New Hampshire’s state parks system. Campsite reservations can be made online 24 hours a day and up to 11 months in advance. Visit nhstateparks.org or call 1-877-nhparks (647-2757) to reserve your spot. Rates cover two adults and up to four children on the site (maximum number of adults per site is four, with a maximum of six people total). A fee of $6.50 applies for all reservations, with $10 per night for each additional adult and $5 per night for each additional child.
Bear Brook State Park
61 Deerfield Road, Allenstown, 485-9869
Cost: Ranges from $25 to $55 per night, depending on the site (no hookups)
At more than 10,000 acres, this is the largest developed state park in New Hampshire. Campers have two options within the park — Beaver Pond Campground (600 Lower Road, Deerfield), as well as the cabins at Bear Hill Pond (15 Bear Hill Pond Road, Deerfield), featuring two sizes occupying up to four or six people. The cabins are furnished but do not have electricity. There is also an Adirondack-style lean-to shelter overlooking Smith Pond. Renters have access to two wide wooden bunks, a stone cook place and two outhouses inside.
Ellacoya RV State Park
266 Scenic Road, Gilford, 293-7821
Cost: $47 per rig per night (includes water, electric and sewer hookups)
Located on the southwest shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, Ellacoya State Park features an RV campground with 37 available sites by reservation only. Each offers three-way hookups. All of the sites are open daily to reserve now through Columbus Day weekend (no tents or pets are allowed inside the RV park).
Greenfield State Park
52 Campground Road, Greenfield, 547-3497
Cost: $25 per night (no hookups)
This 400-acre park features 256 campsites that are available by reservation only, including family group campsites with two Adirondack-style shelters. RVs are welcome in sites where they fit, but no hookups are available. Leashed pets are permitted in the campground but are prohibited in the park’s day-use and beach areas.
Hampton Beach RV State Park
160 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, 926-8990
Cost: $50 per rig per night (includes water, electric and sewer hookups)
According to the New Hampshire state parks website, this is the only RV park directly on the coast, at the mouth of the Hampton River. The park is located south of the main part of Hampton Beach on Route 1A, at the Seabrook town line. There are 28 sites that are open for reservations now through Columbus Day weekend. Camping units must be able to hook up all three services (water, electric and sewer) and be self-contained — no pop-ups or tents are allowed.
Monadnock State Park
169 Poole Road, Jaffrey, 532-8862
Cost: $25 per night (no hookups)
Gilson Pond Campground became the first new camping area in the New Hampshire state parks system in more than 40 years when it opened in July 2010. Located just down the road from the headquarters area of Monadnock State Park, Gilson Pond Campground has 35 sites that can accommodate tents and pop-ups, as well as five remote hike-to sites. There are several trails leaving the area that lead to the summit of Mount Monadnock.
Mount Sunapee State Park
86 Beach Access Road, Newbury, 763-5561
Cost: Ranges from $23 to $29 per night, depending on the site (no hookups)
Mount Sunapee State Park has a campground with 11 sites that offer either lean-tos or tent platforms. The sites are wooded and are for tent camping. One campsite is non-reservable and available for walk-in campers.
Pawtuckaway State Park
7 Pawtuckaway Road, Nottingham, 895-3031
Cost: Ranges from $25 to $30 per night, depending on the site (no hookups); cabin reservations are $65 per night or $360 per week
This state park’s campground includes nearly 200 wooded sites, providing many views of Pawtuckaway Lake. Each campsite has an open fire ring, a picnic table, flat areas for a tent, and a parking space. There are no hookups at any of the sites, but the bathhouses are equipped with running water, flush toilets and 24-hour-access coin-operated showers. There’s also a camp store where canoe and kayak rentals are available, as well as a public canoe and kayak launch. Pets are not allowed in the campground or beach area of the park.
Pillsbury State Park
100 Pillsbury State Park Road, Washington, 863-2860
Cost: $23 per night (no hookups)
Pillsbury State Park’s campground is open for reservable stays now through Columbus Day weekend. Amenities include handicap-accessible pit toilets, a playground, a kayak and canoe rentals, firewood and a boat launch for non-motorized boats. Eleven of the 41 campsites are remote and accessible by foot or canoe only.
Parks and treks
Hike the day away in a local state park
By Katelyn Sahagian
New Hampshire is home to a variety of state parks with trails carving through them, showing off the state’s beauty to new and experienced hikers alike.
“Science has proven that a lot of the healthy chemicals in our bodies rise when we are in green space, so just being [in nature] is really important for people,” said Jake King, a co-founder of Thrive Outdoors, a team-building and leadership organization based in Manchester.
State parks are popular places to take a hike, and many are home to everything from beginners’ nature walks to advanced mountain passes. King said that it’s important to differentiate the two.
It’s important for people who are new to getting into nature and walking to do something on the easier side, like going up to New Hampshire Audubon’s McLane Center in Concord.
