
Ultimate Guide to Pawtuckaway State Park, New Hampshire (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)
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Pawtuckaway State Park is a massive preserve located in New Hampshire. It is one of the largest state parks in New Hampshire and is named after the Pawtuckaway Mountains and Pawtuckaway Lake. The park is so huge that it stretches from the lake’s west shore to the west side of the mountains.

There are more than 30 caves within the park, but Devil’s Den Cave is the most popular, and many people visit it every year. Apart from the caves, there is a huge lake, trails, marshland, and mountains. There is so much to see here that you can easily spend a day here.
History of Pawtuckaway State Park
The area on which Pawtuckaway State Park is now located comprises multiple streams that collected in spots and formed small ponds. It was then known as Pawtuckaway Pond. Some of the streams that ran through the area emptied themselves into Pawtuckaway River. The work of enlarging the small ponds began with constructing a couple of colonial sawmills. In 1729, Pawtuckaway pond was enlarged by a sawmill, while in 1732, Dolloff Pond was enlarged by another sawmill.
In 1825 the Newmarket Manufacturing Company started acquiring land in this area as they had plans to construct a reservoir. The objective of building the reservoir was to ensure a consistent supply of waterpower to the textile mill in the nearby Newmarket area. A couple of dams and many dikes were created in 1836 that changed the character of the two ponds.
As years passed by, the water power was soon replaced by steam power, and gradually less water was utilized from the lake for the generation of power. But as the water levels slowly rose, the Dolloff Pond and Pawtuckaway Pond merged to form one single body of water. Unfortunately, hard times fell on the Newmarket Manufacturing Company, closing the mill.
The New Hampshire Electric Company took over the reins, and they fitted a couple of dams to generate hydroelectric power. In 1955 the New Hampshire Electric Company deeded the lake, its islands, two dams, the dikes, and the water rights to the state of New Hampshire. In 1958 the Dolloff Pond was merged into Pawtuckaway Pond, and the pond is now being used for recreational purposes only.

Geological Cave Formations
Pawtuckaway Mountains are a small and rocky circular range that forms the outline of an ancient volcanic dike. It was formed around 1300 million years ago, and it was first wholly mapped in 1944. The inner ring is one meter in diameter, and the outer is measured at two miles.
Pawtuckaway State Park boasts more than 30 caves, and these are all great examples of talus caves. Talus caves are openings that were formed between boulders that were piled up on mountain slopes. Most of the caves are small and appear to be in cross-section. Some of the boulder piles have interconnected passages.
Wildlife in Pawtuckaway State Park
There is a huge wetland in the park, which is a great place for viewing exotic species like great blue herons, beavers, waterfowls, turtles, and a wide variety of songbirds. If it is your day, you can even catch a glimpse of a moose or a deer.
You will find flocks of turkeys wandering around in the compound. The other animals that one would spot are raccoons, Great Blue Herons, snapping turtles, and moose. Pawtuckaway State Park is full of wildlife, and you can spot a lot of them if you have patience and the right set of binoculars.
Is Pawtuckaway State Park Haunted?
There are several haunted places in New Hampshire, but thankfully, Pawtuckaway State Park does not ‘qualify’ for the haunted category. The park gets thousands of visitors each year, and everyone loves spending time here.
How Big is Pawtuckaway State Park?
The Pawtuckaway State Park covers an area of approximately 5500 acres.

