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!

Stumbled across Lost River when planning a trip to NH to see the fall foliage. I absolutely love…read morethe Flume Gorge trail & this one wasnt too far away. I had heard there were gorges & caves to explore different from other trails nearby along with beautiful pines and waterfalls. It exceeded all my expectations! It says this is a 1 mile loop hike but be prepared- I walk a 5k daily & this trail kicked my butt in a good way. It was moderately challenging- I went in the rain so it was a bit cooler too. The best advice I could offer is to take a backpack with snacks, another jacket just in case (although i layered up), pack rain pants to help keep me warm in the rain, and shoes with good traction. And plenty of water. Beanies may also be a good option to keep your head warm from the cold. And a portable battery. Also, if you haven't traveled with a car like me..then the Shuttle Connection is a life saver to travel in town. Way cheaper than Uber and fairly quick to transport you wherever you want to go. Also for travelers go back and forth to other states travel by bus is the perfect and most affordable way to travel. This trail offered amazing views, great photo ops, and plenty of additional trails to explore. They also make sure to keep everything maintained and safe for hikers exploring. Everything is well labeled and easy to follow. They do say and I can attest- travelers who have difficulty walking or have walkers etc..this may not be an ideal trail. Also, for younger children this may not be an kdela hike because of how extensive the elevation is. You are climbing a mountain and waterfall elevation. Make sure to look up details on their trail before you plan a trip. But well worth the hike :)

Such a great spot to bring the family for some outdoor fun! There are multiple basketball courts, a…read morepool that is open to the public and also offers swim lessons, and an awesome playground! There is a walking trail behind all of this that looks like it may be stroller friendly- we haven't ventured to it yet. No bathroom at the playground or basketball court but the pool should have one. Not sure if you can use it when the pool isn't open.

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.

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

Nice little beach at the south end of Newfound Lake…read more This beach is maybe 500 yards long, and anywhere from 2 to 20 feet wide. It's got nice white sand, especially for a fresh water lake. There are parallel parking spots along the left side of (one way) Shore Drive. No bathrooms or lifeguard, but it's free - unlike the state park at the north end. There is one decent restaurant across the street, named The Big Catch, and they do have bathrooms. The water is crystal clear, as Newfound is one of the ten cleanest bodies of fresh water in the world. And you can't beat the views of the mountains.

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.

Worth the drive! Especially in the fall the leaves are amazing. Lots of places to hike and cool…read moreviews. It's an amazing drive through the Kancamagus highway as well!

This is the most eastern national forest in the US. I really enjoyed hiking the trails of this…read morelovely national forest. Trails are of various difficulty which was perfect since during the time of my visit, I was nursing a sprained ankle. Looking forward to my next visit!

Parking instructions here were very unclear. What we initially believed were parking spaces turned…read moreout to be a line of cars waiting to park, with no visible signage where we entered. When we noticed an opening, we asked nearby drivers if we could squeeze in, and they had no issue with it. As we were parking, an employee approached us in a very aggressive and unprofessional manner and told us we could not park there. We apologized and explained that we were not from the area and had not seen any signs. We were told that the rule was "well known to locals" and that a sign existed at the front of the line--more than 25 cars ahead, making it impossible for us to see. Despite the surrounding drivers having no objection, the employee demanded we leave and became increasingly hostile when we asked questions or requested a manager. At that point, the interaction escalated unnecessarily, and we decided it wasn't worth the confrontation and left. I've never experienced such a level of rudeness from a staff member over an honest misunderstanding. Clear signage and more professional communication would have avoided the entire situation. Someone even yelled out "stop being a parking nazi". I would have otherwise liked to review the venue itself, but we were unable to do so as we never made it inside.

Diana's Bath is a natural pool with some small waterfalls. The walk from the parking lot is about…read more.6 miles one way, it's a quick and easy hike to reach this gorgeous spot. There is a parking lot and we were able to find parking but I'm sure it gets full at peak times. We enjoyed the hike and the waterfalls. It was in late May so there were quite a few people there. It's a peaceful spot to relax, sit in the pool, and just enjoy nature. I'm glad my family and I got to visit during this trip!

The views at the top of this short walk are amazing. It's a relaxing walk from the trailhead and…read moreonly .8 miles round trip. Great photo opportunities and it's a good place to walk your dog. There is small chestnut tree restoration farm along the way as well as a stone wall that lines the trail. Well worth a visit to see the beautiful vista at the end of this short and easy trail.

The Kearsarge/Lake Sunapee area is post-card beautiful, and residents and visitors enjoy the active…read morelifestyle and the plethora of things to do. One of the many four-season things available is hiking. And a gem in the hiking category is the Davis Hill and Clark Lookout Trail. The first thing is that almost anyone can negotiate the trail. It is only 0.7 miles long out and back in its totality. But still, visitors should plan an hour. That's because the Clark Lookout Trail provides a spectacular, I mean, write home to mom kind of beautiful, view of Lake Sunapee and Mount Sunapee. A camera or a good quality smartphone is a must, as the views here are amazing. The Clark Lookout property cuts through a neighborhood of million-dollar homes and was made available to the residents through the generosity of Sydney L. Crook and Mary D. Haddad, who donated land and funding to the town of New London for conservation and recreation use. The trail is managed by the New London Conservation Commission. Much of the land and its conservation easements are held by the area's prime land conservation organization, the Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust. For a family traveling on the Interstate that wishes to have a nice break, this spot is optimum. It is also a must for anyone visiting for the first time, as you will fall in love with the area on the spot. The trail is also amazingly dog friendly (on a leash) and poopy bag dispensers are available indifferent places. The Clark Lookout Trail starts on Rt 103-A, across from the Park and Ride lot near Exit 12 on Rte. 89. From that point, the trail climbs only 100 feet. From the Conservation Commission's description, "heading up the trail, the first point of interest is the trail kiosk, which has information about the history of the trail and includes a bulletin board where notices and information are posted. Near it is the libary box, where hikkers can borrow or lend books when they visit. Turn left at the kiosk to continue up the trail. Further on is the four corner road intersection (turn right) which is the last turn before proceeding to the lookout summit". Once on top, a majestic view of Lake Sunapee, Lake Sunapee and the surrounding area greets the visitor. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Clark Lookout is one of these places where you can see the beauty of nature and feel optimistic again.