Echo Lake State Park is a public recreation area in North Conway, New Hampshire, that features 15.7-acre (6.4 ha) Echo Lake and two rock ledges with scenic views, Cathedral Ledge and White Horse Ledge.[2] Activities include swimming, hiking, non-motorized boating, picnicking and fishing. There is a one-mile trail around the lake.
| Echo Lake State Park | |
|---|---|
 Echo Lake from Cathedral Ledge | |
 | |
| Location | 60 Echo Lake Road, North Conway, Carroll County, New Hampshire |
| Coordinates | 44°03′11″N 71°09′25″W / 44.053°N 71.157°W |
| Elevation | 476 feet (145 m)[1] |
| Administered by | New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation |
| Designation | New Hampshire state park |
| Website | Echo Lake State Park |
A mile-long auto road and hiking trails lead to the top of Cathedral Ledge (summit elevation 1,159 ft or 353 m) with views across the Saco River Valley to the White Mountains and Kearsarge North.[3][4]
Both Cathedral Ledge and White Horse Ledge are popular for rock and ice climbing.[5][6]
History
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In 1899, Cathedral Ledge was purchased for $1,000 by a group of area visitors and local residents, and in 1900, White Horse Ledge was purchased.[7] Both were later deeded to the State of New Hampshire. In 1943, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests joined with the state to raise funds to buy Echo Lake, protecting it from commercial development.[8]
References
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- ^ "Echo Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Echo Lake State Park". New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
- ^ "Cathedral Ledge Trail". All Trails. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
- ^ "Cathedral Ledge". Franklin Sites Hiking Guide. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
- ^ "Cathedral Ledge Rock Climbing". Mountain Project. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
- ^ "White Horse Ledge". Mountain Project. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
- ^ "Echo Lake State Park". North Conway, NH. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
- ^ "Trail Map & Park Information" (PDF). New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
External links
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- Echo Lake State Park New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources