10 Best Small Towns in New Hampshire for Outdoor Enthusiasts
Commonly known as the “Granite state” or the “Switzerland” of America, the state of New Hampshire offers a diverse range of charming scenery and opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts to embark on. From mountains to lakes to forests and the ocean, New Hampshire is guaranteed to keep everyone entertained and have visitors leave feeling more connected and appreciative of nature's beauty. With colorful and flourishing landscapes, clear lakes ready to swim in, and mountains with blankets of snow to be skied down, these small towns will give a taste of the smiles and excitement that the great outdoors can offer.
North Conway
North Conway, a small, vibrant resort town, is an excellent destination for those seeking to satisfy their appetite for adventure. Cranmore Mountain Resort is the town's hotspot, offering diverse outdoor activities that all ages and skill levels can enjoy all year round. During the winter, visitors can hit the slopes to ski and snowboard or even zoom down the mountain on a tube. In summer, an outdoor lover's dream comes true with a zipline, climbing wall, mountain coaster, bungee trampoline, and scenic chairlift. Meister Hut, a restaurant sitting at the summit of Cranmore Mountain, even awaits visitors for a tasty treat to refuel.
Many parks and trails are scattered in and around North Conway to give visitors scenic landscapes to admire. Just a five-minute drive from town is Diana’s Baths, a must-see trail that gets you up close to unique rock formations and fresh waterfalls. Other great hiking spots are the Black Cap Trail, Green Hills Preserve, and Cathedral Ledge Trail, which leads to a stunning lookout of Echo Lake.
Franconia
Franconia, home to beautiful Franconia Notch State Park, offers numerous exciting hiking trails and recreational activities to take part in. Cannon Mountain has New Hampshire's only Aerial Tramway and was the first one built in North America. Known as offering the best ski areas in New Hampshire and New England, Cannon Mountain has 95 trails to go skiing and snowboarding down.
Echo Lake, which is different from Echo Lake in North Conway, is a great place to rent a pedal boat or go swimming, fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and canoeing. Some of the many hiking trails to go on in Franconia include Artist’s Bluff, Bald Mountain, Lonesome Lake, and Basin Cascade. If visitors are interested in getting in tune with nature, Lafayette Campground is a great spot with 97 campsites to set up a tent and enjoy making smores over a crackling fire.
Portsmouth
For those seeking to soak in the smell of fresh ocean air and listen to rolling waves, Portsmouth is just that. Strolling through this quaint coastal town offers rich art, culture, and history, but it is also a town that excites outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors can go on a harbor cruise and coast by stunning views of lighthouses, submarines, and historic forts. Paddleboarding is also a popular activity to take part in. In town, visitors can also peddle around town with Port City Bike tours, where visitors get to explore New Castle Island views of the Piscatqua River and the Atlantic Ocean. For a slower-paced activity, the Pease Golf Course is a great spot to practice swings and have a friendly competition with a friend. Portsmouth has many scenic views that can be appreciated on a short hike as well. Sagamore Creek Headlands is a diverse flat hike through forests and marshes and offers picturesque views of the creek. Pierce Island is another popular spot to wander and admire beautiful coastal views from the Waterfront lookout, Luis Ledge, or Cliff Overlook.
Exeter
Located in Southeastern New Hampshire, visitors can immerse themselves in natural beauty and wildlife in the charming town of Exeter. Strolling through the Jolly Rand Historic Trail, the Henderson Swasey Town Forest, and the Little River Conservation is the best way to get your body weaving through fresh nature. All of these trails are suitable for hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. The Little River Conservation is particularly known for viewing wildlife such as birds, deer, beavers, and otters. For a true connection to the environment, outdoor enthusiasts will love setting down camp at the Winding River campground. At the campground, there are sites for RV’s and tents, or you can rent a charming cabin for the weekend. This area offers activities such as fishing, kayaking, golf cart rentals, and an outdoor pool with a waterslide. There are also numerous themed weekends happening throughout the year. In 2024, some of the themed events are a free fishing day from May 31 to June 2 and a foam glow party from June 28 to July 1.