“There are nature walks, and they shouldn’t be considered hikes,” King said. “People who are going to start hiking are going into more remote areas and [taking] on more of a challenge.”
Hiking has always been a popular pastime in the Granite State, said Kimball Rexford, the creator of TrailsNH.com. But during the height of the pandemic, he said, it has exploded in popularity.
“Since Covid, like everything, all popular hikes are more than double than what they used to be, maybe even triple,” Rexford said. “It’s starting to come down and people are less nervous being around others, but during Covid, hiking was through the roof.”
Across the board, the most recommended trail on both the Hike NH and Girls Hike NH Facebook groups was Pawtuckaway State Park’s South Loop. Many group members suggested that people take the hike up to the fire tower for a beautiful view.
Rexford suggested a more challenging trail within Pawtuckaway State Park.
“I usually do the North Loop,” he said. “It has a long bony ridge, meaning it’s rocky. It’s a lot of bang for your buck.”
King’s favorite trail, the Cardigan Loop, is for hikers who feel comfortable with the activity, but the trail isn’t extremely challenging by any means.
“It’s got beautiful views and it’s not super remote,” he said. “People walk their dogs and run on the trail. It’s not [as] if you were to go up the [White Mountains] where you won’t see someone for days.”
While Rexford’s website is a good place to find what’s currently popular and trending for hiking, people who are members of hiking Facebook groups, like Hike NH, will help and offer suggestions for their favorite paths.
“Pawtuckaway is unbeatable for what it is,” commented Randall Schanck, a member of Hike NH, in response to the Hippo asking for state park hiking recommendations. “[It is] big enough to explore for a long day and [there is] so much to see if you know where to look. It might as well be Jurassic Park.”
Terra Anna Merry, a member of Girls Hike NH, also said that she enjoys hiking in Pawtuckaway, but added that there were beautiful hikes in Northwood Meadows State Park in Northwood, Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, and Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown.
Rexford said that the Granite State has a seemingly endless number of trails, peaks and loops for avid hikers to explore.
“There’s a lot of everything,” he said. “You could spend a lifetime hiking in New Hampshire and not do it all.”
Where to go hiking in New Hampshire’s state parks
The Hippo reached out to the local Facebook groups Hike NH and Girls Hike NH for suggestions from members on the best trails to hike within New Hampshire’s state parks. Here’s a list of what we received for responses. Visit nhstateparks.org for more details on each trail.
Bear Brook State Park
157 Deerfield Road, Allenstown, 485-9869
Trail: Catamount Loop
Difficulty: Strenuous
Cardigan Mountain State Forest
658 Cardigan Mountain Road, Orange, 227-8745
Trail: Mount Cardigan Loop
Difficulty: Moderate
Miller State Park
13 Miller Park Road, Peterborough, 924-3672
Trail: Wapack Trail
Difficulty: Moderately strenuous
Monadnock State Park
169 Poole Road, Jaffrey, 532-8862
Trail: Wantastiquet-Monadnock trail
Difficulty: Moderately strenuous
Northwood Meadows State Park
755 First New Hampshire Turnpike, Northwood
Trail: NALMC Trail
Difficulty: Moderate
Odiorne Point State Park
570 Ocean Blvd., Rye, 436-7406
Trail: Odiorne Point Trail
Difficulty: Easy
Pawtuckaway State Park
7 Pawtuckaway Road, Nottingham, 895-3031
Trail: South Mountain Tower Trail
Difficulty: Moderate
Rhododendron State Park
424 Rockwood Pond Road, Fitzwilliam, 532-8862
Trail: Wildflower Trail
Difficulty: Easy
Wellington State Park
614 W. Shore Road, Bristol, 744-2197
Trail: Peninsula Nature Trail
Difficulty: Easy
Winslow State Park
475 Kearsarge Mountain Road, Wilmot, 526-6168
Trail: Rollins Trail
Difficulty: Moderate
Hiking difficulties source: National Park Service, nps.gov
Essential hiking gear
Visit hikesafe.com for more details.
• Pocket knife
• Rain jacket and pants
• Fire starter
• First aid kit
• Whistle
• Headlamp or flashlight
• Water and food
• Warm clothing
• Compass
• Map
The non-hiker’s guide
State park fun for the hiking-averse
By Hannah Turtle
Maybe hiking isn’t your thing. Maybe you don’t look forward to a trudge among the flora and fauna amid the summer heat. Luckily, this does not exempt you from enjoying the many state parks in southern New Hampshire.
Outside of hiking, there are a plethora of activities available for park-goers, including educational and beautiful historic sites, boating activities and the exciting hunt for geocaches.
