Best New Hampshire Outdoor Activities

Skiing: Ski areas abound in New Hampshire, among them Bretton Woods, Mt. Sunapee, Waterville Valley, and Cannon Mountain. For cross-country skiing, nothing beats Gunstock Mountain Resort, with 32 miles of trails, also open for snowshoeing. Or visit Franconia Village, which has 40 miles of cross-country trails.

Biking: Many ski resorts in the White Mountains offer mountain-biking opportunities, providing chairlift rides to the mountaintop and trails for all skill levels at the bottom. Some of the state's best road biking is along the Kancamagus Highway and around Lake Sunapee.

Hiking: For the adventurous, hiking the White Mountains or along the Appalachian Trail is the reason for visiting. There are plenty of less strenuous day hikes in the White Mountain National Forest and in state parks like Pisgah in Cheshire County, Crawford Notch and Franconia Notch state parks in the Whites, around Lake Winnipesaukee, and Mt. Monadnock.