The Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves is an adventure that combines the beauty and mysteries of nature with the excitement of discovery! A ¾ mile boardwalk is your path through the gorge. Your journey can be as easy or as ambitious as you choose: you may remain on the boardwalk, or accept the challenge of exploring the boulder caves. Sturdy footwear and outdoor clothing are recommended and no strollers are allowed in the gorge. The journey begins with a short walk descending approximately 300 feet along the entrance trail. The first stop from the trail is a viewing platform with great views of the gorge. From there, you enter the gorge and meet your first cave, The Sun Altar.See more..
Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is a fun and enlightening place for everyone to enjoy. Here at the Science Center, we house and exhibit many different wild animals, including river otters, mountain lions, bobcats, deer, bears, birds, foxes, and skunks. The wild animals at Squam Lakes Natural Science Center are ambassadors of their species, here for the purpose of educating our visitors about New Hampshire's natural world. Most are orphaned, injured, or otherwise unable to survive in the wild. Observing these animals up-close, together with experiencing our hands-on exhibits, offers visitors the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of our native wildlife and appreciation of the natural world.See more..
4.0Seacoast Science Center(146 reviews) - Wonderful place to experience. Sunday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Aquariums
Located within scenic Odiorne Point State Park, the Seacoast Science Center connects people to the wonders of the ocean through exhibits, programs, touch tanks and unique outdoor experiences. Our live animal exhibits feature the amazing creatures that live in the rapidly changing Gulf of Maine ecosystem, from whales to snails. Our engaging programs make learning about the ocean fun for visitors of all ages. Our hands-on science exhibits, many featuring live animals, motivate visitors to become caretakers of our blue planet. Come visit the Center and also explore the rocky shoreline, sandy beach, saltmarshes and woodlands of Odiorne State Park. Seacoast Science Center is open year-round and reservations are recommended.See more..
4.5The Loon Center(78 reviews) - Worth a visit! Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas
Home to the Loon Preservation Committee, this center works to protect one of the best known birds found in the Lakes Region.See more..
Offers information about New Hampshire sanctuaries and has an observation area and trails.See more..
4.5Emery Farm(39 reviews) - Lovely place to stop for lunch & produce. Sunday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas • Farms
Nice farmer's market, yummy sandwiches, drinks and ice cream. Add a beautiful setting,fun animals to pet and an excellent staff and you have a really nice lunch stop. The renovated building is great and I love the way they are handling social distancing requirements.See more..
5.0Massabesic Audubon Center(23 reviews) - Red trail and visitor center Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
The Massabesic Audubon Center is located on a historic farm site just minutes from downtown Manchester and bordered by acres of rolling fields, forest, wetlands, a pond, streams, and marshes. The site has been preserved as a wildlife sanctuary that encompasses a diverse array of upland habitats. There are more than five miles of trails for hiking at any time of year.See more..
4.5Adams Point(23 reviews) - Nice for a short or medium hike any time of the year Nature & Wildlife Areas
Adamss point is easy to get to by car and there is usually enough parking spots. You can go for a 30m hike along the bay or for a somewhat longer hike through the woods as well. No real trails, but it's easy to navigate. Good summers and winters, and at least some wildlife, mostly birds.See more..
So near NH's major port city. A true oasis. Took both trails. The longer took you by old stone walls, pasture trees, small pond and ferns a plenty. Spotted signs of pileated woodpecker. Saw downy woodpecker, warbler, beaver, cormorant. Ate lunch at an overlook of great bay with spotting scope. The shorter to Peverly Pond was all on a boardwalk. Peverly pond had a host of croaking frogs and territorial chipmunks. A great way to,spend an 85 degree day.See more..
3.5Nashua National Fish Hatchery(19 reviews) - GREAT PLACE FOR SCOUTS; SCHOOLS OR kids of all ages! Sunday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas
We called ahead for a cub scout visit; a guided informative tour as prepared& ready to start on our arrival. the boys joked about a GREAT SPOT togoishing & promised/threatened to return w/ poles, hooks 7 bait . We were all interested in & fascinated by the different stages of the fish on display; from tiny fingerlings to fully grown No cost or fee makes it a very goodd place for groups like schools & scoutsSee more..
