National Parks in New Hampshire: Explore the 2 New Hampshire National Parks (2022 Update)

Post summary: National Parks in New Hampshire

“Live Free or Die” is the state motto of New Hampshire due to its early role in the American Revolutionary War. As one of the smallest states in the United States, the state is one of the least popular states. The region has a rich history with the Alqonquian-speaking people and is often a center of independent thinking with its finger on the national agenda. New Hampshire was active in abolitiosim and a early center of manufacturing. Today, the state is better known for its lack of income tax and its mountainiou trerrian.

In this article, we will explore the 2 National Parks in New Hampshire. We will provide a brief overview of the park, things to do in the New Hampshire National Parks and provide a map of the National Parks of New Hampshire.

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Map of National Parks in New Hampshire

New Hampshire National Parks

New Hampshire is part of the Northeast Region.

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Depending on where you are from, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail either starts in Mount Katahdin, Maine and ends in Springer Mountain, Georgia, or starts in Springer Mountain, Georgia, and ends in Katahdin, Maine. The Appalachian Trail is 2,181 miles long and passes through 14 states (Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine).

There is 161 miles of trail in the state of New Hampshire.  Almost all is located within the White Mountain National Forest.  The trail climbs to 17 of the 48 mountains over four thousand feet in New Hampshire. The trail is mostly alpine conditions once entering New Hampshire.  The trail is rough.

Every year several thousand people attempt to thru-hike the trail.  Tens of thousands of people will hike sections of the trail each year.  The trail was officially completed in 1937 but the improvement has been ongoing since then.  The trail is maintained by 31 different trail clubs and other partnerships.

Things to do: Hiking, Wildlife Viewing, Scenic Views

How to get to there: There are multiple access points along the trail. Many of which are driveable.

Where to Stay: Along the trail, there are numerous shelters and backcountry campgrounds. Hotels are available in towns along the trail.

Entrance Fee: There is no entrance fee for the Appalachian Trail but the trail passes through numerous state and national parks, forests and public lands which may charge an entrance fee or have overnight permit fees.

Official Website: Click Here

Map: Download

Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park

Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park protects the studio, home, and gardens of Augustus Saint-Gaudens.  Augustus Saint-Gaudens was an American Renaissance sculptor.  Saint-Gaudens is best known for the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial in Boston and Generals John A. Logan in Chicago’s Grant Park and William Tecumseh Sherman in New York City’s Central Park.  He designed several US coins.  These included the famed $20 double gold eagle and the $10 Indian Head gold eagle.

Saint-Gaudens purchased this property in 1885 and used it as a summer residence.  From 1900 until his death, Saint-Gaudens lived and worked on the site year-round.

Visitors to Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park take guided tours of the Blow-Me-Down Farm and tours of the house.  Several different types of tours are offered these included house tours, tours about Saint-Gaudens artistic process, Saint-Gaudens works, and women in Saint-Gaudens life.  There are several hiking trails on the site and it isn’t uncommon to see artists working.

Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park was established on May 30, 1977, as National Historic Site.  It was elevated to a Historical Park on March 12, 2019.

Things to do: Cell Phone Tour, Sculptural Exhibits, Summer Concerts, Hiking, Star Viewing, Sculpture Workshops

How to get there: Saint Gaudens is located at

139 Saint Gaudens Road, Cornish, New Hampshire, 03745 and is just of NH route 12 A and is south of West Lebanon.

Where to Stay: Lodging can be found in Cornish, New Hampshire, or surrounding towns.

Entrance Fee: $10 per person or free with an America the Beautiful Pass.

Official Website: Click Here

Map: Download

List of National Parks in New Hampshire

There are 2 National Parks in New Hampshire and they received 13,286 visitors in 2020 and generated over $1 million in tourism economic benefits.

• Appalachian National Scenic Trail (CT, GA, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV)
• Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park

New Hampshire National Parks also provides support and management to 1 National Heritage Area, 2 Wild & Scenic Rivers, and 1 other National Trail as well as 804 National Register of Historic Places Listings.

There are 23 National Historic Landmarks, 11National Natural Landmarks, 289 Places recorded by the Heritage Documentation Program, and over 58,986 objects in the New HampshireNational Parks Museum Collections. There are 19 Archaeological Sites in the New Hampshire National Parks.

New Hampshire is home to 75 State Parks.

Frequently Asked Questions about New Hampshire National Parks

Does New Hampshire have any national parks?

No, New Hampshire does not have any National Park Service sites holding the designation “National Park.” While it doesn’t have an official National Park, it does have 2 National Park Service Units – Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park.

>>> Learn more about the different NPS designations.

How many national parks does New Hampshire have?

New Hampshire has two national parks but no National Parks. The two National Park Service sites in New Hampshire are Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park

What are the two national parks in New Hampshire?

The two national parks of New Hampshire are Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park.

Is the White Mountains a national park?

No. White Mountain National Forest is a National Forest. National Forests are managed by the U.S. Forest Service which is under the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

New Hampshire’s Neighboring States

Planning to visit a few of the National Parks in New Hampshire and wandering about what national parks are in neighboring states. Here are the list of National Parks in surrounding states.

• Maine National Parks – Maine is home to Acadia National Park and 3 other NPS Units.
• Massachusetts National Parks – Massachusetts is home to 16 NPS units.
• Vermont National Parks – Vermont is has 2 NPS units.

Final Thoughts on the National Parks of New Hampshire

I hope this guide to the National Parks of New Hampshire is helpful as you plan to explore these amazing National Parks.

Do you have any questions about New Hampshire’s National Park or need help planning your National Park trips. Let me know in the comments or join me in my National Park Trip Planning Community!

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