I admit it took me quite a while to become fascinated with Pillsbury State Park in Washington, NH. I guess I was too focused on climbing mountains rather than exploring the treasures within this park. But once I did, I was hooked, as I especially love hikes with water features. If you do as well, Pillsbury is the place to be thanks to its abundant network of ponds. With its more primitive setting compared to other state parks, I'd say these are some of the most scenic New Hampshire ponds. Now let's lace up those boots and explore!
Pillsbury State Park in Washington is for pond lovers. The largest is May Pond, accompanied by Butterfield Pond, Vickery Pond, Bacon Pond, Fletcher Pond, Frog Pond, Mill Pond, North Pond, and Bear Pond.
Depending on when you time your visit, you may be able to catch glimpses of the local wildlife that calls the park home.
Some of the ponds require viewing from a bit of a distance, as the trail strays away from the swampy shorelines.
North Pond is located in a quieter area of the park that receives less frequent use. You'll find solitude here.
Part of the charm of visiting Pillsbury its somewhat more primitive quality. It feels very much like a miniature wilderness area.
The long-distance Mondanock-Sunapee Greenway passes through Pillsbury and can be used to form loop hikes that visit several of the park's ponds.
When visiting the ponds in spring, the trails will be lined with trillium, one of the classic wildflowers of the region, which comes in red and painted varieties.
In addition to the scenic NH ponds here, Pillsbury also allows for more challenging hikes to surrounding summits. For more information, visit the Pillsbury State Park website and refer to the AMC Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide.
If you love hiking to water features, there are plenty of options here in the Granite State. Check out some waterfalls or explore a quiet backcountry pond. Stay safe and enjoy the journey!
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