New Hampshire reveals a land where the White Mountains have shaped the skyline for millennia. Between northern coniferous forests and southeastern Atlantic coasts, this New England state features waterfalls cascading over granite, glacial passes carved 15,000 years ago, and industrial villages embedded in red stone. Archaeological sites, lighthouses guiding ships on Piscataqua, and estates where early 20th-century artists shaped American identity await discovery. Trails wind through gorges, along lakes reflecting peaks, and through forests where remnants of old foundries remain. Autumn light illuminates maple trees, winter turns ravines into ice amphitheaters, and spring causes waterfalls to roar. From Mount Monadnock to the Shoals Islands, New Hampshire offers a varied geography where each hill, waterfall, and stone bears witness to a deeply rooted natural and human story within the landscape of New England.
Chesterfield, USA
The Madame Sherri forest contains the ruins of a residence built in the 1920s for a Broadway costume designer. The stone stairs still rise between the birches and pines, creating a romantic setting in the heart of the woods. The foundations outline the plan of a vanished house, overgrown with moss and ferns.
Moultonborough, USA
The Castle in the Clouds has stood at 460 meters elevation on the slope of Mount Ossipee since 1913. This mountain residence offers a panoramic view of Lake Winnipesaukee and the surrounding peaks. The stables, terraced gardens, and Arts and Crafts architecture reflect the luxury of early 20th-century American estates.
Franconia, USA
The Basin is a circular pool 6 meters in diameter carved into granite by 15,000 years of river erosion. Clear water cascades down before flowing into this naturally polished basin shaped by sediments. The smooth walls reflect the light passing through the canopy of the surrounding forest.
Groton, USA
The Sculpture Rocks Natural Area features a gorge where the Cockermouth River has carved through granite over thousands of years. The striated walls reveal geological layers exposed by erosion. Several waterfalls tumble over the rocks, creating cold pools between the stones.
Cornish, USA
The Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site preserves the workshop and residence of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, a prominent 19th-century American sculptor. Formal gardens surround the buildings where the artist created public monuments that influenced American art. The foundry facilities and galleries display his works in a rural setting facing Mount Ascutney.
Jaffrey, USA
Mount Monadnock rises to 965 meters and is one of the most climbed mountains worldwide. Several trails lead to the bare granite summit, offering a 360-degree view of six states. The dense forest on the southern slope gives way to bare rock and lichens near the wind-swept summit.
Rye, USA
Star Island rises from the Atlantic among the Shoals Islands, about ten kilometers off the coast. This granite island hosts a marine conference center, a 19th-century lighthouse, and stone buildings constructed by a religious community in the 1800s. Celia Thaxter's gardens, the area's poet, have been restored facing the ocean.
Harrisville, USA
The Harrisville Historic District preserves an intact 19th-century textile industrial complex on the edge of a pond. The red brick factories, workers' houses, and hydraulic system are evidence of New England's textile industry. The village, planned around the mills, represents a rare example of preserved industrial architecture.
Sandwich, USA
The Beede Falls descend over several granite ledges in Sandwich Notch State Park. The water forms natural pools between the rocks smoothed by the current. The forest of yellow birch and fir frames this waterfall accessible via a short trail from the forest road.
Salem, USA
The American Stonehenge features megalithic structures and underground chambers of debated origin. Archaeologists estimate some constructions to be 4,000 years old, while alternative hypotheses suggest colonial origins. The aligned granite slabs create corridors and rooms that extend into the hillside.
Hart's Location, USA
Crawford Notch State Park spans 5,775 acres within the White Mountains, surrounded by steep mountain walls. The road winds along the Saco River, passing waterfalls and historic sites related to early explorers. Trails lead to peaks of 1,200 meters and viewpoints overlooking the glacial pass.
Lincoln, USA
La Flume Gorge extends its granite walls over 240 meters in the Franconia Notch State Park. The vertical walls measuring 30 meters high frame a narrow passage where a stream flows. Wooden walkways allow visitors to walk along this geological formation created by erosion of a volcanic vein.
New Hampshire, USA
The Arethusa Falls drop 43 meters in a single vertical fall amidst a dense conifer forest. The water rushes over granite steps before crashing into a basin surrounded by mossy rocks. The access trail climbs through a forest of spruces and baumier pines to the foot of the waterfall.
New Hampshire, USA
Chocorua Lake reflects the rocky profile of Mount Chocorua, which rises to 1,061 meters. A 5-kilometer trail circles the lake along pebble beaches and scenic viewpoints. The calm morning waters capture the inverted image of the mountain, creating a natural composition favored by photographers.
