An Underrated State Park In New Hampshire's White Mountains Offers Picturesque Hiking Views

Americans are spoiled for choice when it comes to having numerous vast landscapes at their doorsteps, and hiking trails to explore year-round. Hiking enthusiasts flock to the Granite State to explore Franconia Notch State Park, Crawford Notch State Park, or test their endurance at the infamous Mount Washington, but this underrated state park in New Hampshire's White Mountains offers its visitors picturesque hiking views without the crowds. Even travel expert Samantha Brown recommends this corner of the U.S. as one of her favorite places.

New Hampshire consistently makes its way onto lists, such as the best state parks in America you absolutely must visit, and with good reason, since the area is remarkably stunning. Cardigan Mountain State Park in New Hampshire's White Mountains is undoubtedly one of the state's most underrated destinations. Visitors to Cardigan Mountain State Park are treated to views that span as far as Maine and Vermont, which in the fall makes New Hampshire one of the best states for viewing colorful fall foliage.

The White Mountains are located along an 87-mile stretch of the Appalachian Mountain range, which runs along north-central New Hampshire and into western Maine. The area is famous for containing some of the northeastern U.S.' highest elevations. With an impressive footprint spanning over 5,600 acres, hikers in Cardigan Mountain State Park will have no shortage of trails, 360-degree views, and nature to enjoy.

While the White Mountains are no stranger to hiking enthusiasts, Cardigan Mountain State Park seems to be relatively unknown, and Outdoor Online has it listed as one of 50 underrated state parks in America, which makes it the perfect getaway to experience without crowds. From Boston, Massachusetts, Cardigan can be reached in just over two hours. The best way to access the park is to route to the park's official address in Orange, New Hampshire. The route will take you through unpaved backroads, but will eventually show signs for Cardigan with a parking lot at the end.

On TripAdvisor, a user by the name of Jackie M states their experience as a "Great hike with breathtaking views." The hike up to the open-air 3,121 foot granite summit roughly takes 1.5 hours from the West Ridge Trail, and is deemed a moderate hike. For those that like to bring their furry friends to the outdoors, the park is also dog-friendly. Hiking with Pups blog says "The pups enjoyed this hike very much." If you're worried about it being too strenuous for Fido, the blog also notes "There wasn't really any sections that required them to really scramble or jump up so as long as your pup likes hiking, they should be good on this hike."

Cardigan Mountain State Park is free of entry fees, however make note that the main gate typically closes in October, which will require visitors to park outside the gate and walk a quarter-mile into the park. During the off-season, the park is not staffed, so it's best to keep up to date with the summit weather website to ensure a safe and enjoyable hike.

While enjoying the summit views from the top of the observation tower that dates back to 1924 is a must, there are many other activities that will excite visitors to Cardigan Mountain State Park. Boasting an impressive 15 trails within the park, with Mount Cardigan Loop Trail being the most popular, hikers will pass through beautiful terrain surrounded by sugar maple, beech, and yellow birch trees.

Love getting outdoors in the colder months? Mount Cardigan offers snowshoeing and backcountry skiing that immerses you in a true winter wonderland. The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) lists backcountry skiing at Mount Cardigan as some of the best according to their website. Skiing fanatics have been descending on the mountain since the 1980s, which in turn, has booked up the 60-bunk capacity AMC Cardigan Lodge during most weekends in winter.

Those that aren't into hiking, but still love the outdoors, can find plenty to keep themselves busy during a visit to Cardigan Mountain State Park. Looking to perfect your fishing game? Anglers can test their luck fishing for trout along the Number Seven Brook located between Cardigan Mountain and Firescrew Mountain. Treasure-hunting Geocachers are in for a treat. The park allows Geocaching, which is an outdoor activity that requires you to use GPS to find items placed by other Geocachers according to their coordinates. If you're looking to visit the best RV sites in every state, RVs and camping are also permitted in the park, with rates starting at $25 per night.