Hiking

Despite its draw, Monadnock isn’t the only peak worth climbing in the area. The Metacomet Trail climbs from the town of Fitzwilliam to the top of the 1,833-foot Little Monadnock, which offers views of its big sister to the east.

The Monadnock-Sunapee Trail snakes its way up and down the ridges of western New Hampshire between the area’s two highest and best-known peaks—Mount Monadnock and Mount Sunapee. The 50-mile trail has five campsites along its length and takes between three and four days to traverse from peak to peak. For more information, contact the Monadnock Sunapee Greenway Trail Club (www.msgtc.org) or look for a copy of the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Trail Guide in local bookstores and outdoor stores.

Farther north, more than 20 miles of trails criss-cross Fox State Forest(Center Rd., Hillsborough, 603/464-3453, www.dred.state.nh.us) on the outskirts of Hillsborough. Trails for both hikers and mountain bikers skirt a landscape of mile-high pines and glacial kettle holes.

Boating

The high volume and fast flows of the Contoocook make it an ideal river for kayaking and canoeing (to say nothing of the pristine scenery of farmland and village church spires). The place to contact is family-run Contoocook River Canoe Company (9 Horse Hill Rd., Concord, 603/753-9804, www.contoocook canoe.com/contoocook.html, $3–34), which hooks up rentals, tours, and shuttle service from its home base in Concord.

Camping

In the shadow of Mount Monadnock, Greenfield State Park (Forest Rd., off Route 136, Greenfield, 603/547-3497, www.nhstateparks.org, $4 adults, $2 children 6–11, free children under 6 and seniors) makes an ideal home base for climbers. Its 200-some campsites ensure that there is almost always availability, while the park’s trails along Otter Lake allow the opportunity for solitude. Campsites are $24 per night. The park also has a small beach and canoe rentals.

© Michael Blanding and Alexandra Hall from Moon New England, 2nd Edition