New Hampshire, USA
Tuckerman Ravine forms a glacial cirque on the east flank of Mount Washington with slopes reaching 50 degrees. Ski mountaineers frequent this ravine in winter and spring for its challenging snow chutes. In summer, hikers cross this alpine landscape where snowfields sometimes persist until July.
New Hampshire, USA
The Willey House marks the site of a tragedy that occurred in 1826 during an avalanche in Crawford Notch. The Willey family perished while fleeing their home, which remained intact and was spared by the slide. A memorial site commemorates this event that left a mark on the history of the White Mountains.
Franconia, USA
The Franconia Iron Foundries preserve the remains of a metallurgical industry active in the 1800s. The stone walls of the blast furnace stand near a waterfall that supplied hydraulic energy. The structures testify to the exploitation of local iron ore before the deposits were exhausted.
Greenfield, USA
Greenfield State Park offers camping sites along several ponds surrounded by mixed forests. The trails cross wetlands where wild orchids and carnivorous plants grow. The local fauna includes beavers, otters, and a wide range of waterfowl observable from the shores.
Lebanon, USA
Garner Park runs along the Connecticut River in Lebanon with paved paths for walking. Picnic areas line the riverbank where canoes and kayaks pass by. The shade is provided by century-old elms and oaks over the lawns used for community activities.
Dixville, USA
Dixville Notch traverses the mountains between vertical rocky cliffs framing the road. The pass offers hiking trails leading to viewpoints overlooking the cliffs and surrounding forests. The wildlife includes elk, deer, and black bears, often observed at dawn and dusk.
Haverhill, USA
The Bedell Bridge State Historic Site preserves the memory of a 120-foot covered bridge that crossed the Connecticut River until 1979. A storm destroyed this historic structure built using traditional methods. A reconstructed gateway and interpretive panels tell the story of this border crossing.
Crawford's Purchase, USA
The Upper Ammonoosuc Falls cascade over granite rocks, forming several natural basins. The clear water allows for swimming in the summer in the erosion-formed pools. The site attracts families who lay their towels on the flat stone slabs surrounding the waterfalls.
Madison, USA
The Madison Rock Natural Area protects an erratic granite block measuring 25 meters in length and weighing around 5,000 tons. This boulder was transported by glaciers 12,000 years ago from nearby mountains. The stone balances on a rocky base amid the forest.
Waterville Valley, USA
The Sabbaday Falls descend in three tiers through a narrow granite gorge with a total height of 14 meters. The water rushes between the polished walls, creating whirlpools and basins. A short and accessible trail leads to observation platforms facing the waterfalls.
New Castle, USA
The Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse raises its white tower built in 1877 on the rocky coast of New Castle. The lantern guides ships navigating the Piscataqua River toward the Portsmouth harbor. The site offers views of the coastal islands and the historic fortifications that protected the harbor entrance.
Sunapee, USA
Mount Sunapee stands at 863 meters above the lake of the same name and offers ski slopes in winter. In summer, hiking trails lead to the summit where the view encompasses Lake Sunapee and the surrounding mountains. The ski resort coexists with the state park that protects the mountain's natural slopes.
Rye, USA
Odiorne Point State Park preserves World War II bunkers camouflaged in the dunes facing the Atlantic Ocean. The salt marshes host herons and egrets hunting at low tide. The pebble beach stretches between the fortifications and the tide pools where a diverse marine life develops.
North Woodstock, USA
The Lost River Reserve features a geological phenomenon where the river disappears into granite cavities. The water reemerges further downstream in cascades after passing through underground caves. The rock formations create natural bridges, giant basins, and narrow passages amid the forest.
Stoddard, USA
Mount Pitcher rises 600 meters in the Monadnock area with a trail leading to a fire observation tower. The metal structure provides a panoramic view of the lakes, forests, and rolling hills of southern New Hampshire. The tower was built in the 1920s to monitor wildfires.
Conway, USA
Echo Lake State Park features a sandy beach by a lake surrounded by 20-meter granite cliffs. The rocky faces attract climbers who practice climbing on the designated routes. The trails circle the lake, passing through a forest of white pines and oaks.
North Hampton, USA
The Fuller Gardens cover 2 hectares in North Hampton on a property developed in the 1930s. Over 1,500 roses bloom in June in formal beds surrounded by trimmed hedges. A Japanese garden with a wooden bridge and stone lanterns completes the landscape facing the ocean.