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Nature|National & State Parks

Soak Your Stress Away In The Forests Of New Hampshire’s White Mountains At Crawford Notch State Park

Crawford Notch State Park in New Hampshire's White Mountains offers stunning natural beauty, including waterfalls, trails, and campsites.

Published Feb 11, 2022

Written by 

Ben Jones

New Hampshire’s lush and wild White Mountains beckon people seeking natural beauty and relaxation. In the heart of this gorgeous country, a rugged pass called Crawford Notch offers it all – wild waterfalls, stunning vistas, pretty campsites and gorgeous trails. Enjoy some natural stress relief and make plans to visit Crawford Notch State Park. Here’s what’s waiting for you.

Crawford Notch State Park is your ticket to this beautiful region. It’s in some pretty wild country. You’ll find the park about two hours north of Manchester in the White Mountains, which has some of the most rugged terrain in New England.

A scenic view of a mountain covered in vibrant autumn foliage under a cloudy sky.
Facebook / The Adams Flea Market

The area has a long and rich history. Crawford Notch was first discovered by a European in the 1700s – a hunter who was tracking a moose over Cherry Mountain found the pass. A road was built in 1775 and 100 years later, a railroad.

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A winding railway track surrounded by vibrant autumn foliage and trees in shades of orange and yellow.
Facebook / The Adams Flea Market

Thanks to the terrain, the White Mountains remain a wild place. The state purchased the first land for the park in 1913. The park covers nearly 6,000 acres so there’s a lot to explore.

A rustic log cabin surrounded by greenery, featuring a sign that reads "Visitor Information."
Facebook / New Hampshire State Parks

There are trails for every hiker – everything from shorter, easier paths to challenging treks that require a little caution. The park is also popular with mountain bikers and backpackers.

A person in a yellow jacket stands by a rocky stream surrounded by trees in a serene natural setting.
Facebook / The Adams Flea Market

If you love wild waterfalls, this park is for you – hiking trails will take you to Arethusa and Ripley Falls. They are both breathtaking!

A serene forest scene featuring a cascading waterfall over rocky terrain, surrounded by lush green trees.
Alltrails / John Best

The Dry River Campground is the place to camp here - it has 36 campsites that are complete with picnic tables and fire rings so you can relax and watch the stars appear in the clear, Northern New Hampshire sky. When you wake in the morning, you can be among the first to enjoy the rugged beauty of Crawford Notch.

A forest path with scattered rocks, surrounded by tall trees and lush green foliage. Sunlight filters through the leaves.
Facebook / The Adams Flea Market

The park is open year round but the main camping season in the park is Memorial Day to Columbus Day. In other seasons, camping is first-come, first-serve. Leashed dogs are allowed in the outdoor areas of the park. Learn more about the park here. If you love the outdoors, here are some under-appreciated parks that will amaze you.

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Nature|National & State Parks

The Hidden Nature Park In New Hampshire With Its Very Own Old-Growth Trees, Fire Lookout, And So Much More

Published Jun 18, 2024

Written by 

Ken MacGray

New Hampshire is certainly well-known for its natural wonders, such as the high White Mountains and open landscape vistas. The more popular locations can draw thousands of visitors each year. Personally, I prefer to seek out the lesser-traveled spots, which may not be as impressive on a grand scale but are in no way any less interesting. One natural area in New Hampshire that you may not know about is tucked away off an auxiliary highway in the rural town of Tamworth. Let's take a walk to Big Pines Natural Area - Hemenway State Forest.

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Big Pines Natural Area - Hemenway State Forest lies off State Route 113A in the town of Tamworth. A trail system within the forest spans two-and-a-half miles in total.

Wooden sign for Big Pines Natural Area at Remenway State Reservation, surrounded by trees and autumn foliage.
Private Info/All Trails

A variety of woods walks and longer hikes can be made here, from a 0.3-mile interpretive trail to an approximately two-mile round trip to the summit of Great Hill and back.

A wooden bridge with stairs crosses a stream, surrounded by lush green trees and rocky terrain.
Finley Wetmore/All Trails

Big Pines Natural Area features towering eastern white pine trees as tall as 150 feet and as wide as 15 feet. While "young" at 150-200 years of age, these trees are still growing to their maximum size.

