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Nature|National & State Parks

After A Day Of Scenic Hiking, Sleep In A Yurt At This New Hampshire State Park

Milan Hill State Park offers a unique yurt camping experience combined with scenic hiking trails.

Published May 19, 2022

Written by 

Clarisa

Have you been looking for a more outdoorsy adventure recently? If you aren't afraid to sleep in a yurt, then you'll love a trip to Milan Hill State Park. Between the yurt and the scenery, you're bound to have plenty of great memories out here. Grab that bucket list, because this will be a new item! Planning these trips is half the fun, anyways.

Welcome to your yurt getaway in this stunning section of Milan Hill State Park. Out here, it really is just you and the trees once you're settled in your cozy accomodations.

A serene landscape featuring rolling mountains, colorful autumn trees, and a misty valley at sunrise.
New Hampshire State Parks

However, before you can get settled, you'll want to see this beautiful hike. It's just a short 30 minutes, but with sightseeing time included, that can add up quickly.

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A tall observation tower surrounded by trees, with two people standing at its base on a grassy area.
Angel B/Google

A beautiful 1.1 mile loop trail including this fire tower gives you some of the best views around. Just look at how far you can see!

A camera on a staircase captures a scenic view of mountains and colorful autumn foliage at sunset.
Rachel Whelton/Google

In your rented yurt, you can enjoy comfortable camping without the struggle of sleeping on the ground or putting the tent up yourself. If you love the outdoors but also love comfort, this is the setup you'll enjoy.

A cozy yurt on a wooden platform, surrounded by trees and a scenic landscape.
New Hampshire State Parks

Equipped with couches and beds, you'll have plenty of lounging area to enjoy while you're not outside.

Interior of a yurt featuring a red couch, wooden furniture, and a door leading outside, with natural light coming in.
New Hampshire State Parks

Between the hiking and the beautiful yurt, there's not much left to be desired about this nature trip. If you love the outdoors, you'll want to bookmark this for a future day out. Spend the day taking it all in and relaxing before you have to go back home.

A wooden bridge leads to a yurt nestled among lush green trees.
New Hampshire State Parks

If you'd like to book a room at the yurt, check out the NH State Parks website. Otherwise, you'll find trail information, reviews, and a local forecast at the Milan Hill Firetower page on Alltrails.

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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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