State and local parks of Merrimack Valley region provide fun for all tastes

Pawtuckaway State Park offers a pleasant swimming beach on Pawtuckaway Lake; lots of hiking trails, to and elevated point with a fire tower, a marsh that houses beavers, deer, and great blue herons, and a glacial boulder field.
Pawtuckaway State Park Campground has wooded 192 sites on Pawtuckaway Lake. Each site has a fireplace, picnic table, tent ground, and parking. Amenities include showers, running water, flush toilets, a camp store, boat launch, and boat rentals.
Hiking information.
Hiking map.
Camping information.
Campground map.

At 10,000 acres, Bear Brook State Park is the largest full-service park in the Granit State. It has 40 miles of trails through forest, hilltops, and marches. Trails are open to hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. Trail map. Trail information.
The park allows swimming, fishing and other water sports on Catamount Pond. Visitors can rent canoes, kayaks and paddle boats on weekends.
The park has a 100-site campground. See Campground map.
The park has two archery ranges; one is operated by the N.H. fish and Game Departments and the other is wheelchair accessible. Users must bring their own archery equipment. A group of museums in the park include the New Hampshire Antique Snowmobile Museum, Old Allenstown Meeting House, and the Civilian Conservation Corps Museum.
Fees: Admission is $4 for adults; $2 for children ages 6-11; children ages 5 and under and NH residents age 65 and over are admitted free. Season passes are available.; see top of page.