I have hiked A LOT of mountains in New England but I had never hiked the mountain it seemed like…read moreeveryone I knew had hiked. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to change that and now I can see what all the hubbub is about. What a great mountain with fantastic views. After doing a bit of homework, I realized it was in my best interest to make a park reservation so that I could secure a parking space for the day at the start of the trailheads I was eyeing for the next day. As one of the most hiked mountains (in the world?), this park reports hosting a massive number of visitors each year and from first hand experience, I can attest that it is a busy one. The $15 was worth the peace of mind and my ability to pull right in and hop onto the trail. I had a hard time locating their "opening hours" but I arrived shortly after 8am with about 20 cars there ahead of me. I really appreciated the park ranger that checked me in for my reservation at the Poole Road entrance. Incredibly welcoming, inquisitive about plans, quick to offer advice for the best experience, and even shared a weather update (30 mph+ winds at the summit that day) before I was on my way. Supplied with a paper map and an idea which trails would be least busy and most scenic, I felt well-prepared for an enjoyable morning on the mountain. I opted to start out on the White Dot Trail. For less crowds, I branched off to the Cascade Link, then hooked a left onto the Red Spot Trail which delivered me to the summit. Gaining elevation at a slow and steady pace, I found the whole climb quite enjoyable. I rejoined the crowd at the summit but still with plenty of room for photos of the scenery and some quiet time to enjoy a snack. Wide open, bald summit with views for days. I would have stayed longer if not for the strong winds. After nestling in between the rocks away from the air currents to enjoy a brief snack, I was on my way down the mountain via the White Cross Trail. There were even glimpses of Boston in the distance! Each trail was clearly marked by it namesake (literally white dots, red dots, and white crosses) which made wayfinding a breeze. That said, I still came across a party or two that had gotten turned around. Do your homework, connect to a trail app if you have the means, practice your map reading skills, and heed the recommendations of the rangers and you should have the basic tools you need to keep you on track and still smiling. So many trails and options that can keep you coming back for more. The visitor center at this entrance was a welcome amenity, restrooms, and all. I cannot comment on the park store because it was closed for lunch when I was finishing up. All in all I got in just under 5 miles using the route that I did. Beautiful peak, beautiful day. Highly recommend.

Great day hike and not for those with weak ankles! Took the white dot trail up and used the white…read morecross trail to come down. Forgot the bug spray which would have kept the critters at bay with much of the trail having slow or puddled water. Parking wasn't too crowded, $15 for access to park. Snack and gift shop in the lot and the headquarters building just up the trail. Great restroom facility to use prior to starting the hike as well. Very rocky terrain all the way up, clearly marked with white dots (crosses as well for the return). Enjoyed the fact there were multiple volunteer guides hiking or positioned at locations (one steady at fork for dot/cross) if needed. Had low reception all through the hike for emergencies as well. Beautiful views towards the top and of course 360 once on the summit. Definitely worth the time spent. Pack in pack out, bring water and snacks along with the spray (both bug and sun)! Enjoyed a quick snack on the top with the views and a quick tsp of the marker before heading back down. Time to get up to the peak, what are you waiting for?!

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.