For a mere $15 cash you can access some pristine hiking opportunities. I have trekked these grounds…read morein all 4 seasons. Each has its own unique set of challenges and joys. Whether it is ice and snow with trax on or wet leaves on a steep incline, you can bet on a challenge. The most commonly used trail up the mountain is the 2 mile (one way), White Dot trail. It is well marked and easily followed. The elevation gain is rapid, as this is a shorter hike. The views are absolutely stellar from the summit. There is a small shop at the base and you receive a map upon entry with basic guidelines and trails. If you are into the outdoors, I highly recommend this spot! Laces up!

Things to note before reading this: 1) I'm a beginner hiker…read more2) My legs get me from point A to B but they are not strong once resistance is involved lol so leg day is always my biggest challenge and because of this... 3) I'm always the slow hiker of the group and I like to take my time I came here last year on a Saturday at the end of October. I went with some friends who have hiked this mountain before. I went into this hike without looking up what to expect, I knew it was going to be challenging but boy was I in for a surprise. I just went with what my friends who invited me said. So the parking at the first trailhead was full and found parking at the second trailhead (Gilson Pond parking), which is the Red Dot Trail, and was our group's first time doing. It was my first official mountain hike. The Red Dot trail was quite a challenge since it involved a lot of climbing once you got to the midway point. There was a boulder that took me a while to overcome and after that there was more to climb and "oh my God" (Janice from Friends voice) reactions to seeing these climbs. We started at around 9am and stopped just right below the peak at 12pm. One person in our group completed the hike and went up to the peak. We had breakfast as we experienced the view then we took the White Dot Trail back down and connected to the Red Dot Trail to get back to the Gilson Pond Parking Lot I think we got back to the car close to 3pm. It was a sunny 60-70 degree morning and I was mostly in a t-shirt throughout the entire hike but I needed my jacket at the peak because of that windchill and the cloud cover. I was sore everywhere for the next week. ---------- Fast forward to this October, my husband and another friend wanted to do a Fall/Autumn hike. I found a site with all the New England hikes and experience levels. I saw that Mount Monadnock was in the advanced category and I very proud of myself for doing it last year. Anyway they decided on Mount Monadnock the night before. I still had trauma from last year's experience so I did my research this time and we decided on the White Dot Trail. We went yesterday which was a Saturday on the holiday weekend. Clear sunny day. The parking for the White Dot Trail was full again and the park ranger at the gate said all 3 parking lots are full from reservations. So reservations are encouraged! We drove all this way and were determined to do a hike so thankfully he suggested we could do the Dublin Trail which is about the same distance to the peak as the White Dot Trail. The Dublin Trail trailhead is a first come first serve parking lot so it's free parking and there's a donation box for the park that is welcomed. Based on my research the night before, someone on Reddit said this is a nice trail for beginners and I can confirm that it is since I am still a beginner hiker. It was a gentler incline, it still worked my legs, than the Red Dot Trail with easier /moderate climbs. We started at 9am again and got to peak at 10:50am. We left the peak at 11:30 and got back to the car at 1:10pm. So roughly 3hrs roundtrip, including stopping to take photos on the way up and down- 4hrs including a break to eat. It was a chilly morning in the 60s, I started in 3 layers (tshirt, a winter running long-sleeve, and a thermal jacket) at the start and by 30 minutes in I was down to my tshirt. I was in a t-shirt for most of the hike, closer to the peak I had to add a layer. We were able to find a spot on the peak to shield us from the wind because it was ripping. I was fine in the two layers with the help of the shield of a rock from the wind but outside of that protection I needed my 3rd layer and cover for my ears. A layer with a hoodie would have been great but I didn't have that so I was glad I packed a winter head band to cover my ears. What was funny was seeing how much my white jacket puffed up from the wind, I felt like the Michelin Mascot. About 15 minutes on the way down I started to shed layers again. What a difference the temperature drastically feels between the peak and below the peak. One thing I loved about the time of month of this hike was how beautiful the ground was to look at, at the start of the hike. You spend so much time looking down on the ground on these kind of hikes because of the terrain it's such a bore. I tried to take a photo of how pretty the leaves on ground were but the photo still doesn't do it justice. I've never seen such tricolor foliage on the ground, it's always yellow or brown.

Great hiking trails and easy to reach and lots of nice scenery as you explore…read moreThe trail is not crowded and good for dogs

BEAUTIFUL views of Monadnock and Contooket lake and River. I love taking my dogs on walks on these…read moretrails.

A lovely park to take your family on a short day trip, especially in the summer. Plenty of space…read morefor kids to run and play, bathrooms are kept clean, and the people working are always friendly and helpful.

Elm Brook is a very nice day use family park. It has a lovely beach on a small country lake created…read moreby the US Army Corp of Engineers for flood control. There's plenty of picnic areas with bathroom facilities, a large field for baseball or other group sports & a small boat launch for canoes & kayaks. They do have a few covered sites but you must reserve them in advance on line. This is a federally run park, NOT a State Park. Pack it in & pack it out. It's a nice clean park, help keep it that way. NO PETS Memorial Day - Labor Day weekend only

Anytime of the year is perfect for the rewarding view. Maybe a little tough during snow and mud…read moreseason, but still doable. Table Rock faces the Bellows Falls are from New Hampshire, just across the Connecticut River. We're in our 60s and needed to stop a few times on the way up, but it was never too steep or treacherous, just a long steady hike. You want bring good hiking shoes with serious treads. No fees. Dogs allowed.

