What a beautiful and serene spot!…read more Echo Lake is approximately 15.7 acres. Two granite ledges called White Horse and Cathedral Ledge surround it. We went later in the afternoon so parking was ample. A short walk leads you to the picnic area and lake. It's about a 1 mile hike around the lake. The water was clear and cold. There were lots of mosquitoes at that hour. We enjoyed seeing the tadpoles in the water. My family enjoyed our time there and can't wait to go back to this picturesque spot!

m a local to the state of NH about 1.5hr drive from this beautiful place…read moreWill recommend Will return Check the bacteria site before heading up to make sure its swim able I have state park plates so I went to New Hampshire State Parks website and made a reservation for this particular day in Wood State Park plates you pay one dollar which is your processing fee Without state Park plates, the entry fee is eight dollars per car I recommend making reservations on the website rather than just rolling up in person. They do have a large parking lot, but it seems to fill very quickly. The beach is very family oriented. You can rent canoes. You can rent kayaks. You can rent paddle boats. The fees are very reasonable. They have tubes. You can also purchase for a small fee of six dollars. The beach was not overcrowded. They have many hiking trails and areas around that area as well. They have charcoal grills that you can use up off the beach with some grassy area that you could also camp at. There is also a bathhouse there that's open as well as a small store There are no lifeguards it's a swim at your own risk Very very clean

This was sooo much fun! We spent almost 2 hours here and loved reading the educational facts along…read morethe boardwalk and exploring the caves! There were so many beautiful areas along the boardwalk. The lemon squeezer and dungeon were the most difficult but also the most fun! We got a bit muddy and wet but that's all part of the adventure! We also loved the huge birds nest at the end and got a huge laugh out of pretending to be baby birds. I would definitely come back here again!

I didn't expect to like this place as much as I did. It ended up being the best day-trip of our…read morevacation. Caves are rated a,b or c based on difficulty. I stayed away from the a's but there was still plenty for me to explore. The kids had permanent smiles and want to go back next year. Beautifully maintained. Highly recommend.

Great trail, especially since it was early May and the park wasn't fully open yet, so this felt…read morelike the best option. Very kid friendly and also had handicap accessible viewing areas. It wasn't mind-blowing, but it was a fun little adventure and really enjoyable for what it was.

Nice place to walk. Opens at 9. Get there early before all the other tourists come and then it…read moregets crowded.

Kirkwood Gardens and the Holderness Inn were a gem of a surprise on our recent visit to the Squam…read moreLakes Science Center. With free admission, the garden offers a beautifully landscaped and historic place to relax and enjoy the outdoors. It would be a great place to have a picnic. They host local artist exhibits throughout the summer, and offer wedding packages. Inside the Holderness Inn there is the Kirkwood Café and the Squam Lake Artisans Gift Shop. The cafe is small and cute with premade sandwich offerings as well as ice cream and cold drinks and coffee. The large Gift Shop has many high-end gifts from local artists. Also, clean, modern bathrooms are located by the barn. There's a small parking lot. If you are visiting the Science Center, the grounds are directly accessible through a gate along the trail, and makes a great little 'side tour.'

This place was just beautiful. You can visit it on its own or when you go through Squam Lake…read moreScience Center. Either way if you're info flowers you could stay here quite a while soaking up all there beauty. There is a little gift shop to buy snacks & drinks and outdoor seating for you to relax and take it all in!

Lower Falls can be found in the White Mountains, on the Kancamagus Highway. It's a waterfall going…read moreover granite slabs and part of the Swift River. It's easy to get to from the parking lot, not a long hike at all. It's a beautiful spot to relax, swim, and soak. There are picnic areas nearby. My family and I went late May. It was beautiful but the black flies were rampant and attacking us. We still enjoyed it and can't wait to go again a different time of year. It's definitely worth a stop!

In the summer months, you can splash in the shallow pools or sunbathe on the rocks at this scenic…read morespot. it is a very popular stop on the Kancamagus Highway. spot can be crowded on a given day so be early if possible. there are so many cascades and pools to swim and splash in that make this place special. With simple and easy access, you can understand why this waterfall may be the most heavily visited in New England. There is a small waterfall and people swim in the river here during the summer months. You will also find a picnic area with a few BBQ grills and bathrooms

This is a fantastic public campground ($25/nt) and beach ($5/day). The water at the lake is clean,…read morewarm (in the summer), and the beach is well cared for. There are watercraft available for rental ($20/hr). The campground is professionally managed with DNCR staff ready to help. Firewood is sold on site (no outside firewood permitted) at $7/bundle. The patrons for the most part are kind and respectful (sadly, not all). Reserve online and come and enjoy this gem!

