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    Polar Caves Park

    4.3 (66 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

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    Having fun in the caves.
    Bridget P.

    Fun place to visit. We took our 3-year old grandson and everyone had fun. I will be back

    Matt S.

    This is such a fun place to visit in NH. How many people can say they've been climbing through caves? The have a little farm section for animals too. Yes, you can buy food to feed them. The shop there is big and offer some creative knickknacks. Takes about an hour to get through all the caves. They have hard sections and easy sections if they're too difficult. A lot of stairs and climbing so don't go on a lazy day. Very humid inside the caves. Also, can be slippery inside the caves. From what I saw, little kids love going through the caves and feeding the goats. Totally recommend. They have military discount (Hooahh!).

    Lauren L.

    Really had an awesome experience here! Lots of things to do before actually going into the caves too,--deer feeding, splicing, sand pit and rock garden to get you comfy with the boulders. But once we got into the cave experience... wow! it was awesome! I love how each cave had the option to bypass going inside so that everyone in the party could participate. Some caves were SUPER challenging, but I was able to go through them all except the lemon crush. My little one loved everything about the experience. There were no staff on site though should there be an emergency but overall an outstanding experience. There was also a nice hiking trail afterwards. The store had some cute souvenirs with a few snacks and drinks to buy. I'd definitely try this again the next time we're in NH! Tip--- if you have head lights, bring them! Most of the caves are well lit, but it probably would be fun to see them more clearly. They sell child helmets with lights in the gift shop as well.

    Road signage
    Paul M.

    A great NH activity for anyone, of any age. The boulders forming Polar Caves are granite, including the largest glacially deposited granite boulder, estimated to weigh in at some 50 million pounds! The paths here are mainly well maintained wooden pathways. Footing in the caves is on boulders and natural rocks, including some metal stairways and wooden hand rails to aid in navigating your way. Lighting has been added to some of the longer, deeper caves, which helps with finding your way and aids in getting some great photos. The Gift shop is large and contains a number of well maintained bathrooms. A picnic area exists, so pack a lunch and water as the ups and downs of navigating the cave course will get you thirsty. We attended on a rainy day and all caves were open, but care was needed as boulders and wooden pathways were somewhat slippery when wet, but a great activity for a rainy day as the caves sheltered us from the rain. Our group was aged 6 - 75 years old and everyone had an enjoyable time. Well maintained paths, facilities and extremely friendly, informative staff. We all made it through the "lemon squeezer", except for a female (aged 75, who had no interest in trying). Give it a try while in NH, you'll love it!!

    Walkways
    Kate C.

    Great experience for us and our 12/13 year old daughters, they loved going into every challenging cave, we loved the walkways and views. Definitely worth the price of admission, you can choose to repeat and go back through which two families we encountered were doing. The gift shop is great, we didn't try the restaurant but it looked lovely, the deer and pheasants are in clean enclosures and seem happy. My kids really liked it which was our goal and is always hit or miss with teenagers.

    There are cool signs throughout the caves, worth the time to really explore the cave.
    Nicole S.

    This was a great park and we all enjoyed the experience. The animal park was a nice surprise and my boys loved feeding the deer and ducks. The hikes were challenging but not impossible. The rock garden and nature trail were beautiful and the caves were amazing. We all had so much fun making our way through the different caves. We had a perfect day for it and the caves provided a nice cool down and we walked through. Some of them were very challenging and slippery but worth it. One of our most favorite trips of the week.

    Caves are built into this rock face. (Maybe 100 feet tall?)
    Brad G.

    My family (young kids) have been to the caves at the top of Loon and Lost River and they were great - but Polar Caves takes the top position. These caves are amazing. Some go deep underground (one I believe went about 35 feet down). They seen to twist and turn and have passages that go up and down. These passages were tight, though I am a "big guy" (that's a nice term for "fatso") I had no problem getting though everything (except maybe the "lemon squeezer" which I didn't try, though my kids said I could have made it). Unlike some of the other places however, where you need to often crawl on your hands and knees (or sometimes your stomach) - or climb over rocks to get out - the worst that you had to do here was duck in low-overhead places, climb ladders, ascend/descend rock/wooden stairs. The caves themselves were amazing - there were several underground "large" chambers. Many of the caves had lights in them and we're amply eliminated. The man-made stairs, boardwalks and ladders mad for an easy time - even for the mildly closterphobic. It's a bit if a workout for the out-of-shape - but that is more actually walking the boardwalks up to the caves - than the caves themselves. Also - the caves can be cold! There can be snow and ice in them even in August! It's about a 45 minute trek through the 9(?) caves. You can spend a bit more time seeing some of the animals, rock garden, nature trails, gift shop and picnic area. Definitely a must-do for your White Mountains bucket list!

