Situated in the northeast section of the United States, New Hampshire shares borders with Quebec to the north, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, as well as Massachusset and Vermont to the south. With the White Mountains found in the center of the state as a section of the Appalachian Mountains, combined with its proximity and ocean access to the Atlantic Ocean, New Hampshire is the perfect fusion of alpine and coastal recreation. In the center of the map sprawling across 1,225 square miles is the White Mountain National Forest, which is bisected by the Appalachian Trail as it enters the northeast section of the forest and exits the southwest section of the forest. This national forest is packed with high mountain peaks, state parks, mesmerizing waterfalls and historic railways. Of all the peaks, the forest’s largest peak, Mount Washington, stands at 6,288 ft. Visitors can enjoy an easy journey to the top of this peak via the Cog Railway, a rare mountain-climbing railway that can reach the summit in just an hour. Along with breathtaking mountain views, the forest features one of the most scenic drives that sets the scene for fall to steal the show of all the seasons. Some of the most stunning views of fall foliage in the United States are found in New Hampshire in the White Mountains National Forest, which can be seen from the Kancamagus Scenic Byway. The “Kanc” as locals refer to it, is a 34.5 mile section of Route 112 that is famous for its views of vibrant autumnal hues that dazzle the mountainsides in early September to mid October.
Although the scenic byway is undoubtedly the most visited section of the forest with its unparalleled views, there are other sites within the forest boundaries that equally add to the grandeur of the natural environment such as: Glen Ellis Falls, Silver Cascade, Arethusa Falls, Cloudland Falls, Sabbaday Falls, Avalanche Falls, Crawford Notch, Franconia Notch and Flume Gorge. Landmark features also highlighted on the map feature a variety of landmark bridges as well as small towns including: Sentinel Pine Bridge, Cornish-Windsor bridge, Bath-Haverhill bridge, and the Albany Bridge.
While many of the most outstanding features of the map can be found within the White Mountains National forest, the rest of the state is filled with classic mountainous east coast sites, pre and post-settlement landmarks and wildlife. In the southeast corner of the state stemming from the 18 mile long coastline New Hampshire has as access to the Atlantic, are remnants of the earliest European settlers to the New England region. Located in and around the cities of Portsmouth, Exeter, Durham, and Dover are historical landmarks including: John Paul Jones House, Strawberry Banke featuring Strawberry Banke Museum. Further west, in the southern central section of the state, near the city of Manchester, is the State Capitol Building in Concord. With Boston only 64 miles away, as a center for prestigious higher education, New Hampshire is home to Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire to add to the strides made in advancing education in the northeast.
Further north, just south of White Mountain National Forest, is Lake Winnipesaukee, the largest lake in New Hampshire and originally inhabited by the Abenaki people. Along with other smaller surrounding lakes, people from all along the northeast coast have come to enjoy the recreation opportunities the lake offers.
In addition to Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire has various other alpine lakes scattered throughout its boundaries including: Ossipee Lake, Lake Sunapee, Umbagog Lake, Lake Francis, First Connecticut Lake and more. The coast and mountain access invited adventurers of all types interested in hiking, camping, backpacking, skiing, snowmobiling, fishing, kayaking, swimming and more to enjoy the endless opportunities to venture outside in New Hampshire.
Not only does this map highlight the splendor of the land and the ways in which outdoor enthusiasts to lose track of time in the wild, it also celebrates the vast variety of plants and wildlife found all across the state including: black bears, mule deer, moose, loons, Karner Blue butterflies, purple lilacs and more.