Be warned!! My family has been coming here for 60 years with no problems until last night. The…read moreranger came and said we were breaking the rules and had too many cars. We offered to move the cars in the morning and he said fine. 8am the next morning Jeremy the ranger shows up with the police and says we have to leave or we will be arrested for trespassing. This is absolutely insane and heartbreaking. My grandmother was crying. I don't understand how they can treat people like this for no reason. Read the other reviews and see that this is clearly a pattern and not a good place to stay anymore. We are heartbroken and not to mention out of hundreds of dollars we will never get back.

Me entire family went hiking together and it was beautiful!! The views, the climb, the weather,…read moreeverything. It was never overly crowded, so we were able to make quick stops along the hike for a snack or to take pics or even just stop to take in the view without feeling like a disturbance to anyone trying to pass. Hiking around Flume Gorge was also pretty lengthy which made for a camera roll loaded with pictures and a tired Sophie by the end of it. :) Such a fun place to check out. W the amazing views and variety of different elevations on this hike! Highly recommend!

Happy Earth Day again. You thought I was finished? HA!…read more Words fail to describe my love of Franconia. I am a Dartmouth alum - not one of the rich ones lmao so I did not have a car at college. If I did tho, you couldn't have pulled me away from the beauty of the White Mountains. I am however one of the old alums so I remember when there used to be an Old Man of the Mountain before his nose fell off lol. Anyways, this place has my entire heart and I only share it with people I trust. I took my friend here for a weekend getaway of rustic camping and hiking last April and I can safely say she also fell in love. We ran up and down I-93, I showed her the remnants of the Old Man, we stopped by the lake (lord it was cold), then we went to the Basin - beautiful in ALL seasons - and hiked a trail on-site. God I love Franconia so much. If you haven't gotten the chance to visit please make it a priority. It's stunning in all seasons! Things to know: -you can access The Basin from either side of 93. If on the far side you just need to cross under the overpass. -The Basin is paved. There are some stairs to get a closer look but it is largely accessible to view. -Still snow in some sections in late April - you're ok without spikes imo -parking was still free as of last year

This place was truly amazing! We visited during the second week of June, so there were no large…read morecrowds, and the weather was very comfortable. The ladies at the admission booth were friendly, welcoming, and helpful in directing us where to go. Be prepared for the walk of a lifetime! There are some steep hills and plenty of uphill and downhill sections, but the breathtaking views make every step worth it. The scenery is simply spectacular. A few tips for visitors: wear comfortable hiking or walking shoes, bring plenty of water, strollers are not recommended, a rain jacket isn't really necessary; you'll only encounter a little mist when passing by the large cascade, if you're traveling with toddlers, a good hiking backpack carrier is highly recommended, bring a handheld or neck fan because you'll definitely work up a sweat, don't forget sunscreen and bug spray. Take your time, enjoy the incredible natural beauty, and soak in the experience. This is a place I would absolutely recommend to anyone visiting the area!

It's weird to pay this much to see nature, and that's why it's a 4 star review. It's a state park,…read morebut for a family of 4 we paid $71 to go on a hike. (The advance ticket price for 3 adults/1 child) I get that the flume itself has many steps that must be maintained, but still.... The flume is a 100000/10 stars, and I'm not upset I spent the money. A lot of uphill, so plan to take your time if you aren't used to that.

Not bad... Convenience store nearby and several beaches and a park in the village. Nice views too.read more

Greatest place on Earth. My family owned a house there for a little while, and I've made some of…read moremy best memories there. Kayaking, paddle boarding, canoeing, and (my favorite), rowing are all allowed on the pond during the summer, but no motor boats are allowed, which makes the ponds safer for swimming. During the winter you can even go ice skating, which was one of my favorite things to do! The people who rent houses there can be really loud and annoying on the small pond, Little Pea Porridge Pond, but eventually their noises become a dull roar which gets easier to ignore in time. The houses are beautiful, there are gorgeous views, dirt roads through the mountains for exploring, a park with a little stream running by it, and it's a pretty safe area as far as I know. It's close to a convenience store and the Madison Boulder, and it doesn't take too terribly long to get back to Route 16.