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Weeks State Park on Mt Prospect is a hidden gem! We have been to New Hampshire many, many times and had never gone up this auto road to explore, that is until now! This was not on our schedule for this trip, but as we drove by Trevor decided to turn up the auto road. What a beautiful adventure was waiting for us!
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The 446-acre Weeks State Park is in Lancaster NH. It offers several multi-use trails, an auto road with a couple of lookout points, and at the summit is the John Wingate Weeks Historical Site. This site includes a manor, carriage house, and a fire tower.
This beautiful estate, built in 1912 for John Wingate Weeks, sits at the top of Mt. Prospect and overlooks the Connecticut River. It was given to the state of New Hampshire in in 1941 by his children. It features hiking trails and beautiful views of the countryside. There is also a small museum in the main house.
Set at the very top of Mt. Prospect, the house and grounds provide a 360-degree view of amazing mountains, including the Presidential Range of the White Mountains, the Green Mountains of VT, the Kilkenny Range, the Percy Peaks, and the upper Connecticut River Valley.
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There is a beautiful fieldstone fire tower on the property, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Lookout Towers. The tower is open to the public when there is a warden on duty, otherwise it is locked. The day we were there it was locked up tight!
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The John Wingate Weeks House Museum is open to the public and tours are offered during the operating season, so be sure to check the days/times before visiting if you want to see the museum. There is also a small fee to enter.
John Wingate Weeks was a leading conservationist, U.S. congressman, U.S. senator, and Secretary of War under Presidents Harding and Coolidge. Weeks was largely responsible for passing the Weeks Law, which authorized the federal government to purchase lands to be permanently reserved, held, and administered as national forest lands. This led to the establishment of the White Mountain National Forest, which is now over 780,000 acres!
Weeks died in 1926 while living in his beautiful home on the top of Mt. Prospect. This amazing park is open from late June to Labor Day, and then most weekends until Columbus Day. If you have time, I highly recommend a stop at this beautiful state park located at 200 Weeks State Park Road, Lancaster, NH.
Have you already visited this hidden gem? If so, leave us a comment below, we’d love to hear about your adventure! There is so much to see and explore in NH!
Wow! This place looks awesome! My husband rides motorcycles so we may have to put this spot on our travel bucket list. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Kelly, definitely put it on your list for a stop while on the bike!! It is so pretty, the auto road is gorgeous!
This looks and sounds amazing.
Hi LaRena–I agree-amazing!! Loved everything about this stop. The auto rode up the mountain is beautiful, and of course the view from the top is amazing!
What a beautiful hidden gem! We’ve been to NH many times and it never gets old. Always excited to learn about somewhere new to visit!
Thanks Christy–we love finding new places like this. We have also been to NH many times and never rode up this moutain, but sure glad we did this time!!
I’ve never visited here but it looks beautiful!
It really is a beautiful mountain and area to visit! If you get the chance to go to NH, I recommend this stop!
Weeks State Park looks like an adventurous park to visit. The spectacular views from Mount Prospect are awesome. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Kevin, it really is a beautiful place, so glad Trevor decided to turn up the auto road!
I would love to live an a house with views like that! And that lookout tower is giving me major Rapunzel vibes! Weeks State Park looks like a beautiful place, I would love to visit someday!
It is really beautiful Paige, I hope you get to visit one day! I would love to live in a house like this too!!