JULY 2026. Get here as early as possible or else you will be…read morewaiting behind Families and Screaming children taking their time in the caves. The newly added deer are adorable.

Be ready for lots of stairs and tight spaces! Magnificent views all around. Bring quarters to…read moreput in the view finders when you get to the top. If you're heavy set like me (I'm a 2X sized woman now) it'll be challenging. I still found it very enjoyable to be outdoors and taking in the views between caves.

Nice walking trails rewarded by a great view at the top. Parking is confusing and not well…read moremaintained

I made the trip out to Cardigan State Park a few weekends ago after spending some time researching…read moregood mountain hikes and vetoing climbing Mount Monadnock for the umpteenth time. Mt. Cardigan and the area around it are beautiful. It's a short, steep climb to the top -- we'd read that it'd take a couple hours but we were up in less than one at a moderate pace. The way down was a bit slower, actually, as we were trying to be careful and not fall down. Beautiful views of the whole area and much less crowded than Monadnock. I'd highly recommend it as a day adventure to get out of the city. The trail map also said there was a cave ("Grotto Cave" on the map) near the summit, but my group of five spent a while searching for it while consulting the map with no success. So: - Great climb - Great views - Possible secret cave What's not to like? As a final note - and I know this'll destroy my outdoorsy credibility - but the roads coming up here are great. Twisty, windy roads that are great to push your car on. Thought I should mention it.

Wow! Super easy hike with great waterfall at the end! Pretty well marked with yellow trail markers…read moreon trees in most spots, not so well here and there but you'll find your way back to the trail Lol. It's a really nice hike, says 0.6 miles but I measured it on the way back. About 1.75 miles each way. Some uneven ground but not hilly, no steep or dangerous hills at all! Very dog and kid friendly. Only a few parking spaces but there is no restriction noted for on street parking.

the parking here is kinda iffy -- if coming from a certain direction it's a dirt road. the…read morewaterfall is all frozen in the winter and it's pretty busy too. would recommend more for warmer weather times.

Beautiful beach with lots of area for picnics. The view of the mountains off the lake is breath…read moretaking! Unfortunately, today the water was full of pollen so we didn't get in the water. The one downside that made us pack up and leave, was within 10 minutes of putting our blanket in the sand, we found 5 ticks! Obviously this is something out of the parks control, but definitely something to be aware of if u go, especially with small children like myself.

What can I say... At…read morefirst I was afraid, I was petrified, kept thinking I could never live with all that water underneath me and by my side... BUT THEN... I got on that boat, (no life jacket either!!), and then jumped into the water in the middle of the lake after being egged on by friends and lo and behold... I REALLY COULD STAND IN THE WATER!! Are you kidding me? I am in the middle of the lake and the water is only up to my chest, this is AMAZING, can I stay in here all day? I love water but am afraid of getting on boats, and much less JUMPING in the water...but this lake was amazing! Did I also mention that another it met my other large body of water criteria?? You could actually see down to the bottom of the lake where we were standing...um hmm...that's right...so clear, but of course it is! It's one of the 10 cleanest natural lakes in the WHOLE world! Imagine that, in tiny New Hampshire to boot! All this beauty surrounded by large trees, and cute lake houses. Even the islands in the lake looked like mini forests! P.S. Hate to harp on about how shallow some parts of the lake were, but I will because it was pretty amazing to see people standing in the water and playing catch in the middle of the lake, or a man pulling a nice sized boat with his fam on it with the water only up to his waist...it was practically like seeing Jesus walking on water or something!! I had to rub my eyes to make sure I wasn't making this up!!. I've never seen anything like it!!

Serious Concerns About Emergency Signage and Safety I…read morevisited the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center on August 2, 2026, with my 9-year-old daughter. This was our first visit, and before entering I asked the staff if there was anything we needed to know. I was simply told, "Just enter and follow the signs." About halfway through our visit, we stopped at the Gordon Interactive Playscape: A Predator-Prey Adventure. After about 15 minutes, I looked around and suddenly couldn't find my daughter. I immediately began searching the indoor play area and calling her name. No answer. I went from one section to another, becoming increasingly desperate. Then I started looking for an exit sign so I could figure out how to get out and find help. I couldn't find one. When you're looking for your child and don't know where they are, every minute feels like an eternity. After approximately 10 minutes of searching, I finally found my daughter. What a relief! At that point, I decided to leave. On my way back, I started paying attention to the exit signage and counted only one clearly marked exit sign. At the gift shop, I explained my experience to a staff member and asked how many exit signs there were throughout the park. She told me there were two. I asked, "Do you believe that's enough, given the size of the park?" There was no response. My concern isn't about blaming an individual employee. It's about emergency preparedness. If a parent is desperately trying to locate a child during an emergency--or if another emergency requires visitors to leave quickly--people should be able to immediately identify where the exits and escape routes are. Clear, highly visible emergency signage is not a luxury. It is indispensable, vital, and essential. I strongly encourage the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center to revisit its emergency escape routes, exit signage, and wayfinding system. I hope the center takes this feedback seriously and makes improvements before another family finds itself in a frightening situation like the one I experienced. Thank you for your time. Eds Santiago

Had a great time! So many interactive exhibits for kids & adults. Everything was extremely thought…read moreout and fun. There are several areas for the kids to run around and burn off energy. This thoughtful combination of learning and fun gives families & kids a nice time. I appreciated the information on how the animals ended up at science center. The animals are clearly well cared for and the habitats were clean. Also, the staff listed what was the enrichment of the day was for the animals. This added touch was informative and shows care for their animals. I highly recommend this science center for all ages. It was a delightful time well spent.

A lovely park located right along Meredith Bay. It spans across Route 25 and Pleasant St. It's…read morelocated right around the corner from Hesky Park. Park benches along the water and beautiful views of the water. In this park you can find many of the sculptures that are part of the Meredith Sculpture Walk. Recommend checking this park out.

Awesome Hike!! We've done in the spring and winter. In the spring there are rocks and roots and…read moresome high stepping as you move up the trail. There are a few brook crossings and a bridge or two. The trail is steep, so do not be fooled. It's right up hill, as us new englanders never thought switchbacks were a good ideas. Bring a good amount of water, and some summit snacks for a perfect day of hiking. In the winter time it's a different story. You should really be as prepared as you can be, hiking in the notch always, but especially in the winter. The snow creates hardened trail, that sits above the roots and rocks, so there is much less high stepping through out the hike. Still super slick, and steep, so I would suggest micro spikes or crampons. Carry the ten essentials, always, no matter how small or short or easy you think your hike will be. Doesn't hurt to also carry and buy yearly, a hike safe card, that supports search and rescue and could save you a big fee in the event of needing rescue. Plus it's only $25 dollars for the whole year. Do it! It's worth it. No matter what season you do your hike in, the last several yards, coming out of the woods and seeing the vista of the notch in front of you... it's just so beautiful. This is a great trail, any time !

Not for the faint of heart. Worth the view during fall foliage. Two mile hike from trailhead each…read moreway. Skip Flume Gorge and do this instead.

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.