A tall tree viewed from below, surrounded by lush green foliage and a bright sky peeking through the leaves.
Julie Twomey/All Trails

In addition to the giant pines, other trees that can be found here include hemlocks up to 300 years old, sugar maples, red spruce, and yellow birch.

A forest scene with tall trees and a clear sky visible through the leaves, showcasing a natural, serene environment.
Eric Amador/All Trails

The full tour of the forest leads one to the summit of Great Hill, where a fire lookout tower has stood watch since 1934. It remains one of the state's active lookouts to this day.

A tall fire lookout tower surrounded by lush green trees and a clear sky, viewed from a forest path.
Julie Twomey/All Trails

Hikers can climb part of the way up the fire lookout to an observation platform. Here, there is an expansive view of the Sandwich Range to the north.

A scenic view of mountains under a partly cloudy sky, surrounded by trees and a vast landscape.
Zach Prescott/All Trails

In spring, also keep an eye on the ground while exploring here. Trillium, both red and painted, is a common wildflower in New Hampshire.

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A flowering plant with large green leaves and white petals featuring pink stripes, surrounded by forest floor debris.
kristina hale/All Trails

For more information on this interesting natural area in New Hampshire and to download a trail map, visit the Tamworth Conservation Commission. You can also learn more about the trees here by visiting the Old-Growth Forest Network. Now lace up those boots and get out there!

Explore more ancient trees by visiting the Sheldrick Nature Preserve in Wilton.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/new-hampshire/sheldrick-forest-nh/

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Nature|National & State Parks

The Most Remote State Park In New Hampshire Is The Perfect Place To Escape

Pisgah State Park in New Hampshire offers a remote and beautiful wilderness experience with diverse landscapes and historical sites.

Updated Apr 24, 2024

Written by 

Ken MacGray

This article is a bit timely, as I've been walking a lot of miles recently in Pisgah State Park as part of a book project. Some New Hampshire state parks are easily accessible from major highways, which makes them very popular. Pisgah is different in that it's far away from the allure of the White Mountains but is no less beautiful. You can really feel away from it all here and it is one of the most remote state parks in New Hampshire.

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Pisgah State Park, which spans over 13,000 acres within the towns of Winchester, Chesterfield, and Hinsdale, offers more of a wilderness feel than many other state parks.

A wooden bridge spans a lush, green forest with dense trees and ferns surrounding it.
Ken MacGray/Google Photos

We think this makes it one of the best state parks in New Hampshire.

The main summit located within the park is the 1,329-foot Mt. Pisgah. There are wide views in several directions from its ledgy top.

A panoramic view of lush green forests and rolling hills under a partly cloudy sky.
Theresa Koski/All Trails

Part of the charm of Pisgah State Park for me is its variety of ponds, swamps, and wetlands.

A serene wetland scene with calm water, lush greenery, and a blue sky dotted with clouds.
Alex M/All Trails

Kilburn Pond is one of the larger ponds in the park. A loop hike of 6.3 miles can be made around its perimeter.

A serene lake surrounded by trees under a clear blue sky, viewed from a rocky shoreline.
Carolyn Drumsta/All Trails

Several of the main roads through the park are remnants of when this area was used for farming in the 19th century.

A dirt path winds through a forest with colorful autumn leaves and tall trees under a clear blue sky.
Steven Fuller/All Trails

Along these roads are signed historical sites that include old homesteads, mills, dams, and boarding houses.

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A snowy forest scene with a sign for William King Water Mill Site beside a partially frozen stream.
Lisa Belanger/All Trails

Latham-Beal Cemetery along Beal's Road dates back to 1790 and is one of the oldest burial sites in the town of Chesterfield.

A serene forest scene featuring a small, old graveyard with several gravestones surrounded by trees and a stone wall.
Ken MacGray/Google Photos

If you are looking for one of the most remote state parks in New Hampshire, Pisgah State Park offers plenty of opportunities for exploration away from the crowds. To learn more and to download a trail map, visit the Pisgah State Park website.

New Hampshire's state parks system has a wide variety of outdoor spaces to explore, and here are nine under-appreciated parks to check out. Before hitting the trails, also check out our ultimate hiking packing list for everything you'll need for a safe trek.

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