Bear Brook State Park

At 10,000 acres, Bear Brook is one of New Hampshire's largest state parks. It has miles of easy-to-moderate hiking trails that lead to remote marshes, bogs, summits and ponds.

In early morning or evening, the short trail around Hayes Marsh offers good opportunities to view beavers, muskrats and great blue herons.

Other popular hikes includes the Catamount Trail, which ascends Catamount Hill, and the Beaver Pond Loop, which begins and ends at the campground. The 40 miles of wooded hiking trails are open to mountain bikers.

The park also offers swimming, picnicking, archery ranges, a fitness course, canoeing and rowboat rentals.

There are three museums: the National Family Camping Museum and Civilian Conservation Corps Museum, both open daily from Memorial Day through Columbus Day, and the Antique Snowmobile Museum, which is open daily during the summer and on Saturdays off-season.

The 95-site campground includes 93 sites available by reservation only and two on a first-come, first-served basis. Although hook-ups are not available, RVs are welcome where they fit. Reserved camping with full staffing and facilities is available from early June 11 through early October.

The park is located five miles northeast of Hooksett off New Hampshire 28, and two miles east of Allenstown.