I feel the need to preface all of my nature reviews with this: being 90% forested and having around…read more3500 miles of coastline, Maine (and NH) has a tremendous amount of spaces, walkways, paths, and trails of all kinds and of all levels. There's something for everyone. What I'm reviewing is how a spot compares to similar outdoor spots in my personal opinion. Being in nature - and remembering to carry in, carry out - is always five stars! :) Parking? Yes. Loop trail? No. Well marked signs? No. Element of surprise? Yes. I didn't realize until recently that Steep Falls was more than just the name of a town (or bridge) in Maine. I mean, I knew it was named after the falls it surrounds, but I guess I didn't realize you could access those falls for a nature walk! We first came during late autumn. There's a small parking lot, but you want to walk across Main St/Route 11 (before the bridge) to the other side because there's nothing actually adjacent to the parking lot itself. There are pretty obvious trails from here, but nothing is marked. Just follow the water itself (except for one spot, which you'll have to veer away from the water, into the woods, over a much smaller bridge [meant for snowmobiles? ATVs?] over Tucker Brook [I think?] then back down to the water). The fun fact about this spot is that, while it's nearly 75 feet across apparently it's only a six food drop, but still manages to be one of the top volume waterfalls in the entire state (with the water flowing steadily and strongly all year round). From what I've heard from locals, this is a spot to party at during the summer (even when we came we saw remnants of fire pits on the beach before the falls). Just sitting on the rocks so close to the falls was pretty stunning; it's loud, it's splashy, and it feels entirely remote as this part of Saco River is surrounded by tall evergreens!

I was so excited to see this "abandoned" castle that I read about. I also read that they were doing…read morerenovations and making it into a hotel. On our way home from Lincoln, NH we were gonna stop here and see this magnificent place that was built in the late 1800's. The drive from Lincoln was beautiful and took us through a lake front town. Once we got to the street it was on a dead end, driving all the way down only to find there was a steep icy hill that looked like no one had driven on in a long time. Not wanting to chance it we decided to turn around. I was very disappointed but maybe in the spring or summer we would have better luck. FYI there were a ton of "No Trespassing" signs posted on the trees lining the steep hill/ driveway.

Just a little bit west of Bear Notch Road on the Kanc, this last remaining regional farmhouse is on…read morethe National Register of Historic Sites and is worth your time and support. Quaint and charming home with an interpretive woodsy trail behind it, and a small family cemetery nearby with wrought-iron gates that will have you Instagramming. Terrific homestead, well-preserved, and needs every visitor it can get to maintain the only house left standing of its kind in this area. Fantastic stop. A note on the trail itself: While the White Mountains official trail site says "This trail is considered to be a handicapped accessible trail with its wide crushed stone path and wooden bridges," we would not consider this an easy trail for a wheelchair. This is the kind of thing written by people who don't actually have to push wheelchairs around. The pine needles can make the trail quite slippery, there are sloped aspects to it as well as curves that are not terribly wide, and any moisture could make it quite mucky. A motorized scooter may be able to handle it but if you are pushing a heavy wheelchair, this may not be the best trail option. That is the opinion from wheelchair-pushing experienced people. (We suggest Rocky Gorge instead. Great views with a very short paved trail and a small but arched bridge over the ravine).

Really cool old house. The history is very interesting there and says a lot about the land. Was a…read morelittle disappointed though that they closed off entering the house in the fall.

I was concerned about the mobility of the people we were leaf peeping with, so I wanted to choose a…read morereasonably easy and short hike. Sabbaday Falls met this criteria! This is about a 0.3 mi walk through the forest by Sabbaday brook. The path is fairly developed and fairly flat with some slight but minimal elevation gain. You have gorgeous views of the brook and fall foliage while you walk. You can continue walking if you want to just continue walking along the brook, or turn and check out Sabbaday Falls. At the falls there is a nice platform / stair which allows you to climb up and take a closer look at the falls. There is a small parking lot and it seems like when it's full, people just park on the shoulder. In addition there is also an outhouse, but no running water. Great little hike along the Kanc!

A great little nature walk. Didn't have to time to go all the way to the glacier and caves…read moresection, but the falls are amazing, and the walk is so peaceful and pretty with all the foliage. A popular destination this time of the year, you likely will have to park on the street and walk to the trail, which you're going to be doing anyway, so it's not that big a deal.