Pawtuckaway State Park Tours
New Hampshire is an excellent place for spelunkers as Pawtuckaway State Park alone boasts of 33 recorded caves, and most of these were discovered only in 2012. Most of the caves can be found on the Boulder Trail, but Devil’s Den Cave is the most famous. As the name suggests, the Boulder Trail is littered with boulders and popular with the rock-climbing community.
Devil’s Den Cave entrance looks a bit crooked and is almost a 45-degree crawlspace. You need to slide down the entrance hole into the Devil’s Den cave. It is not a massive cave but big enough for you to move around like a true explorer. Most of the areas in the cave have natural light coming through, but for your safety, you may consider a headlamp or a flashlight so that you can see better.
The cave is at the end of the trail, which means that apart from exploring the inside of the cave, you will also get to see the views of the surrounding area. Once you have toured the cave, you need to come back the same way you entered.
Pawtuckaway State Park Tour Prices and Discounts
There is an entrance charge of USD 5 for adults and USD 2 for children between 6 to 11 years of age. Single Kayaks and Kids Kayaks are available for rental for a full day at USD 65.
Is Pawtuckaway State Park Cold?
The temperature inside the park remains the same as the rest of New Hampshire, but the air temperature inside Devil’s Den Cave is a shade cooler.
What to Wear?
Pawtuckaway State Park is a place to have loads of fun. You should bring your whole family here along with hiking shoes, bikes, and swimsuits.
Pawtuckaway State Park Hours
The park gates open from 8 am to 7 pm.
What to Do at Pawtuckaway State Park (Beside Tours)
The park has lots of activities for visitors of all ages, and these are all seasonal. Hiking and wildlife viewing, for example, can be enjoyed in the off-season if you come here in October or November.
Swimming
The top draw of the park is the lake. The large sandy beach is a favorite place among the families, and if you are here during the summer vacation, you can have a hard time finding a spot. The waters are clean and calm and perfect for refreshing yourself.
Boating
The lake’s swimming area is cordoned off, and the rest of the lake can be used to explore by boat. A relaxing time is guaranteed here if you are looking to fish or just hoping for a relaxing time by the waters. You can rent a canoe for yourself or a kayak for the little ones.
Fishing
There is a wide array of angling spots in Pawtuckaway State Park. You may choose to fish from the shore or boat and try your luck in catching pickerel, crappie, bass, or pumpkinseed. However, you need to obtain a fishing license which can be purchased online or at the park store.
Hiking
There is a 2 ½ mile trail that will take you to the summit of South Mountain, and the view along the path is stunning. It is a 908 ft climb that is rewarding at the end – a full 360-degree view of the park. You can come close to the erratic glacial boulders if you hike through the Boulder Field.
Biking
The trail at the park poses a significant challenge for the two-wheelers. There is a 21-mile trail that starts at Mountain Road and travels through much of the park.
Best Time to Visit Pawtuckaway State Park
You can come here between May and September as the beach facilities remain unavailable after mid-September. Devil’s Den Cave, which is inside the park, can be visited any time of the year, but we suggest that you come here when it does not become icy and slippery.
How to Get to Pawtuckaway State Park
One needs to take NH-101 east for about 15 miles to exit-5 for NH-156. Head north on NH-156 for ½ mile. Take a left turn to join NH-27 and then turn right after 0.1 miles to leave NH-27. Now continue north on NH-156, which is also known as Nottingham Road. After 1 ½ mile, turn left onto Mountain Road.
Once you are on this road, you need to continue until you see a large, brown-colored sign on your left that reads – Pawtuckaway State Park. The Mountain Road starts in Raymond and ends in Nottingham.
Hotels near Pawtuckaway State Park
Pawtuckaway State Park has a beautiful campground comprising more than 190 sites. Some of these sites are wooden and afford stunning views of the lake. Each campsite offers a picnic table, parking space, a flat area for setting up a tent, and an open fire ring. However, there are no hook-ups available for any of the campsites. There are quality options like RiverCrest Villas, which is within 12 km of the park when it comes to hotels.
Pawtuckaway State Park Fun Facts
- The state park houses 33 recorded caves, and the majority of them were discovered around 10 to 12 years back.
- The Park has a Carry-in/Carry-out program which means that you need to carry out whatever you are carrying in. The program helps to keep the park clean and beautiful.
- Pets are not allowed in the camping and beach area during the peak season.

Pawtuckaway State Park Details
- Length: 5500 acres
- Time Recommended: 2 to 3 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
- Kid-friendly: Yes
- Dog-friendly: On hiking trails only
- Fees: USD 5 for adults
- Hours: 8 am to 7 pm
Visiting Pawtuckaway State Park
Do you need more information before visiting Pawtuckaway State Park? Call (603) 895-3031 or Pawtuckaway State Park for an information packet.
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