Echo Lake State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Echo Lake State Park |
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Echo Lake from Cathedral Ledge
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| Location | 60 Echo Lake Road, North Conway, Carroll County, New Hampshire |
| Elevation | 476 feet (145 m) |
| Administered by | New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation |
| Designation | New Hampshire state park |
| Website | Echo Lake State Park |
Echo Lake State Park is a super cool place in North Conway, New Hampshire! It's a public park where you can have tons of fun outdoors. The park has a beautiful lake called Echo Lake, which is about 15.7 acres big. It also has two amazing rock formations, Cathedral Ledge and White Horse Ledge, which offer fantastic views.
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Fun Things to Do at Echo Lake State Park
At Echo Lake State Park, there are lots of things to do! You can go swimming in the clear waters of Echo Lake, or take a peaceful boat ride. Only non-motorized boats like kayaks or canoes are allowed. If you love to walk, there's a nice one-mile trail that goes all the way around the lake.
You can also enjoy a picnic with your family and friends. Fishing is another popular activity here.
Exploring Cathedral Ledge
Cathedral Ledge is a famous part of the park. You can drive a mile-long road or hike up trails to reach the top. From the summit, which is about 1,159 feet high, you get incredible views! You can see across the Saco River Valley and all the way to the amazing White Mountains. You can also spot Kearsarge North in the distance.
Rock Climbing Adventures
Both Cathedral Ledge and White Horse Ledge are very popular spots for rock climbing. People who love adventure come here to climb the tall rock faces. In winter, when the conditions are right, some even go ice climbing!
How Echo Lake State Park Was Protected
The history of Echo Lake State Park is quite interesting. Back in 1899, a group of visitors and local people worked together to buy Cathedral Ledge for $1,000. This helped protect it from being developed. The very next year, in 1900, White Horse Ledge was also purchased.
Later on, both of these special ledges were given to the State of New Hampshire. This made sure they would be protected for everyone to enjoy. In 1943, a group called the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests joined with the state. They helped raise money to buy Echo Lake itself. This important step kept the lake safe from commercial buildings and kept it natural and beautiful.