The Wiggly Bridge is a narrow pedestrian suspension bridge that stands in York, Maine. Located just…read moreoff of Maine State Route 103 (Lilac Lane), the 75-foot-long bridge crosses the tidal flow from Barrel Mill Pond to the York River. Built in the 1930s, it is believed to be the smallest suspension bridge in the United States. The bridge provides access to the Steedman Woods Nature Preserve and is a popular feature of the Fisherman's Walk trail. Originally known as the "Barrel Bridge", local lore claims that it earned its current name from a perceptive group of Girl Scouts who noted the bridge's "wiggly" nature. When walked upon, the deck bounces and flexes, banging back and forth in the anchorages. Many native southern Mainers can share their own childhood memories of leaping over the edge into the water and being pushed underneath with the current, one way or the other depending on the tide. This practice, as well as clam digging and any other possibly damaging activity, is now discouraged due to the erosion of mudflats. The Wiggly Bridge stands out as an iconic landmark and a must-visit destination for anyone looking to immerse themselves in York, Maine's unique charm and natural splendor. Steedman Woods is also a great place to visit. A nice stroll on the trails in this lush and tranquil forest offer scenic viewpoints and picturesque spots that showcase the breathtaking beauty of the Maine coast. Parking near the Wiggly Bridge is limited, so you may need to park on the side of Route 103 or in a nearby harbor lot, keeping in mind some spots may require a permit or have time restrictions. It is also possible to walk to the bridge from nearby York Village.

Cute little bridge that you can definitely jump on! Having been to other suspension bridges, I can…read moresay this one is just as wiggly as Lynn Canyon in Canada. It's small obviously, not the views in the area are commanding. My only complaint is that parking is really tricky. We had to park at a store and walk a bit (not awful but not ideal). Anyway, would hike this trail again! It was relatively flat, shaded, and not crowded.

A fascinating collection of old cars and equipment. Worth a visit. Pay what you willread more

Amazing place for kids and adults alike. Kids can play with this from past generations while older…read morefolks can see stuff from their childhood and before. We appreciate everything the Ice House Museum does for the community.

What a lovely location! Considering this was not the original spot for the house, brought here from…read moretown, there are plenty of parking spots for visitors. The grounds are kept nice. There is a short video to watch before the guided tour. A little gift shop is also available. It was an enjoyable tour, and I learned lots about our past President and the items in the home. Don't forget to visit the gravesite about 1 mile away in the Old Cemetery.

I grew up in New Hampshire but never visited the Manse until a decade and a half after leaving. I…read moreemailed the Manse's Pierce Brigade (their volunteer group) to see if they could offer a tour for the day after Thanksgiving. They put it together and brought our group of four on a very in-depth tour. You will learn so much about NH's only president, about society at the time of Pierce's life and presidency, and what local homes were like in that era. Our volunteer was able to answer every question that we lobbed her way, even on things not directly related to the Pierces. Bonus: you can see the dress that Pierce wore as a child. My one quibble was that our tour guide seemed to dismiss our personal anecdotes that we offered that connected with what we were seeing, which was disappointing as I used to be a docent at a presidential library, and learned the most from people on my tours. She also was very short with me when she saw me taking some photos (non-flash!), but she hadn't told me that it was not allowed. Apparently there was a sign in the lobby but I hadn't seen it. Overall, totally worth spending an hour while you're in New Hampshire to learn some history!

Steep. ?Private. Rocky. Good exercise. Great views of Lake Winnipesaukee. More to come . . .read more

Also known as Bald Peak (and lending it's name to the nearby Bald Peak Colony Club) this little…read moremountain is a decent size to get in a half-day hike, depending on your ability, a picnic lunch, and some incredible views. It's a popular trek. There are also several hiking paths nearby which are maintained by the Castle Preservation Society, as well as Castle in the Clouds itself, and hiking trails at Mt. Shaw (I believe) nearby. I recommend sticking to the path along the eastern side (right-hand side as you approach the base) of the mountain. There are several very interesting places to explore just off the path, however they can get steep. The path travels up around the back of the rocky area. As you approach the outcropping, you will have an impressive view of Lake Winnipesaukee. When I was last there, there was a picnic table and camp fire as well. There are horse trails from the summit that travel west to Castle in the Clouds, but it's a long haul to get over there! (These trails are free and open to the public, but the Castle charges admission.) I believe I read that there are some geocaching spots up there as well. Parking is along the road right at the Tuftonboro/Moultonboro border by the town sign honoring local Olympians Hannah Hardaway and Wolfgang Moser.