Echo Lake State Park (home to Cathedral Ledge and White Horse Ledge) Conway, New Hampshire

Continuing our travels in the White Mountains, another interesting place to visit is Echo Lake State Park, located in Conway, New Hampshire.  Besides Echo Lake, the state park is home to Cathedral Ledge and White Horse Ledge.  The Lake is pristine and when the Park is open to the public starting on Memorial Day through Labor Day, swimming is allowed in the park along with other activities.  When we visited, the gate was closed and we had to park along the road and walked into the Lake.  Overlooking the lake is White Horse Ledge with Cathedral Ledge off in the distance.  These ledges were formed during the retreat of the last ice-age, leaving sheer granite faces on both ledges.  There are hiking trails leading to both Cathedral and White Horse Ledges.  There is also an easy 1 mile hiking trail around Echo Lake.  For a greater vista view of the area you can drive up a 1 mile auto road that leads to Cathedral Ledge, where it is a short walk to reach the fenced in vista area.  The sheer granite face of Cathedral Ledge is a favorite spot for rock climbers.

Panorama looking across Echo Lake toward White Horse Ledge and Cathedral Ledge

Echo Lake and Cathedral Ledge

White Horse Ledge

People looking over the vista at the top of Cathedral Ledge

Granite of Cathedral ledge

Cathedral Ledge Vista

Cathedral Ledge Vista

View of Cranmore ski area and Mount Cranmore from Cathedral ledge

Echo Lake from Cathedral Ledge