Phenomenal trail!! Definitely in my top 5 fave hikes - especially for the fall colors (my visit was…read morein early October)!! And it's a killer workout too! The view from the top is breathtaking- but not for the faint of heart - I have a fear of heights and it took me a while to work up the nerve to go sit on the edge lol! AllTrails has this trail labeled as "moderate" - but it was insanely muddy and very wet when I hiked it - took me ages and totally wore me out - so in those conditions I'd call it moderate-hard. And also with the rock scrambling at the top - it can be quite difficult. Very steep and especially narrow at the top - can be dangerous if you're not careful. I did a total of 2 miles round trip - it's an out and back trail. In those 2 miles, my tracker showed an 800 foot elevation gain so it's definitely a butt burner. And along the trail there are numerous areas of rock scrambling (some are very steep) and stream crossings during the wet season - get ready to be covered in mud lol! You will definitely need decent hiking shoes - and poles would've been so helpful I think! There were quite a few other hikers around. The trails are very well marked with colorful tree badges - but in some spots between the markers, I needed my trail map bc the ground was covered in leaves and mud and it wasn't as obvious. Once you get to the top of Table Rock, the stunning view will absolutely take your breath away! It's a sweeping vista of the entire forest area with the lake and resort below to the left and the long stretch of road through the park to the right - perfect for taking in all the colorful autumn splendor!! The top is a long, very narrow and flat tableau. It seems pretty stable - but has extremely steep (and deadly!) drop offs either side and no safety rails or fencing or anything so be aware. Drones aren't allowed in the park (according to the State Park website) but someone was flying one and buzzing us closely at the top which made it very distracting and scary unfortunately. Dogs are allowed - there were many on the trail and at the top. Parking is a small dirt lot pull out on the side of the road at the trailhead - Google maps took me right to it (just put in Table Rock Trailhead). It's located in Dixville Notch State Park (you can see my review of that for more detailed info). The park doesn't have bathrooms that I could find. And I think it's free. I didn't see any fee areas and their website doesn't list it as a fee area.

The summit of Pack Monadnock Mountain, Peterborough NH, is 1000-feet lower altitude than the Grand…read moreMonadnock Mountain to the west, but smaller isn't small. You'll feel how in-shape you are or aren't for hiking :-) We hiked the rustically beautiful well-maintained Marion Davis trail up from NH-101 Wilton Rd to the 2290 ft peak in about 90 minutes, then returned the easier way down Miller State Park Road in about half that time. There were rocky outcroppings and not-yet-greening (Apr 2026) grey-brown hardwood forests. Nearer the summit, there were spruce. At the top, we talked with friendly helpful rangers, (used the restrooms), and climbed the Fire Tower. We could see the taller Grand Monadnock Mountain to the west, and we could see wide open vistas, from the summit, and from halfway down Miller Rd. where the power lines cross the road. The cost was $4 per adult, $2 for kids, and free for seniors. If there's no ranger at the Miller State Park entrance, you can pay "the Iron Ranger" (the metal drop-box :-). I think there's a small souvenir shop at the summit, but we didn't check it out. And you can drive up and park at the summit when you're not up for the hike. By the way, we guessed that "Pack" meant "small". Apparently "Monadnock" is the name the Abenacki gave it as a "stand-alone" remnant of an ancient mountain range.

It is a mountain not a restaurant. Amazing views from the raptor sanctuary and you can see Boston…read moreon a clear day

Nice spot for beginners that want to hike a trail/mountain. It's a very very short journey. Also,…read moreif you want to cool down and take a dip afterwards, there are several points along the falls. Unfortunately, during the pandemic, everyone is looking to go here and it's unusually packed. And to no one's surprise, they will squeeze in and ignore social distancing. Otherwise, it's a nice dip that I'll occasionally come to because of the 2 hr drive.

This is a hike worth driving out to. It's a manicured easy trail to the falls. It's a series of 3…read morewaterfalls found across the street from the small parking area. There is also a summit and rock climbing. Pony mountain. Note: You should stop by the close by Williamsburg General Store for the scratch made fresh baked pastry.

cool waterfall with path to checkout! not any crazy cool spot to hop in and swim super safely imo…read more would def recommend stopping by at some point!

Very GORGEous falls!! Great light hike, not too difficult but great views. Even after the flooding…read morein early July, the trails stayed in very good conditions and were barely affected.

I grew up in the area and some how only went here for this first time this week in my late 30s…read more I have missed out. The gorge is easy to get to, as it's right off the highway and the parking is paved. You walk past the tree-line and the pay off is pretty immediate. There is a .7 mile hike down to the bottom and back up. The bridges are well maintained and the trail is labeled, though it would be hard to get lost as you are more or less following the river. It's gorgeous. The rush of the waterfalls is thrilling. And it's an easy hike for anyone with normal mobility. The trails are not flat, so this would not be a great place for someone who is not steady on their feet. Once you've seen the nature - they also have a visitors center, but it was not open when I was there. I peeped inside and they have beverages and ice cream and sweaters. There might be flush toilets in the building? There is also a composting toilet in a separate building.

It's just a very serene and pretty place to spend a few hours. Loved the walkable covered bridge!read more

Lake Potanipo (sometimes called Potanipo Pond) is a highlight of the small town of Brookline. The…read morebeach has been cleaned up considerably, and it's open (albeit in a limited way) to the general public. It has a small, charming lighthouse along with a public beach. It's picturesque. A great little place for hikes&leisurely walks. Lake Potanipo is an understated place. Its waters eventually lead to the Gulf of Maine. Not bad for a little quiet country lake.