    Lara S.

    Absolutely incredible experience 7 out of 8 caves were open! 1 was closed to to ice! I am not an experienced hiker by any means and have never done this before! My 2 year old daughter and mother made it trough 5 caves, my brother 6 and I accomplished 7 including the Orange Crush!!!! Raven point was incredible the views were amazing and experience was more than I can ask for !!!!

    The profile of the heads of 3 different dogs (St. Bernard, Pointer & Pekingese) are in the rocks.

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    Really great place to check out even if you aren't a kid. We took my niece and nephew there, but I also had a great time.

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    2 years ago

    We didn't realize that it wasn't a cave. Just spaces between granite boulders. We walked around a bit and left.

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    6 years ago

    A superb location for a day trip. The staff was friendly and the park was wonderful. Highly recommended for teens and adults.

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    4 years ago

    highly recommend checking this out!!! amazing vibes & scenery. sometimes there's peacocks & other animals. fun to go when least busy.

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    7 years ago

    Was a lot of fun a lot of walking and Mother Nature is great so peaceful listening the the water

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    7 years ago

    Beautiful walk. Some of the caves can be a pretty tight fit.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Polar Caves Park

    Review Highlights - Polar Caves Park

    You can spend a bit more time seeing some of the animals, rock garden, nature trails, gift shop and picnic area.

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    Quincy Bog Natural Area

    Quincy Bog Natural Area

    5.0(9 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    Found this gem by chance…read more Super friendly volunteer at the nature center. Nature center was fairly accessible l-short walk along a moderately decline. Very interactive at the trail board. Internet was spotty on the trail so I was glad I picked up a paper wildflowers guide. Folks along the trail were pleasant--lots of locals and out of state visitors. Saw casual family walkers from NY, hardcore borders complete with gear and binoculars and regular empty nesters/townies doing the loop with ease. Great trail markings and they even label the plants--and not just the trees!! Love love love that! The trail itself is definitely a more challenging "easy" trail. Winding along the "bog", most parts are raised with rough cut planks. Some parts were sturdier. Others were experiencing the watery effects. It was an old school experience. During the wetter season, I imagine this to be a fowl paradise while being a mud -fest for all two legged beings. In the darker months, leave enough time to make it around the pond without losing daylight. The unsure footing and dense trees Dogs and puppers must be on leash now. Completely understandable as the trail is mostly one-person wide. A jumpy pup could easily send you into the mucky bracken. If you want to go off leash hiking, try Quincy Forest Pasture a short drive up the mountainside.

    Great nature walk. A good hour/hour and a half at a normal pace. Wear suitable shoes! End of…read moreSeptember/early October is the time to go.

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    Quincy Bog Natural Area
    Quincy Bog Natural Area
    Quincy Bog Natural Area

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    Sculptured Rocks Natural Area

    Sculptured Rocks Natural Area

    4.0(1 review)
    6.5 mi

    New Hampshire is full of wonderful natural surprises. For a state of small geographic size, it has…read morean immense variety of geography and related attractions. Coastline, beaches, lakes, mountains and rivers. And one of them is Sculptured Rocks Natural Area. This beautiful, out of the way location is a State Park that spans 272 acres, is of glacier origin and was formed by the action the Cockermouth River, which carved a narrow canyon on the granite bedrock on its way to Newfound Lake. The grains of sand suspended in the river current, carved the walls of the canyon throughout the years, creating a multitude of shapes, potholes and other rock formations. The lore has it billed as the "Grand Canyon of New Hampshire which is a stretch. But it is worth visiting. The lower part of the park is the most nature-intensive and features a bridge with amazing views. The upper part of the park is shallows and you can relax, cool off, allow your pup to be in the water and enjoy the scene. Getting here is a beautiful drive through forests and lakeside cabins. Then you go to the parking lot, cross the highway and things get nicer. You can do several nice hikes through the woods and up the river canyon, admiring what nature has carved. Yes, bring your pet but they must be on a leash because a) it's the park regulations and b) your dog can get seriously hurt if he/she wonders off and falls in the ravine. If you like to do yoga or meditation, it is indeed an amazing place early, before the folks show up. The sound of the falling water is about the most soothing sound ever.