Historic sites
For those interested in learning some local history, or for museum-frequenters who want to get outside this summer, here are some great options:
Fort Constitution Historic Site
25 Wentworth Road, New Castle, 271-3556
Located on a peninsula on the northeast corner of New Castle island, the ruins of Fort Constitution provide a great picnic spot for those interested in American history. First used during the War of 1812, the Fort also served as a training site during the Civil War, and was updated in 1897 to be used during the Spanish-American War, as well as World Wars I and II. Returned to the state in 1961, it now sits as a historic landmark with gorgeous views of the water. Source: nhstateparks.org
Fort Stark State Historic Site
211 Wildrose Lane, New Castle, 271-3556
Historically known as Jerry’s Point, Fort Stark sits on the southeastern peninsula of New Castle Island. Built following the Spanish-American War, the fort helps preserve the history of the island as an important military operation used during World War II. Of note is the Ordnance Machine Shop Museum, which displays military artifacts as well as a detailed history of the fort. Source: nhstateparks.org
Robert Frost Farm Historic Site
122 Rockingham Road, Derry, 432-3091
See the farmhouse of the late renowned poet Robert Frost, where he lived with his family from 1900 to 1911. In addition to being the setting for some of Frost’s most acclaimed poems, the site offers a variety of activities for visitors, including poetry readings and a self-guided tour of the property. Source: nhstateparks.org
Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion
375 Little Harbor Road, Portsmouth, 436-2233
Home to New Hampshire’s first royal governor, Benning Wentworth, the Wentworth-Coolidge mansion is a feat of 18th-century architecture. With tours of the sprawling mansion available every day this summer (which include a spy closet), and a gorgeous waterside walking path, the site is a must-see for fans of local history. Additionally, the grounds are covered in purple lilacs, descendents of the first European stock imported by Wentworth. Source: nhstateparks.org
White Island Historic Site
Rye, 271-3556
Visit New Hampshire’s only off-shore lighthouse on White Island for a whole day’s worth of historic sights. Originally built in 1820 and rebuilt in 1859, the lighthouse has seen many influential visitors and residents. Acclaimed poet Celia Thaxter was the daughter of the lighthouse’s keeper and wrote many of her works about that period. White Island itself is nestled in the Isles of Shoals, originally known as the Smith Islands (named after Jamestown settler Capt. John Smith). Source: lighthousefriends.com
Geocaching
Originating in 2000 in Oregon, geocaching has had a recent resurgence in popularity amid Covid. By downloading the free “Geocaching” app available for any smartphone, users can hunt for hundreds of hidden treasures called “caches” all over various area parks. The app gives mysterious clues as to the exact location of each cache, and turns any regular hike into an interactive scavenger hunt. It’s perfect for families with curious children, and for anyone who enjoys solving a mystery. When a cache is found, simply sign your name in the log book and leave it for the next person to find.
There are geocache locations hidden in every local state park, and the larger walking trails provide opportunities for finding upwards of 10 caches. For a geocaching challenge that doesn’t require the app download, we’ve hid our own geocache in one of New Hampshire’s state parks — test your mettle and see if you can solve the riddle and find our cache:
Whose cache this is I think I know
His box is rather hidden, though
He will not see me crossing here
Beneath my feet the water flows.
My little phone seems sure it’s near
I’ll wait until the coast is clear
The gurgle of my much-loved brook
Is all that I do long to hear.
I’ll give my weary legs a break
For coming here was no mistake
The only other sound’s the croak
Of that which is my spot’s namesake
These woods are lovely dark and deep
But I have promises to keep
And caches to find before I sleep
And caches to find before I sleep
Canoeing and kayaking
According to nhstateparks.org, canoe and kayak rentals at applicable state parks are $15 per hour, $30 for four hours, $50 for a full day, or $150 for a full week. Oars and life vests are provided. Boaters must have a driver’s license to rent within the state parks system.
Bear Brook State Park
61 Deerfield Road, Allenstown, 485-9874
Admission cost: $4 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11)
Clough State Park
455 Clough Park Road, Weare, 529-7112
Admission cost: $4 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11)
Ellacoya State Park
266 Scenic Road, Gilford, 293-7821
Admission cost: $5 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11); no rentals available but visitors can bring their own boats
Greenfield State Park
52 Campground Road, Greenfield, 547-3497
Admission cost: $4 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11)
Livermore Falls Recreational Area
86 Livermore Road, Holderness, 238-9284
Admission cost: $5 per car; no rentals available but visitors can bring their own boats
Odiorne Point State Park
570 Ocean Blvd., Rye, 436-7406
Admission cost: $4 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11); no rentals available but visitors can bring their own boats
Pawtuckaway State Park
7 Pawtuckaway Road, Nottingham, 895-3031
Admission cost: $5 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11)
Pillsbury State Park
100 Pillsbury State Park Road, Washington, 863-2860
Admission cost: $4 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11)
Silver Lake State Park
138 Silver Lake Road, Hollis, 465-2342
Admission cost: $4 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11); kayak rentals available only
Wentworth State Park
297 Governor Wentworth Hwy., Wolfeboro, 569-3699
Admission cost: $4 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11); no rentals available but visitors can bring their own boats
Featured photo: Camping at Pawtuckaway State Park in Allenstown in Nottingham. Photo courtesy of New Hampshire State Parks.
