A raised walkway leads through towering pines in one of the region's many state parks.
Cathedral of the Pines in Rindge makes for a reflective day hike.
Numerous state and private campgrounds can be found in the Monadnock Region.
The beautiful Monadnock Region, nestled in the southwest corner of New Hampshire, is a land of rolling farmland and small towns that takes its name from Mount Monadnock. At a height of 3,165 feet, Monadnock looms above the countryside and can be seen from almost everywhere, and is one of the most frequently climbed mountains in the world. Its 40 miles of foot trails lead through alpine forest to an exposed summit offering magnificent views of all six New England states.
The region also comprises seven state parks where visitors can hike, camp, fish, ski, and snowmobile. Notable spots are Chesterfield Gorge State Park, where a wilderness loop trail winds along a deep glacial stream; Pisgah State Park, a 13,500-acre wilderness area and New Hampshire’s largest state park that offers hiking, hunting and fishing, ski touring and snowmobiling; and, for people who love flowers, Rhododendron State Park, with more than 16 acres of wild rhododendron that bloom about mid-July. Those who love swimming will find public beaches at many of the 200 scenic ponds and lakes scattered throughout the region.
For kids and families, Friendly Farm in Dublin and Stonewall Farm in Keene are places to visit and pet farm animals, and to indulge in hayrides, sleigh rides, nature walks, and other outdoor fun. For cultural attractions in a small-town setting, visit the well-known summer Monadnock Music Festival and Apple Hill Summer Festival, or take in a play at the Colonial Theatre in Keene or the Peterborough Players Summer Theatre. Travelers will find welcoming B&Bs and inns tucked into the many small, pretty towns of the region.
The Monadnock Region of New Hampshire is a great jumping-off spot for snowmobile trips north to other parts of the state, as well as into neighboring Vermont and Massachusetts.
Numerous and diverse trails help make New Hampshire’s largest state park a great place to seek solitude.
With its wide range of trails and close proximity to Greater Boston, Mount Monadnock makes for a perfect family-friendly hike.