New Hampshire State & National Parks

Bear Brook State Park is a 10,000-acre preserve in Allenstown and one of New Hampshire's largest state parks.

• The natural reserve and state park is named after the Bear Brook stream that runs through the park and is home to beautiful Northeastern coastal forests and other landscapes.
• The park features a variety of points of interest and attractions such as the Old Allenstown Meeting House, the New Hampshire Snowmobile Museum, and the Richard Diehl Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Museum, all of which are located in historic buildings that were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
• Amenities at Bear Brook State Park include over 40 miles of hiking trails, an archery range, picnic areas with tables, camping sites, swimming and fishing ponds, a ball field and children’s playground, and a physical fitness course.

Where to Find it: 157 Deerfield Rd, Allenstown, NH 03275, Phone: 603-485-9874

Coleman State Park is a state park on Little Diamond Pond in Stewartstown.

• Enjoy activities such as camping, hiking, picnicking, fishing, and ATV riding.
• Located 12 miles east of Colebrook in New Hampshire's remote north country, Coleman State Park is an excellent spot for fishing in Little Diamond Pond and nearby streams packed with trout and other fish.
• The campground at Coleman State Park offers 25 campsites, including sites for ATV camping with direct trail access.
• Several hiking trails connect with the miles of trails for snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and OHRV riding.

Where to Find it: 1166 Diamond Pond Rd, Stewartstown, NH 03576, Phone: 603-237-5382

Crawford Notch State Park is a 5,775-acre park at the center of Crawford Notch, a major pass through the White Mountains in northern New Hampshire.

• Nestled between Bretton Woods and Bartlett, the park includes the Willey House historical site.
• It is home to the Dry River Campground with 36 sites, fire rings, picnic tables, restrooms, showers, toilets, and laundry facilities.
• Activities include hiking, mountain biking, backpacking.
• Nearby points of interest include the Mt. Washington Cog Railway and the Storyland theme park.
• Several hiking trails lead to Arethusa and Ripley Falls.

Where to Find it: 1464 US-302, Hart's Location, NH 03812, Phone: 603-374-2272

Romantic New Hampshire Parks

Echo Lake State Park is a state park in North Conway that is home to the 15.7-acre Echo Lake and offers a wide range of activities for the whole family to enjoy.

• The park and lake lie at the base of the Cathedral and White Horse Ledges, two rock ledges with scenic panoramic views, and features a one-mile hiking trail around the lake, and a small swimming beach.
• Activities in the park include hiking, picnicking, fishing, swimming, non-motorized boating, and rock-climbing and several hiking trails lead to Cathedral Ledge State Park which boasts spectacular views of the Saco River Valley.

Where to Find it: 68 Echo Lake Rd, North Conway, NH 03860, Phone: 603-356-2672

Located in Gilford on the southwest shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, Ellacoya State Park is a 65-acre state park with 600 feet of beautiful beachfront. The 600-foot long sandy beach boasts breathtaking views across the lake to the Sandwich and Ossipee mountains and features an accessible bathhouse with showers, a changing area for swimmers, and a pavilion. The beach and surrounding park is ideal for picnicking with families, and the park has campsites with three-way hook-ups, and a small park store selling refreshments and souvenirs.

280 Scenic Dr, Gilford, NH 03249, Phone: 603-293-7821

Nestled in the heart of the White Mountain National Forest in northern New Hampshire, Franconia Notch State Park passes through Franconia Notch, a mountain pass between the Kinsman Range and Franconia Range. Once the home of the famous Old Man of the Mountain, the park is home to several attractions including the Flume Gorge and its visitor center, the beautiful lakes of Echo and Profile, and the historic site of the Old Man of the Mountain. Activities in the park include hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding in winter, fishing, ice-fishing, and pleasure boating. The park is also home to the 1930s state-owned ski resort of Cannon Mountain.

Flume Gorge, Daniel Webster Hwy, Lincoln, NH 03251, Phone: 603-823-8800

Hampton Beach State Park located on a peninsula where the Hampton River meets the Atlantic Ocean on the southeastern edge of New Hampshire. Set within the community of Hampton Beach, the 50-acre state park is bordered by Ocean Boulevard and has a large beach with lifeguards, a first aid and comfort station, public restrooms, an amphitheater, a pavilion, a children’s playground, and general information services. Activities in the park include swimming, sunbathing, beach-combing, picnicking, fishing, and RV camping with full hook-ups in the campground.

NH-1A, Hampton, NH 03842, Phone: 603-926-3784

New Hampshire Parks for Families

Tucked away in the White Mountains in Berlin, the Jericho Mountain State Park, also referred to as Jericho Lake State Park is a 230-acre park is centered around the 7,200-acre Jericho Lake to the south. The lake offers an array of activities ranging from boating and fishing to kayaking and swimming to land-based recreation around the lake like hiking, mountain biking, ATV and UTV trail bike riding, picnicking, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and camping. There is a ride-in/ride-out campground, overnight cabins, a clean bathhouse, and a modern Visitors Center and the park hosts the Jericho ATV Festival every year.

298 Jericho Lake Rd, Berlin, NH 03570, Phone: 603-752-4758

Tucked into the Great North Woods, less than three miles off the Androscoggin River, the Milan Hill State Park is a 102-acre state park in New Hampshire that features camping and a 1932 fire tower. Located in the town of Milan, the park makes an excellent base for enjoying all the great outdoor activities in the area such as hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, ATV riding. The campground features standard tents, as well as four yurts, which offer a little more comfort than regular camping with bunk beds and furniture. Just a short drive away, the Jericho Mountain State Park provides world-class hiking with trails for backpacking, walking, trail running, off-road biking, and mountain biking.

427 Milan Hill Rd, Milan, NH 03588, Phone: 603-449-2429

Located in the towns of Temple and Peterborough, the Miller State Park is the oldest state-run park in New Hampshire. Set on the 2,290-foot Pack Monadnock mountain, the 533-acre park was established in 1891 and named for Peterborough native and brigadier general in the US Army, James Miller. The park offers good hiking with the Wapack Trail crossing over Pack Monadnock and passing through the park, along with other activities such as cross-country skiing, backpacking, picnicking, camping, and wildlife watching.

13 Miller Park Rd, Peterborough, NH 03458, Phone: 603-924-3672