STATE PARKS IN THE DARTMOUTH-LAKE SUNAPEE REGION

Our area is fortunate to have 8 State Parks within easy distance. The Sculptured Rocks Natural Area, consisting of 272 acres, features a narrow canyon carved into curious shapes by the Cockermouth River on its way to Newfound Lake. Gardner Memorial Wayside Park is part of Gile State Forest, which spans 6,675 acres and does offer some mountain bikeas well as hiking trails. There is a scenic picnic area with picnic tables, and it’s also a popular place for hiking. Mt.Sunapee State Park is a major recreation area for winter alpine skiing, plus a wonderful place for hiking, picnicking, and camping, as well as swimming, boating, and fishing on Lake Sunapee from the Mt. Sunapee State Park Beach. Once of the “lesser known gems” is Pillsbury State Park where a great variety of wildlife share the bounty of its heavy woodlands and ponds and wetlands. There is a hiking trail network which actually connects Mt. Monadnock with Mt. Sunapee (51 miles), as well as mountain biking trails. Also available are canoeing, fishing and picnicking. Rollins State Park in Warner is on the south slope of Mt. Kearsarge. Drive 3.5 miles to the picnic area and enjoy the fantastic views or hike the ½ mile trail to the summit. Wadleigh State Beach offers swimming on lovely Kezar Lake in Sutton. It’s a great place for family outings. Winslow State Park is located on the northwest slope of Mt. Kearsarge in Wilmot. There is a fantastic plateau for picnicking and admiring the views, or take the 1 mile foot trail to the summit or try the longer loop trail.

For more information on any of these wonderful facilities, visit the New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation at:

http://www.nhparks.state.nh.us/state-parks/by-region/dartmouth-sunapee-region.aspx

11/19/09-WP