Top state parks
State ParkFranconia Notch State Park
State ParkOdiorne Point State Park
State ParkMount Washington State Park
State ParkRhododendron State Park
State ParkPawtuckaway State Park
State ParkCardigan Mountain State Park
State ParkBear Brook State Park
State ParkWallis Sands State Park
State ParkPillsbury State Park
State ParkDixville Notch State Park
State ParkEllacoya State Park
State ParkHampton Beach State Park
State Parks by county
- Belknap County3
- Carroll County3
- Cheshire County3
- Coos County7
- Grafton County4
- Hillsborough County3
- Merrimack County5
- Rockingham County11
All state parks (40)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franconia Notch State Park | Grafton County | — | Deerfield | 3 |
| Odiorne Point State Park | Rockingham County | — | New Castle | 5 |
| Mount Washington State Park | Coos County | — | Gorham | 3 |
| Rhododendron State Park | Cheshire County | — | Fitzwilliam | 4 |
| Pawtuckaway State Park | Rockingham County | — | Nottingham | 5 |
| Cardigan Mountain State Park | Grafton County | — | Grafton | 3 |
| Bear Brook State Park | Merrimack County | — | Candia | 5 |
| Wallis Sands State Park | Rockingham County | — | Rye | 5 |
| Pillsbury State Park | Sullivan County | — | Lempster | 4 |
| Dixville Notch State Park | Coos County | — | Colebrook | 2 |
| Ellacoya State Park | Belknap County | — | Gilford | 4 |
| Hampton Beach State Park | Rockingham County | — | Hampton Beach | 5 |
| Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area | Cheshire County | — | Westmoreland | 4 |
| Jenness State Beach | Rockingham County | — | Rye | 5 |
| Kingston State Park | Rockingham County | — | Kingston | 6 |
| Rye Harbor State Park | Rockingham County | — | Rye | 5 |
| Echo Lake-Cathedral Ledge State Park | Carroll County | — | North Conway | 3 |
| Miller State Park | Hillsborough County | — | Temple | 5 |
| Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion | Rockingham County | — | New Castle | 6 |
| Moose Brook State Park | Coos County | — | Gorham | 3 |
| Robert Frost Farm | Rockingham County | — | Derry Village | 7 |
| Silver Lake State Park | Hillsborough County | — | Hollis | 6 |
| Jericho Mountain State Park | Coos County | — | Berlin | 4 |
| White Island State Historic Site | Rockingham County | — | Rye | 4 |
| Wellington State Park | Grafton County | — | Grafton | 3 |
| Greenfield State Park | Hillsborough County | — | Greenfield | 4 |
| Clough State Park | Merrimack County | — | Weare | 5 |
| Coleman State Park | Coos County | — | Colebrook | 2 |
| Mount Sunapee State Park | Merrimack County | — | Newbury | 4 |
| North Hampton State Beach | Rockingham County | — | North Hampton | 5 |
| Monadnock State Park | Cheshire County | — | Jaffrey | 4 |
| Hannah Duston Memorial State Historic Site | Merrimack County | — | Boscawen | 5 |
| Mollidgewock State Park | Coos County | — | Milan | 2 |
| Ahern State Park | Belknap County | — | Laconia | 5 |
| Crawford Notch State Park | Carroll County | — | Deerfield | 3 |
| Endicott Rock | Belknap County | — | Meredith | 4 |
| Umbagog Lake State Park | Coos County | — | Milan | 2 |
| Governor Wentworth Historic Site | Carroll County | — | Wolfeboro | 4 |
| Bedell Bridge State Park | Grafton County | — | Haverhill | 5 |
| Winslow State Park | Merrimack County | — | Andover | 4 |
Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).
Map
How to photograph state parks
State parks often protect a signature feature — a gorge, lake or overlook — that is best in early morning before visitors and harsh light arrive.
- Check park hours: many state parks close at dusk, which affects sunset and night shooting.
- Ask rangers about photography permits for commercial work, models or drones.
- Weekday mornings are the least crowded at popular viewpoints.
- Trail maps often mark overlooks — combine them with the sun azimuth to plan.
- Day-use fees or passes are common; buy them online before arriving.
Season: Spring wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.