This Friday, after the Thanksgiving feast, take your family outdoors and let nature provide new perspectives on what it means to be grateful.
Sharing the outdoors with family is a healthy and invigorating way to compliment your holiday celebrations. Not only will it help you digest all that turkey and stuffing – it might become a tradition that everyone looks forward to!
Start Here: Find a state park (or rail trail) near you and map out a family-friendly hike. Make it something accessible that any age or ability level can do. Whether you live near the coast, mountains, lakes or city – chances are good that there is a park closer than you think that would make an ideal spot for your family outing.
Need some ideas? Send us a message on Facebook or Instagram.
Use the resources below to help plan your next off-season outing.
Did you know? Our park properties are always open for recreation unless otherwise posted so you can continue to enjoy your favorite recreational activities on public lands all year long.
Visiting with your pets? Remember to keep them on a leash and clean up their waste. See our pet-friendly parks webpage for more information.
Off-season Considerations:
- Other than those listed below, most parks are not staffed and comfort stations are not available.
- Parking lots may not be plowed and gates may be closed during the winter months.
- Where gates are closed and parking lots not open – park in a manner that allows access by others and do not block gates.
- Reservations are not needed at most parks and day-use fees are not collected. (*except Monadnock State Park and the Ski Areas)
- All parks are carry-in/carry-out.
- The off-season poses unique risks inherent when participating in outdoor recreational activities. Recreationists should possess the necessary knowledge, skill, and equipment to ensure their own safety. Users assume all risk while recreating in State Park lands.
Current Off-Season Access and Parking:
Seacoast Region
- South beach: Parking available, bathrooms closed.
- Main beach: Parking available, bathrooms located at Seashell and Lady of the Sea Monument
- North Beach: Parking available, bathrooms located at High Street.
North Hampton State Beach: Parking available, bathrooms closed.
Jenness State Beach: Parking available, bathrooms closed.
Rye Harbor State Park: Parking available, bathrooms closed.
Odiorne Point State Park: Parking available, bathrooms closed.
Wallis Sands State Beach: Parking available, bathrooms closed.
South Region
Monadnock State Park: In operation with services and facilities. Reservations required for hiking.
Bear Brook State Park: parking lots open, plowed and pit toilets provided.
Pawtuckaway State Park: Main parking lot open (at Visitors Center), pit toilets provided. Round Pond Road and Tower Road are not maintained in the off-season.
Miller State Park: parking lot open and pit toilets provided
Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area: parking lot open and pit toilets provided
Northwood Meadows State Park: parking lots open, plowed and pit toilets provided
Greenfield State Park: open for walk-in use (small parking area outside gate), no facilities
Silver Lake State Park: parking lot open, no facilities.
Kingston State Park: open for walk-in use (roadside parking), no facilities
Clough State Park: open for walk-in use (roadside parking), no facilities
Pisgah State Park: open for walk-in use (roadside parking), no facilities
Rhododendron State Park: open for walk-in use (roadside parking), no facilities
Central Region
Crawford Notch State Park: Aresthusa Falls parking lot open, no facilities.
Cathedral Ledge State Park: Parking lot open (but with limited space), no facilities.
White Lake State Park: Main parking lot open, no facilities
Wellington State Park: parking lot open, no facilities
Mt Sunapee State Park: Sunapee Beach parking lot open, no facilities
Ahern State Park: parking lot open, no facilities
Winslow State Park: The gate will stay open until the snow flies. If the gate is closed there is very limited parking and please be respectful of not blocking the road. The hiking trail can be icy this time of year.
*All other Central Region Parks are open for walk-in use with limited parking and no facilities
Franconia Notch State Park
Flume Gorge: parking lots open with no facilities
The Basin: parking lots open with no facilities
Old Bridle Path: parking lots open with no facilities
Boise Rock: northbound only – plowed with pit toilets provided
Lafayette Place: parking lots open with pit toilets provided. Self-serve winter camping available.
Profile Lake: southbound only – parking lots open with no facilities
Great North Woods Region
Beaver Brook Falls Wayside: Parking lots open, plowed and pit toilets provided
Dixville Notch State Park: Parking lots open, plowed and pit toilets provided
Lodges at Coleman State Park: in operation with services and facilities. Lodging available with reservations as well as camper cabins.
Lake Francis State Park: parking lots open, plowed and pit toilets provided
Moose Brook State Park: parking lots open, plowed and pit toilets provided
Jericho Mountain State Park: Parking lots open and plowed, no facilities.
Connecticut Lake Headwaters Working Forest: Parking lots open and plowed, no facilities.
Milan Hill State Park: Parking lots open and plowed, no facilities.
