Take exit 6 on Interstate 89 North. Follow 127 North to Webster and follow the signs. 3,600 acres of land and water offers many miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing. The area offers excellent hunting and fishing opportunities as well as an eight-mile stretch of the Blackwater River that is perfect for canoeing. 603-934-2116.
Take exit 22 on Interstate 93. Dam is located off Route 127 South in Franklin. 3,900 acres of wooded river valley offers many miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing. There's also excellent fishing and hunting and places to go boating or whitewater canoeing and kayaking. Ledgeview Overlook, provides an excellent view of the dam and is the trailhead for the NH Heritage Hiking Trail. 603-934-2116.
Located off Route 127. Follow signs to Elm Brook Park. For those with OHRVs, take exit 2 off Interstate 89 North. Follow Route 13 West for 6 miles and then turn left onto Ray Road. After road turns into dirt, take first right. Multiple use facility located on 10,000 acres. Has two developed areas, Elm Brook Park and Clough State Park. Elm Brook offers picnic tables and grills, playground equipment, horseshoe pits, swimming, a short nature trail, a boat ramp, and a radio controlled model airplane flying field. Interpretive programs and exhibits are offered by the park rangers. There's also a second boat ramp on Elm Brook Pool off Route 202 / 9. Hopkinton - Everett Lakes also provides approximately 26 miles of designated OHRV trails and over 30 miles of designated snowmobile trails. Call 603-746-3601 for more information.
Located off Route 101 in Peterborough. Take a right onto Union Street for 1/2 mile, then take a left onto Wilder Street and travel all the way to the end of the street. Area is 1,198 acres of land and water. Visitors can picnic, boat, canoe, kayak, fish, hike, horseback ride, snow shoe, or cross country ski on trails that wander through woodlands and wetlands surrounding the lake. The park features a volleyball court, picnic tables, grills, boat launch, and horseshoe pits. There is also weekend programming offered by the park rangers who lead group tours on the nature trail and other fun and educational events.
Otter Brook Lake recreation area and beach is located off of Route 9 East, in Keene. The dam and field office is located off of Route 101, on Branch Road in Keene. Otter Brook Lake offers swimming, picnicking, canoeing, hunting, and fishing. It also has grassy areas for volleyball and baseball and horseshoe pits. During the winter, visitors can go cross country skiing, ice fishing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. Interpretive programs on natural resources, water safety and flood control are provided by park rangers. 603-352-4130.
Profile Falls Recreation Area
On the Bristol and Hill town line. Take Interstate 93 to exit 23. Take Route 104 west to Bristol. Take Route 3A south approximately 2 miles and follow signs to Profile Falls. Located at the upper end of the Franklin Falls Reservoir where the Smith River tumbles over a broad rock outcrop. The waterfall is a peaceful spot to relax, try your hand at fishing or enjoy a picnic. Profile Falls was named because a legend says that a human profile can be seen cut into the rocks when the water is flowing just right. 603-934-2116.
Dam is located on Surry Dam Road off Route 12A, the recreation area is on 12A in Surry. The recreation area is comprised of over 1600 acres of managed land and a 265 acre lake. Visitors can swim, hunt, fish, picnic, canoe, and play horseshoes and volleyball. Site offers a 600-foot-long sandy beach, boat ramp, and picnic tables with grills. During the winter, visitors can cross country ski, ice fish, snowshoe, and snowmobile. There's also special interpretive programs on natural resources, water safety and flood control are provided by park rangers. 603-352-2447.
Blackwater Dam
Profile Falls Recreation Area