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Nature|National & State Parks

The Spectacular State Park Where You Can View The Best Fall Foliage In New Hampshire

Published Oct 16, 2023

Written by 

Ken MacGray

In other areas of the United States, roads that travel between mountainous areas are often called passes. Here in New Hampshire, we call them notches. When seen from certain vantage points, this term is very apparent when applied to Crawford Notch, which separates the southern Presidential Range and the Willey Range. The notch is also home to Crawford Notch State Park. This park is beautiful in any season but puts on an especially beautiful show during fall foliage viewing season.

Crawford Notch is a classic example of a U-shaped valley that was created as a retreating glacier gouged out the landscape.

A scenic view of a winding road through vibrant autumn foliage in a mountainous landscape.
Craig Zerbe/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

At the top of Crawford Notch, in an area known as The Gateway, a short hike leads to the top of Elephant Rock and an excellent viewpoint.

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A scenic view of colorful autumn foliage, a winding road, and a train traveling through a valley surrounded by mountains.
Shell Ette/Moment via Getty Images

A relaxing trip can be made through Crawford Notch by following U.S. Route 302 in either direction, although heading eastbound offers more dramatic views.

A winding road stretches through vibrant autumn foliage under a cloudy sky.
Thomas H. Mitchell/500px/500px via Getty Images

Another way to enjoy the beauty of Crawford Notch State Park is by taking the Conway Scenic Railroad up from Conway. Trains run through the end of October.

A scenic view of vibrant autumn foliage covering rolling hills and a winding railway through a colorful landscape.
Craig Zerbe/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

A stop at the Willey House Historic Site within the park provides an excellent view north up the notch toward the cliffs of Mt. Willard.

A serene lake reflects vibrant autumn foliage and mountains under a clear blue sky.
DenisTangneyJr/E+ via Getty Images

Short trails within the park such as Sam Willey Trail and Saco River Trail provide a chance to stretch the legs and to experience the foliage color from ground level.

A serene forest path covered in colorful autumn leaves, surrounded by vibrant trees and a large rock.
josefgr/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

Two scenic waterfalls near the top of Crawford Notch, Silver Cascade and Flume Cascade, make for good rest stops and photo ops.

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A cascading waterfall flows down rocky cliffs, surrounded by vibrant autumn foliage in shades of orange and yellow.
PictureLake/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

The towering Frankenstein Cliff within the park is not named for the famous monster, but for painter Godfrey Frankenstein who frequented the area.

A vibrant autumn landscape featuring a rocky hill surrounded by trees in shades of red, orange, and green.
Gerald G Gantar/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

Among New Hampshire's many notches, Crawford Notch is perhaps my favorite, and the fact that it also offers prime fall foliage viewing opportunities is a bonus! To learn more visit the Crawford Notch State Park website. Now bundle up and get out there!

Interested in seeing more foliage? It's fading fast as we approach winter but you can still keep track of what the color is doing in your corner of the state with our interactive foliage tracker.

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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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