Forget Mount Washington State Park, New Hampshire's Underrated Gem Has A Quiet Lake & Mountain Trails

When it comes to mountain trails in New Hampshire, it's hard not to think of Mount Washington State Park first. Home to Mount Washington, the highest peak in the northeast, the entire area is full of great places to hike, including Mount Washington itself, a popular East coast hiking trail that's not for amateur hikers because of its rocky terrain and often-chaotic weather. But if you're looking for something less intense that's still in the White Mountain region and offers all the things that Mount Washington State Park does, then Echo Lake State Park in North Conway, New Hampshire, just a bit to the east, is the perfect choice. It's also never recorded a wind speed of 231 miles per hour, the second fastest in the world, like Mount Washington did in April 1934, so that's a good thing. 

At Echo Lake park, you have access to trails that vary from easy to difficult, as well as some rock climbing, if scaling ledges is your thing. And of course the serene Echo Lake offers plenty of water activities for visitors. The park is open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you want to spend a day in Echo Lake State Park, there is a small fee: $4 for adults and $2 for kids 6 to 11 years of age. Children under 5 and New Hampshire residents over 65 can use the park for free. If you want to camp at Echo Lake Campground, there's a $7 reservation fee, and camping rates are based on campsite type, ranging from $29 for a primitive campsite to $140 for a group site per night. No matter how you choose to spend your time at Echo Lake State Park, it's New Hampshire's underrated gem that you must check out.

Once you arrive at Echo Lake State Park, you may find yourself overwhelmed with choices. For starters, the park has several mountain trails, with the easiest being the Echo Lake Trail that goes around the perimeter of the lake. The most difficult trail starts at Echo Lake, heading up Bryce Path toward Cathedral Ledge — where you get a stunning view of Echo Lake, the Saco River Valley, and the White Mountains, including Mount Cranmore — then onto White Horse Ledge and Diana's Baths. This particular hike will take 2.5 to 3 hours to complete, and because it's point-to-point, you either need a car to bring you back to Echo Lake, or to hike back the way you came.

If you're a fan of rock climbing, then both Cathedral Ledge and White Horse Ledge are great for that. However, if you're new to rock climbing, you'll want to get practice elsewhere before trying to take on these ledges. After all, rock climbing 101 is about safety first, so there's no need to take unnecessary risks.

When you're ready to have some fun in Echo Lake, you have several activities from which to choose. In the summer, the quiet, beautiful lake is fantastic for swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing, while in the winter, ice-skating and ice fishing are great ways to spend the afternoon. But no matter your plans, it's worth noting that as of October 31, the park is unstaffed, so you assume all responsibility for your safety. In other words, don't go wandering into Echo Park, or any New Hampshire State Park, if there's a nor'easter on the horizon.

Because of its location, getting to Echo Lake State Park involves some driving. If you fly into Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), you're looking at a 2.5-hour drive north, whereas if you fly into Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) in New Hampshire, the drive is a little shorter. While the former is a bigger airport with more flight options, you'll have to contend with America's city with the worst drivers while getting out of Boston. Portland, Maine, also has an airport, Portland International Jetport (PWM), that's a 90-minute drive northwest to Echo Lake State Park. There is no public transportation to get you directly to the park, so driving is necessary.

If you don't plan on camping at Echo Lake State Park, you have several accommodations in the area. There is, of course, the Omni Mount Washington Resort & Spa in nearby Bretton Woods, a 4-star hotel with gorgeous views of the White Mountains. If you don't want to spend $300+ a night, then North Conway has a handful of chain inns that are between $100 and $200 a night, depending on the time of year. For a unique in-between-priced hotel, there's Stonehurst Manor, which includes breakfast and dinner in its rates.

North Conway is also home to the Muddy Moose Restaurant & Pub, a perfect spot for dinner after a long day of hiking and swimming. Don't worry; there's a lot of meat on the menu, but no moose. If you're in town over the weekend, May Kelly's Cottage is a traditional Irish pub that's open Thursday through Sunday, with live Irish music on Sunday afternoons.