As I write this NH is in a drought. Very little rain has fallen this year and last year we had very little snow. Even with these conditions this was a great place for a hike. The falls were flowing but very limited. The pool at the base was nearly stagnant but the place was still peaceful. I think I would like to come here on a normal year and see the falls when they are really running. As others have said this is an easy hike for anyone and that includes young kids. I would think 3 or nearly there would be the minimum due to a steep walk down right when you get to the falls. Also note that gps will almost certainly take you the wrong way. We followed ours to a street that had a street sign stating "your gps is wrong " and it was. They must get that a lot to spend money to buy a commercial grade metal sign for their road. We found the trail off purgatory road just north of the 101/101A intersection. Look for a small dirt lot on the left as you head from 101. See more..
This is a great place to look for Moose! The drive from Berlin, NH is beautiful. Stop by the headquarters which is on 16 North past Erroll for great wildlife watching tips!See more..
4.0John Hay National Wildlife Refuge(13 reviews) - Confusing trails but nice place to hike Spent 2-3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks
We parked and grabbed a map in the shelter, heading on the main trail toward the main house. We got lost numerous times, could not follow the map, finally made our way to the lake and back. It was not that crowded and we enjoyed the hike which was not difficult. We did not tour the house but gazed at it and the gardens as we walked past it going and coming.See more..
I grew up swimming in the Bellamy River. I remember when it had a sandy beach, diving boards, and a club house. Now it is a Disc Golf Course. Revisited the park recently when I was in town, and took a stroll in the woods. Brought back great memories and wonder at the changes to the river's size and surroundings. Other than flying Frisbees about, it proved for a lovely Autumn afternoon down memory lane. See more..
4.5Winant Park Hiking Trails(12 reviews) - Great trails that go for miles Spent 1-2 hours Biking Trails • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
LOVE this place. Beautiful trails, views of the state house, and the trails connect with other trails so you can hike, run, bike all day.See more..
We had a wonderful experience here and I would highly recommend this to anyone with young children. The Audubon employee inside the nature center was so engaging and spent tons of time with the kids showing them all the different displays inside. This was like a mini science center and I did not expect it to be so child friendly. We did the short loop hike along the lake shore and it was beautiful. The kids had a great time hunting for all the things the Audubon employee had counseled them to look for. We had so much fun on this amazing lake. What a find! Parking is a bit limited because you can also rent boats here. A+ experience!See more..
4.5Sheiling Forest(6 reviews) - A walk in the woods Sunday: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails • Forests
I have visited this forest several times and I have to say it is one of my favorite places. Rarely, if ever, crowded, this place offers peace, quiet, tranquility. Sit and listen to the bubbling brook as dragonflies buzz around you. Hike up to the massive boulders left by melting glaciers. Admire the sun peeking through the leaves as you make your way along the rige trail. Hiking is easy and gradual, perfect for any age or ability. Enjoy the calmness this forest provides.See more..
5.0Mollidgewock State Park(5 reviews) - Another NH winner State Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas
Great spot right on the androscoggin river...in the heart of the thirteen mile woods ...one of the prettiest drives in New englandSee more..
Happened by just when we needed a walk. A gem in the middle of the woods, clean and peaceful a great place for a walk in the woods and do some soul searching. I think we’ll be regulars.See more..
5.0Grafton Pond Reservation(4 reviews) - Explore the outdoors in an hour or in a day Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas
The Grafton Pond Reservation is a tract of 930 acres of land which includes all of Grafton Pond in Grafton, NH The entrance is a parking area on Grafton Pond Road (go south on Potato Road off of route 4 in Canaan, NH and go 1.1 miles past Lockehaven Road. There is a parking lot for about a dozen cars and two port-a-potties in the summer. Most people either launch a kayak or a canoe and spend the day paddling around the myriad of islands and inlets. Others (like me) walk about 600 feet south of the parking lot and take the trail out to a point of land. There is a green gate on the left side to mark the entrance to the trail. The shore is almost completely undeveloped and loons abound. Note that there is no camping and no picnic tables or benches, so bring your own.See more..
