Miller State Park became the first state park in New Hampshire in 1891 and was named after General James Miller, who fought in the War of 1812. The park is home to Pack Monadnock Mountain, which stands at 2,290 feet and has five routes to its summit. Historically, visitors traveled by horse and wagon to the top to have lunch and take in the view.
Today, the mountain still serves as a scenic picnic spot, and visitors can opt to drive their vehicle up the paved seasonal road to the summit, or choose from hiking trails ranging from 1.4 miles to 3.8 miles each way. Two of these trails start right from the main entrance and parking area for the park, making a great loop option that ascends the steeper Wapack Trail and descends the better-graded Marion Davis Trail. There are interpretive signs, picnic tables, outhouses and potable water at the summit. An old shelter provides a place to take shade or cover from the weather, and a trail leads to the Audubon Society’s Raptor Viewing Area, where you can watch for hawks during the fall migration. The fire tower, built in 1939, still stands on the top, providing a view for those who climb the stairs. On clear days, various viewpoints around the summit area provide views of the White Mountains, Mount Monadnock, Manchester, New Hampshire, and Boston, Massachusetts.
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