State parks/forests

We%26#39;re staying in Gloucester for a week in April/May and are looking to spend a day taking in some of the natural beauty of New Hampshire. Can anyone suggest a state park or forest not too far (within a couple of hours drive) from Gloucester which has some good walks? Nothing too strenuous just a nice few hours walking perhaps with a waterfall or something!!!

Thanks

State parks/forests

Lot%26#39;s of places for a good walk within hours of Gloucester. I do not know if you will be there for Patriot%26#39;s day (4/21/09) but certainly Lexington/Concord/Walden Pond would fit the bill (no waterfalls). It is about 2 1/2 hours to many places such as Kennebunkport, N. Conway, or Lake Winni. In the White Mountains, you have Glen Ellis Falls in Pinkham Notch which is right off the road for a very nice 60+foot waterfall and lots of easy hikes in the area. Mt Chocorua is the closest mountain with any elevation for some walks/hikes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Chocorua

Gloucester%26#39;s location on Cape Ann adds about 30-45 minutes to anyplace you want to get to which is north. I have only passed thru the area up Spaulding Pike from Portsmouth to Conway so I don%26#39;t any places to stop that may be closer. Maybe someone near Durham, NH or Portsmouth will have other suggestions.

State parks/forests

Thanks for your suggestions, will look into it a bit further.

There are some very nice nature preserves that are used by University of NH for research, etc. that are within easy driving distance.

Coastal NH and ME........

For a very easy hike, I would visit the Odiorne State Park in Rye, NH. It is about 45 miles from Gloucester but it will take more than 90 minutes driving the coastal roads which I would recommend. After your visit to the park in Rye, drive about 30 minutes north and view Nubble Light at Cape Neddick. From here drive an additional 10 minutes to Perkins Cove in Ogunquit, ME and walk The Marginal Way, another very easy hike but it is a beautiful walk.

From Gloucester, MA to Rt 133 to Ipswich to Newburyport. Follow 1 A as much as possible or the side roads that drive by the coast as it is the most scenic, pass by Salisbury and pass Hampton Beach, pass Rye Beach. Odiorne State Park will be on your right. After the Park go to New Castle Route 1 B (go pass Wentworth-by -the- Sea ) to Portsmouth, NH then continue into Kitty, Maine via Rt 1 to Rt 103 to Rt 1A, drive to York Beach then to Cape Neddick take Pine Hill Rd to Ogunquit. Enjoy!

http://www.nhstateparks.com/odiorne.html

http://www.lighthouse.cc/capeneddick/

www.meliving.com/marginalway/index.shtml

http://www.ogunquit.org/

White Mountains....

Many, many hiking trails and the area is very scenic. The Basin is relatively an easy hike at Franconia Notch. The Flume is wonderful but it is filled with tourists and charges an admission charge.

The Franconia Area or the North Conway Area are both popular destinations but both are approximately a 3 hour drive from Gloucester.

nhstateparks.org/state-parks/…

http://www.visitnh.gov/flume/index.html

outdoorplaces.com/Destination/…

www.nhliving.com/hiking/whitemtns.shtml

http://www.nhstateparks.com/waterfalls.html

Wow, great. Thanks for all the info, will have a look through all that.

The Kancamangus Highway starting in Lincoln, NH is great for seeing the ';natural beauty of NH';. Many trails- but we always like to stop at Sabbaday Falls for a quick, easy hike up the trail right beside the falls. This trail is often not as busy as others along the kanc. Plus lots of other places to stop and explore all the way to Conway.

The drive is right up I93 to Lincoln (a scenic drive in itself) and then a few miles up the highway. About 2 1/2 - 2 3/4 hrs drive from Gloucester (depending on traffic).

www.northeastwaterfalls.com/waterfall.php…

www.newenglandwaterfalls.com/waterfall.php…

How about Franconia Notch. What is that like? Is that too far?

Franconia is about 3 hours from Gloucester. Lots to do there. I love the Flume Gorge. Also Cannon Mountain Tramway. Check out Franconia Notch Chamber of Commerce website and Franconia Notch State Park site for some good info.

The Flume Gorge is beautiful but it will not be open until the second week in May.