4.0Powder Mill NH State Fish Hatchery(3 reviews) - Great for the little ones Sunday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas
This is a great stop for a family with little ones . They have huge tanks full of live squirming fish and they even have a section where you can feed the fish and watch them jump for the food. Just across the way is Merrymeeting lake Dam nice place for a picnicSee more..
The parking area at the end of Mountain Road has room for about 10 cars. Make sure you follow the trail that exits the parking lot and not the continuation of the road you drove in on. Google maps does a decent job capturing the trail. The hike to the top is a little over 2 miles with all the switchbacks. In the snow it took us about 1.5 hours. The walk down was a lot quicker. The view from the top was fantastic and it was great to be out breathing fresh air. It is really easy to get to from the highway, so a great little stop to break up your drive!See more..
5.0Wapack National Wildlife Refuge(1 review) - A great hike and not to strenous. Nature & Wildlife Areas Started at Miller State park. left a car at Greenleaf rd. Pay attention when you get to the top as you will find off to the side a great place to sit. Over the years people have made cairns which are illegal but these are very nice and people leave them up.See more..
5.0Ponemah Bog Wildlife Sacctuary(1 review) - beautiful little bog Nature & Wildlife Areas It's SO lovely and peaceful here! I never knew a bog could be so beautiful. There isn't a lot to see, but it was so worth the trip.See more..
4.0Chapman's Landing(1 review) - GREAT SPOT FOR BIRDING, FISHING, KAYAKING, & BOATING Spent < 1 hour Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas
Chapman’s Landing is a natural area next to the NH-108 bridge over the Squamscott River on the Stratham/Newfields town line. It's a great spot for launching a boat or kayak, fishing, birding, or just enjoying the view of . It's a scenic area with a lot of unspoiled marshland. I noted that the boat launch ramp was quite short and not steep at all. It was almost level. The boat ramp and the nearby area were also good places to fish the river. At the time of my visit, the river flow was very slow, giving the river a glassy-surface look. Some occasional gusts of wind spoiled it. Additionally, it was freezing cold in the early afternoon. There were some seagulls floating downriver. Other birds known to frequent the area included Nelson's Sharp-Tailed Sparrow and the Saltmarsh Sharp-Tailed Sparrow, two uncommon species that are typically only seen in saltmarshes. Virginia Rails have been spotted in the marshy area near the parking area. Osprey nest on a platform in the distance from the parking lot. Other shorebirds include heron, sandpipers, and waterfowl. Consulting a birding website, I learned that, although this is a birding hot spot, mid-November is not a great time for birding there. At more active times of the year, up to 167 different species have been spotted. It was too bad that it was so cold that day. I would have liked to walk around more. But, I can always return in the spring and summer. Since this area is part of The Atlantic Flyway, it gets its share of migratory birds. Next time on a fall visit, I’ll go earlier in the season. For its scenic views and multiple uses, I rate Chapman’s Landing at 4.50 and recommend a stop when traveling through the area. If you found this review helpful, please click THANK below.See more..
3.0Lamprey River Preserve(1 review) - NICE, BUT NO HIKING TRAILS Nature & Wildlife Areas During the COVID-19 time, with many attractions closed, one of the few permitted activities in New Hampshire was taking a walk outdoors. One afternoon, as I headed for Town of Durham conservation land that was good for trekking and hiking, I happened upon the Lamprey River Preserve which is owned by The Nature Conservancy. I’d hoped to find trails, but there was only an old farm road that was not maintained. My venture here was brief due to the very uneven ground. Other tracts of land further northwest on Packers Falls Road are better for hiking and trekking as they have good trails. I think this place is better suited for a kayak launch into the Lamprey River or for birding. I rate this property at only a 3.0 for trekking. If you found this review helpful, please click THANK below.See more..