Bartlett
Next on the list is the delightful town of Bartlett, which offers outdoor activities for all seasons. Right in town is the Attitash Mountain resort, where you can enjoy shredding down the mountain on skis or a snowboard. Storyland amusement park, a family-friendly amusement park, is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2024. This amusement park is a spot to check out if visitors are craving to feel that rush of adrenaline flying on a rollercoaster or splashing around in the Moo Lagoon water play area. For hiking, outdoor enthusiasts will love the Rocky Branch Trailhead or the Cave Mountain trail, where visitors can choose to explore impressive small caves.
Littleton
With Littleton’s town motto being, “Be glad,” outdoor enthusiasts will be glad they made time to explore this gem of a town full of beautiful nature, local business, and wonderful history. For a peaceful paddle on the water, Kayak and canoe rentals are available with North Country Kayak to float down the beautiful Moore Reservoir. Visitors can have a guided tour or decide to paddle on their own to discover secret coves and admire the views of the White Mountains. Parker Mountain offers various stunning trails for everyone to enjoy. Whether outdoor enthusiasts crave hiking, mountain biking, skiing, or snowmobiling, Parker Mountain will not disappoint.
Gorham
The town of Gorham can be found in the Androscoggin Valley next to the Presidential Mountain Range. Other than the great array of arts, culture, and history, Gorham is a town where outdoor enthusiasts will always stay entertained. The Great Glen Outdoor Centre offers endless opportunities for both winter and summer outdoor activities. Rentals are available for skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, kayaking, and snow tubing. Gorham is well known for offering wildlife tours, but more particularly Moose tours. Visitors can sign up for a relaxing bus tour accompanied by experts in spotting Moose out in the wilderness. For those seeking views from above, check out Stony Brook and Pine Mountain trailhead.
Lincoln
For such a small town in size, Lincoln is a place that brings in people wanting to take on big adventures. Flume Gorge is an 800-foot-long natural gorge that gets hikers up close to flowing waterfalls, rock formations, vibrant flowers, and moss. A place to add to the list is the Alpine Adventures, which offers activities all year round that get you to use both your body and your brain. You'll get to navigate your way through obstacle courses of ropes and ladders, soar like a bird on the speedy ziplines, or hold on tight for an offroading adventure. Lincoln is home to Loon Mountain, a resort for diverse activities all year. This resort is perfect if you'd like to ski, snowboard, and snowshoe in the winter, or do yoga, disc golf, and biking in the summer season. Pirates Cove is a colorful 18-hole mini golf course designed for family and friends to feel like they have been transported to a pirate world.
Wolfeboro
From basking in the sun at the beach, skiing down the slopes, or unwinding in nature, the town of Wolfeboro is a place that will surely enlighten outdoor enthusiasts. With close proximity to Lake Winnipesaukee and Lake Wentworth, laying out on the sand or getting refreshed the water is a popular activity to indulge in while passing through Wolfeboro. To take in all the scenic views the lakes have to offer, visitors can hop around from Albee Beach, Carry Beach, and Brewster Beach. The Abenaki Ski Area, America’s oldest small ski area, has seven trails, night skiing, and an entraining terrain park. A great way to enjoy a quiet stroll through trees and along the water is through wildlife viewing, walking trails, and kayaking and canoeing.
Tamworth
Last but certainly not least is the town of Tamworth. With a blend of rural geography and striking mountain views, Tamworth also has a great mix of outdoor activities. From canoeing, snowmobiling, hiking, and cross-country skiing, there is something for all ages and skill levels. Chocorua Lake is an ideal spot for swimming, and fishing and a stunning spot to witness the sunsets reflect off the water. White Lake State Park is known as the best spot to go swimming in the White Mountain region. It also offers numerous campsites to let loose around a campfire and nature trails to go exploring in.
No matter what the time of the year, these small towns in New Hampshire won’t disappoint the desire for a horizon view, shred in the snow, or a splash in the water. Exploring these small towns throughout New Hampshire is guaranteed to create thrilling and inspiring new memories that will last a lifetime. Adventure will always be waiting for the next outdoor enthusiasts to come explore. To keep that love for nature and exploration, look no further than New Hampshire.
