Soak Your Stress Away In The Forests Of New Hampshire's White Mountains At Crawford Notch State Park
By Ben Jones|Published February 11, 2022
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Ben Jones
Author
Ben Jones is at heart an adventurer who delights in inspiring others. A former reporter and photojournalist, he explored towns large and small as a Wisconsin correspondent for USA Today. He later became a lead photographer and senior copywriter for an award-winning destination marketing agency, before founding Boldland Creative, a company that produces photography, video, and other content for travel destinations. Jones has completed photography and content projects in more than 15 states and when he’s not looking through a camera or at his Macbook you’ll find him exploring the world’s lakes and forests.
New Hampshire’s lush and wild White Mountains beckon people seeking natural beauty and relaxation. In the heart of this gorgeous country, a rugged pass called Crawford Notch offers it all – wild waterfalls, stunning vistas, pretty campsites and gorgeous trails. Enjoy some natural stress relief and make plans to visit Crawford Notch State Park. Here’s what’s waiting for you.
Crawford Notch State Park is your ticket to this beautiful region. It’s in some pretty wild country. You’ll find the park about two hours north of Manchester in the White Mountains, which has some of the most rugged terrain in New England.
The area has a long and rich history. Crawford Notch was first discovered by a European in the 1700s – a hunter who was tracking a moose over Cherry Mountain found the pass. A road was built in 1775 and 100 years later, a railroad.
Thanks to the terrain, the White Mountains remain a wild place. The state purchased the first land for the park in 1913. The park covers nearly 6,000 acres so there’s a lot to explore.
There are trails for every hiker – everything from shorter, easier paths to challenging treks that require a little caution. The park is also popular with mountain bikers and backpackers.
The Dry River Campground is the place to camp here - it has 36 campsites that are complete with picnic tables and fire rings so you can relax and watch the stars appear in the clear, Northern New Hampshire sky. When you wake in the morning, you can be among the first to enjoy the rugged beauty of Crawford Notch.
The park is open year round but the main camping season in the park is Memorial Day to Columbus Day. In other seasons, camping is first-come, first-serve. Leashed dogs are allowed in the outdoor areas of the park. Learn more about the park here. If you love the outdoors, here are some under-appreciated parks that will amaze you.
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