New Hampshire might be one of the smallest states, but with such great attractions as the White Mountains, Lake Winnipesaukee, and even a small stretch of rugged Atlantic coastline east of Manchester, New Hampshire is big on outdoor recreation. In the wild north, long-distance hikers and backpackers can complete a Hut-to-Hut traverse of some of the best alpine wilderness trails in the northeast, staying at famous Madison Hut and Lake of the Clouds Hut in the mighty Presidential Range. They join thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail who cross the very same epic terrain, exploring the summits of Mount Adams, Mount Jefferson, Mount Madison, Mount Monroe, and the highest peak in the northeastern United States, Mount Washington. Backcountry skiers and snowboarders come to the White Mountains in the winter and spring as well, carving turns at Cannon Mountain, Mount Moosilauke, and famous Tuckerman Ravine.

Flatwater paddlers and canoers will find plenty of good lakes, rivers, and slow-moving streams to explore in New Hampshire, including the Connecticut River along the Vermont border, Lake Winnipesaukee, north of Concord, and Massabesic Lake outside Manchester. Whitewater paddlers and kayakers can also find plenty of rapids to run, on rivers like the Saco, Ammonoosuc, and Pemigewasset. With all of this packed into such a small state, almost everything is within an easy day trip. Whether it’s road biking through Pinkham Notch, Crawford Notch, and Franconia Notch, scenic driving on the Kancamagus Highway, mountain biking on the trails at Pawtuckaway State Park, or just heading out for a day at Hampton Beach near Portsmouth with the family, New Hampshire’s compact space provides great outdoor recreation opportunities for everyone.