State and local parks of White Mountains region provide fun for all tastes

Bretzfelder Memorial Park

Prospect Street Bethlehem, NH Phone: 603-444-6228

This small park is open year-round, offering visitors picnic areas, hiking trails, a pond, and programs about conservation and wildlife in the area.

Crawford Notch State Park

Route 302 Harts Location, NH Phone: 603-374-2272

This park is a fount of natural beauty: A mountain pass, the Presidential Mountain Range, and waterfalls. The falls are the Flume Cascades, the Silver Cascades, and the Arethusa Falls. There is a visitor's center, hiking trails, a scenic drive, fishing spots, and picnic areas. The park is also the site the Willey House, an 18th century way-station for travelers through the mountains. A campground is available to the public. Pets are permitted in campground area and other designated places only.

Echo Lake State Park

Route 302 Conway, NH 03818 Phone: 603-356-2672

This park sits on pristine Echo Lake, and offers visitors areas for swimming and fishing. In addition, hiking trails and a scenic drive lead to Cathedral Ledge, 700 feet in the air. The ledge offers scenic views and ample opportunities for rock climbing.

Eisenhower Memorial Wayside Park

Route 302 Carroll, NH Phone: 603-323-2087

This park offers picnic area and walking trails and a great view of Mount Washington.

Forest Lake State Park

Route 116 Dalton, NH 03598 Phone: 603-837-9150

Visitors to this mountain lake will enjoy the beach, swimming, picnic groves, playground, bathhouse, and wooded areas.

Franconia Notch State Park

Route 93 Franconia, NH 03580 Phone: 603-823-8800

Perhaps the most interesting of New Hampshire's state parks, Franconia Notch offers some incredible natural experiences. Visitors can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, mountain climbing up Cannon Mountain and Mount Liberty, fishing, canoeing, boating, and picnicking. Winter activities offered include cross-country ski trails, alpine skiing and snowmobile trails. Trails include a portion of the Appalachian Trail, and lead to spectacular sites. Historic site of The Old Man of the Mountain, a natural phenomenon created by a series of granite ledges jutting from a cliff face 1,200 feet in the air, which collapsed in 2003. The Flume is a 800 foot gorge with high granite walls, which support a variety of mountain flora in the warmer months. The Basin is a glacial pothole over 20 feet wide, formed at the base of a waterfall by the onslaught of the rushing water. Sightseers will enjoy a ride on the park's Aerial Tramway to the top of Cannon Mountain, where the view is spectacular. A public campground is also available.

Moose Brook State Park

Off U.S. Route 2 Gorham, NH Phone: 603-466-3860

Popular with fisherman because of its numerous ponds and streams, this park also offers hiking trails, mountain climbing in the Crescent Mountain range, mountain bike trails and lake swimming. Cross-country ski trails are open in the winter. There is a public campsite available.

Moose Brook State Park

Jimtown Road (off Route 2) Gorham, NH 03581 Phone: 603-466-3850

Located just north of the Presidential Range, the park is ideally located for fishing in the Peabody and Moose rivers. Moose Brook flows through the park, and feeds the swimming area with cool mountain water. Picnicking and swimming against the scenic mountain backdrop.

Mount Washington State Park

Route 302 Sargent's Purchase, NH Phone: 603-466-3347

Mount Washington is the highest mountain in the Northeast U.S. and this park the opportunity to get to the summit and enjoy the incredibly scenic view. The summit building, along with the historic Tip Top House stand at the top of this 6,288 foot peak. This can be reached by hiking or climbing to the top, taking the scenic, winding road, or the Cog Railway. There are fees charged for both the railway and the drive.