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    Sculptured Rocks Natural Area
    Sculptured Rocks Natural Area
    Sculptured Rocks Natural Area

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    Wild River Campground

    Wild River Campground

    4.0(1 review)
    6.1 mi

    My favorite campground in New Hampshire! This is the place to get away from RVs and trailers and…read moreloud noises. OK there are a few spots for groups and you could probably get an RV and trailer up there, but I have yet to see it. The campsites here all have the basics for tent camping: picnic table, fire pit/grill, peace and quiet. Most of the sites are spaced far apart so that you don't turn your head and make eye contact with a neighbor. Some of them are almost completely isolated, and a few have lean-tos (you're near the Appalachian Trail after all). The fire pits are kind of annoying though, they're basically three-sided iron boxes with sliding grates on top. You'll stay warm and can easily cook on them, but not everyone is going to have a great view of the fire. There is garbage on site, pit toilets, potable water, and lots of hiking nearby. In fact, the hiking is probably one of the biggest draws. You could get a spot here and then hike to one of the other campgrounds in the national forest (those are obviously hike-in only), or just spend a few hours in the forest. We saw lots of moose droppings, but no moose. Maybe your luck will be better than mine. The river is nearby and there are several parks and access points to get to it. I saw quite a few people fly fishing last time I was here. You've got to drive to Maine to get here, and then head about 5 miles along a dirt road to cross back into NH. Stock up in nearby Gorham and bring plenty of firewood. You'll want to stay at least two nights, and you'll definitely want to come back.

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    Wild River Campground
    Wild River Campground
    Wild River Campground

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    West Ridge Trail - Cardigan Mountain State Park

    West Ridge Trail - Cardigan Mountain State Park

    5.0(1 review)
    12.3 mi

    This trail to one of the southernmost above-tree line peaks in New England is a dream of a hike…read more For starters, it is a nice length, not too long, not too short. Using the AllTrails app, I logged 2.7 miles out and back. Then, there is the gradient. It seems to be almost a constant gradual gradient from top to bottom, providing for a manageable ascent that can be done by people with very differing physical conditioning. And lastly, the last 300 feet are completely above tree line, providing for some of the most majestic views in New England, from the New Hampshire White Mountains to the north to the entire Green Mountain Range to the west, all the way down to the Berkshires in Massachusetts. Along with spectacular views of the lake Winnepesaukee and Squam Lake to the east. Planning to hike the west ridge trail, one must consider the fact that Mount Cardigan State Park does not require reservations. As a result, this trail can be absolutely packed with people, most of whom comply with COVID-19 guidance, but there are a few Irresponsible individuals who feel that any modicum of concern for the fellow human beings by wearing a mask when social distancing isn't possible, is an obstacle to their happiness. Beware. Another item to consider is proper footwear. Once near the top, the surface is solid, slippery basalt rock. On a wet day, this could mean a disaster for an individual with the improper footwear. Cardigan Mountain is perhaps one of the best places in New Hampshire to admire the foliage season.

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    West Ridge Trail - Cardigan Mountain State Park
    West Ridge Trail - Cardigan Mountain State Park - At the ridge top area.

    At the ridge top area.

    West Ridge Trail - Cardigan Mountain State Park

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    Bald Knob - View of Lake Winni from near the top!

    Bald Knob

    4.3(4 reviews)
    24.4 mi

    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.

    Photos
    Bald Knob - Cute little Eastern ribbon snake sunning itself.

    Cute little Eastern ribbon snake sunning itself.

    Bald Knob - Solomon's Plume

    Solomon's Plume

    Bald Knob - Sign at the trailhead.

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    Sign at the trailhead.

    Polar Caves Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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