Hidden in the 400-acre Greenfield State Park, you’ll find bogs, ponds, and a forest that goes all the way to the shores of Otter Lake. You can find plenty of activities to do, such as canoeing, hiking, fishing, swimming, and picnicking. The trails and walking paths will take you to many different points of interest as well.
Greenfield State Park is located in the beautiful and rustic Monadnock Region of New Hampshire. Mount Monadnock, featured by some of New England’s most famous writers like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, is just 20 miles away from Greenfield State Park. The mountain, standing at 3,165 feet above sea level, is surrounded by thousands of acres of protected highlands and is one of the area’s favorite hiking destinations.
Located in the southwest corner of New Hampshire, the 400-acre Greenfield State Park is a recreational hotspot all year. The park’s main facilities operate on a seasonal schedule, but the park’s gates open during every season so that visitors can participate in a variety of off-season activities like snowmobiling and snowshoeing. If you want to do some skiing, you can head down to Miller State Park, which is just 11 miles to the south. This park is the home of the 2,290-foot Pack Monadnock Mountain. You can also visit the master of all of the mountains in the area at Monadnock State Park, which is 20 miles to the southwest.
Swimming, fishing, as well as hiking at nearby Monadnock, are favorite activities of campers at Greenfield State Park. There is a 900-foot beach for campers only, canoe and kayak rentals, a camp store, a dump station, and showers are available. Pets are permitted in designated areas such as campsites. Pets must be leashed and supervised at all times and are not allowed on the beaches. The park store, located next to the lake, functions as a gift shop and small grocery and sells souvenirs and refreshments, and makes camping even more comfortable knowing there are comforts of home close to the parked RV.
Just off of NH-136 and NH-31, Greenfield State Park is 28 miles west of Manchester, New Hampshire, and 105 miles northeast of Springfield, Massachusetts. From the north or south, you can take US-202; from the west, you’ll take NH-9, and from the east I-93 and I-293 will be your best choices. The park is only six miles from the 1,672-acre Wapack National Wildlife Refuge, which was the first refuge in the state. You will also be less than 10 miles from Evas Marsh State Wildlife Management Area, where you can find 397 acres of wetlands and uplands as well as a plethora of wildlife.
The roads to the park are flat and well-graded for the most part, although you may run into some hills and curves further inside the park. It is best to drive slowly and enjoy the scenery while watching for any wild critters that may be crossing the roads here. The park roads are well-graded and nicely groomed so you should not have any trouble getting to your campsite.
Park visitors must pay a daily admission fee. Prices vary by age and residency and season passes are available. If the pay station is unstaffed during the season, please access the self-serve pay station (Iron Ranger). Please note that there is limited space in some of the parking areas for boats and trailers.
Stay at the Greenfield State Park Campground and experience rustic New Hampshire. This pet-friendly, primitive-style campground offers guests back-in gravel sites from 20 to 38 feet in length. Each space has a grill and a fire ring. There are no hookups, but the campground has potable water and a dump station. In addition to RV amenities, there are restrooms and showers located conveniently throughout the area. Please silence your generators during the park’s quiet hours from 10 PM to 7 AM.
Open from Memorial Day until Columbus Day; you can reserve your spot up to 11 months in advance. Canoe and paddleboat rentals, a camp store, showers, a dump station, and a separate 900-foot beach for campers only are available. Swimming, fishing, and boating are favorite activities of campers, as well as hiking at nearby Mount Monadnock. There are 248 campsites available with 231 available by reservation, and the rest are first-come, first-served. Pets are permitted in designated areas such as campsites. Pets must be leashed and supervised at all times and are not allowed on the beaches.
If you have a large group or big family, there are four group campsites by Mud Pond off of the main campground road. Three of these sites can accommodate up to 40 people, while the other can only handle up to 25 guests. None of the group sites have utilities, but there is potable water access nearby as well as an RV sanitation dump site for your convenience. All sites have several picnic tables, and campfire rings with grills for cooking.
You’ll be able to enjoy a partly shaded spot where you can get out of the sun no matter which site you choose, and they are all within walking distance of Hogback Pond as well as Mud Pond. Pets are welcome as long as you keep them properly restrained while you are visiting the park. Pets are not allowed on the beach. Three of these sites are ADA accessible, as is the nearest restroom. Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance.
Spend the day fishing on Otter Lake, the biggest body of water in Greenfield State Park. The small, 135-acre lake has both shoreline fishing and boat fishing. If you bring a boat, be aware that Otter Lake requires that motorized boats stay at trolling speed or lower. The park offers limited trailer parking near the boat ramp, and the boat ramp is considered narrow. Otter Lake has fish like yellow perch, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, bluegill, chain pickerel, and brown bullhead. For licensing information, contact New Hampshire Fish and Game.
Greenfield State Park’s small campground store rents boats and kayaks to park guests. Park patrons may rent boats hourly, by the half-day, full-day, or even weekly. Please bring a driver’s license to rent boats. Life vests and oars and paddles are included in the cost of the rental. Boaters can access the water by using the boat launch on Otter Lake. There is a parking area, a picnic beach, restrooms, a playground, and a camp store located near the boat launch.
Although you may not be able to find any major trails set up just for ATV riding in the park, you can ride around the park roads as long as you are careful. However, if you want more space to ride, head up NH-31 less than five miles to the Hillsborough Recreational Rail Trail. The trailhead is just off Antrim Road across from the Contoocook River Reservoir. You can ride this trail 7.8 miles into the woods and along the Contoocook River. The trail is mostly packed earth or gravel, but some areas are soft sand, and it is wooded and rugged in some places. Make sure you wear a helmet for safety.
You cannot go on an RV camping trip to a park that has so many bodies of water without doing some swimming. Pack those beach toys and towels because there are three beaches at Greenfield State Park. The first is the designated Campers Beach between Otter Lake and Beaver Pond. Another smaller one named Picnic Beach is by the playgrounds and picnic area to the east of the lake. And there is a third in between the two beaches called the Middle Beach.
Spend the day exploring the park on foot. Venture from the camping area out to the hiking loop or take one of the trails to visit Beaver Pond, Mud Pond, Hogback Pond, or Spruce Swamp. Almost all of the trails access the park’s road or some of the park’s main facilities at some point along the route. Restrooms, picnic areas, and trash cans are also located conveniently near many of the trails. If you bring your pet, please keep it leashed and away from all public beach areas. Pick up a park map for more detailed trail information.
New Hampshire is one of the best states for snowmobiling. Whether you own a snowmobile or want to rent one for the day, you will find trails in and around the park that will give you a day of snow-filled adventure! To ride inside of the park’s boundaries, park your vehicles and trailers near the park headquarters. If you prefer to ride outside of the Greenfield State Park boundaries, park your trailer at Oak Park, which is located across the street from Greenfield State Park. Always check weather conditions and park operations before snowmobiling, as certain conditions may impact trail usage or park hours.
During the off-season, Greenfield State Park remains open for winter recreation. If you don’t have snowshoes, rent your gear at any of the local outfitters, and bring everything with you to the park for a day out on the trails. During the winter, there may be limited staff on duty, so always be aware of the weather and other advisories, and consider planning your activities with another person. See the park from a different perspective: a wintery perspective!
Connecting people with New Hampshire’s natural habitats is one of the main goals of the New Hampshire State Parks system and the Student Conservation Association. Discover the Power of Parks puts together programs during the summer and fall that educate and entertain guests on topics relating to the state’s natural resources and cultural history. Program participants who complete five different park programs can earn a complimentary patch to recognize their accomplishments.
