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Lakes region is a lovely setting for walking and hiking

New Hampshire > Lakes > Outdoor Activities > Walking and Hiking
Hiking by the Lake Purity Spring Resort Madison New Hampshire
Purity Spring Resort

1251 Eaton Road (Route 153) East Madison, NH, 03849 Phone: 603-367-8896 Toll-Free: 800-373-3754

Walking, strolling, hiking: Whatever you call it, there’s plenty of it at this four-season resort

Whether you prefer an easy stroll or a cardio-workout hike, there’s a trail for you when you stay at the Purity Spring Resort. Take an easy walk around the lake in the summer, get the snowshoes out and hike around a mountain at the King Pine Ski Area in the winter, or head to one of the area nature preserves with scenic trails. At the Hoyt Wildlife Sanctuary, 2.4 miles of shoreline and wooded trails include the Heath View Trail, a wetland cove home to beavers, river otters, turtles and great blue herons. Of course, hiking in New Hampshire is particularly beautiful in the fall — bring a picnic lunch and celebrate those autumn colors. Ask for trail guides and trail advice at the main office.
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Ahern State Park

43 Great Bay Lane Laconia, NH Phone: 603-227-8745

This lakeside park has abundant walking trails. Trail map. See full descriptionof Ahern State Park at our State and Local Parks page.
Stonedam Island Conservation Area

Stonedam Island Road Meredith, NH Phone: 603-253-3301

This island is 112 acres with 2.7 miles of undeveloped shoreline. Come to enjoy a peaceful walk on a network of trails. One trail leads to the highest point on Lake Winnipesaukee. Docking for power boats is available at a dock on the northeast shore of the island, across Sallys Gut from the mainland. The island also can be reached by paddle, canoes, and kayaks. The trails, which are signed and blazed, extends from the dock to points of interest elsewhere on the island. The walking loop around the island is 1.5 miles long. Open July - Labor Day.
Wellington State Park

614 West Shore Road (Off Route 3A) Bristol, NH, 03222 Phone: 603-744-2197

Fresh water swimming, hiking, boat launch, picnicking, beautiful lake and island views

This park on the shore of Newfound Lake has nice nature trails and hiking trails inside and outside the park. A nature trail offers a picnic grove and plant identifications. Another exterior hiking trail from the park leads to the Sugarloafs Mountains, Bear Mountain, Welton Falls, and Mount Cardigan.
See full description of Wellington State Park.
Belknap Mountain Trails

Belknap Carriage Road near Belknap Mountain Road Gilford, NH Phone:

This 2-mile climb, rated moderate-to-difficult, takes the hiker to a magnificent view of Lake Winnipesaukee and the Ossipee Mountains from Belknap Mountain from the fire tower at the summit. Elevation is 740 feet. You have a choice of well-marked red-blazed or blue-blazed trails. See website for trail descriptions.
Directions: To reach Belknap Mountain, turn off Route 11A at Gilford and drive south through Gilford Village. Stay on this road past the high school (road makes a sharp left turn) and you’ll begin your climb up Belknap Mountain Road. Follow the road up until you see signs and a parking area on the left.
Red Hill

Sibley Road and Red Hill Road Center Harbor, NH Phone:

Red Hill, in the Lakes Region, is a popular hiking spot due to the stunning panoramic views from the fire tower. Hikers can see Lake Winnipesaukee to the southeast and Squam Lake to the west. This is a short hike of 1.7 miles to a fire tower; elevation gain is 1,370 feet. Low to moderate difficulty. Distance is a total of 3.5 miles.
Squam Range Traverse

Mead Base Camp Sandwich, NH Phone: 603-968-7336

This is a point-to-point hike running across seven named peaks of the Squam Range in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. There are ample opportunities for views and lots of walking (and scrambling) on open ledges. The elevation gain is 2,900 feet.
The starting point for this hike is Mead Base Camp in Sandwich, New Hampshire and the ending point is the Cotton Mountain Trailhead located in Holderness, New Hampshire. - Trail Map
Blue Job Mountain

Off First Crown Point Road Rochester, NH Phone:

Blue Job Mountain has one of the best views in southern New Hampshire, encompassing Mount Washington, Mount Monadnock, and the Atlantic Ocean. It is a short -- one mile -- and easy walk to the fire tower. There are two routes to the summit and they both start from the same parking area.
Directions: From Route 202A head north on First Crown Point Road. Take First Crown Point Road 5.3 miles north. The trailhead parking area will be on your right just beyond the height of land.
Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area - Moultonborough, NH - Photo Credit Lakes Region Conservation Trust
Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area

455 Old Mountain Road Moultonborough, NH, 03254 Phone: 603-476-5900

The Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area is 5,000 conserved acres with 45 miles of hiking trails to waterfalls, views from mountain summits and outlooks, signs of wildlife, historic sites, and interesting geological features of the Ossipee Mountains.
This property is part of the Ossipee Mountain ring, a circular formation of volcanic origin. Seven of the Ossipee Mountains’s biggest peaks are on the Castle property, including Mount Shaw and Bald Knob, with its view of Lake Winnipesaukee. The trails are well maintained, marked, and mapped.
Two trailhead parking areas are free and open to the public for getting onto the trails during the day. One is on Route 171 and the other is at the end of Ossipee Park Road. A helpful hiking trail map is available for purchase.