Northwood Meadows State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Northwood Meadows State Park is a 674-acre park located in the state of New Hampshire.
°F
°F
mph
Wind
%
Humidity
Summary
The park offers visitors a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, and picnicking. Visitors can also enjoy the park's scenic views of the Northwood Lake and Great Bay.
One of the main attractions of the park is the extensive trail system that offers a range of hiking options for visitors of all skill levels. The trails wind through forests, marshes, and along the shores of Northwood Lake, providing ample opportunities for wildlife viewing and bird watching.
Another point of interest at Northwood Meadows State Park is the lake itself. The lake is a popular destination for fishing enthusiasts, with an abundance of bass, pickerel, and perch. Visitors can also rent kayaks and canoes to explore the lake's calm waters.
Interesting facts about Northwood Meadows State Park include the fact that it was once used as a training ground for World War II soldiers, and that the park is home to a variety of rare plant and animal species.
The best time of year to visit Northwood Meadows State Park is during the warmer months, from May to September, when the park's trails are open and the lake is available for water activities. However, visitors can still enjoy the park during the colder months for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Weather Forecast
Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Pawtuckaway State Reservation
Pawtuckaway State Park
Bear Brook State Park