As someone who travels all around to explore the state’s hiking trails, I can assure you that we have an abundance of them. Some of these are located right in the towns we live in, while the more well-known ones are spread out across the White Mountain National Forest. One trail in particular is located at one of the most significant historic sites in New Hampshire and has a direct connection to national forests across the eastern United States.

The Weeks Estate in Lancaster was built in 1912 by John Wingate Weeks.
Public domain/Wikimedia Commons
His 1911 legislation, the Weeks Act, paved the way for the creation of the White Mountain National Forest.
Today, the estate has been preserved as part of Weeks State Park.
Weeks State Park Association/Facebook
The home was given to the state of New Hampshire in 1941.
Weeks State Park Association/Facebook
Weeks State Park does have an auto road that leads to the top, but to get the most out of the experience here, it's best to hit the hiking trails.
Weeks State Park Association/Facebook
Around The Mountain Trail makes a three-mile circuit around the base of Mt. Prospect and connects to other routes that lead to the summit.
Elena Nilhas/All Trails
Around The Mountain Trail offers easy walking through attractive forests.
Daren Adair/All Trails
Hikers can enjoy the woods down here or take side trips to the summit.
Without John Wingate Weeks' foresight, what we know today as the White Mountain National Forest would not have come to be.
George Miller/All Trails

For more information on visiting Weeks State Park and the Weeks Estate, visit the Weeks State Park website and the Weeks State Park Association website.

In addition to the Weeks Estate, there are plenty of other historic sites to see around the state, including this former military installation at the seacoast and a former artist’s retreat in the Upper Valley. You can also make a weekend of visiting historic sites by booking an Airbnb stay.

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Weeks State Park, 200 Week's State Park Rd, Lancaster, NH 03584, USA