Peterborough offers several distinct points of interest for planning a trip: the summit of Pack Monadnock, hiking trails and boat facilities at Edward MacDowell Lake, and art, multimedia, and summer theater. At the mountain, the main choice is between driving and hiking. At the lake, trails meet opportunities to launch boats and canoes or kayaks. The cultural offerings also vary by format and season. Consider whether the summit, the lake, or exhibitions and theater will shape your travel days; this can help you tailor your stay to your interests.

Pack Monadnock: Drive or Hike to the Summit

Miller State Park is located on the 2,290-foot summit and slope of Pack Monadnock in Peterborough. A winding, paved road leads 1.3 miles to the scenic summit. It is seasonally open to visitors to drive. This makes driving to the summit a distinct option alongside hiking up on foot. Take the seasonal opening into account when planning, and check before driving whether the road is open to visitors on your planned visit date.

Three main hiking trails lead to the summit of Pack Monadnock, where there is also a fire tower. The two options differ clearly in how you get there: you can take the paved road, if it is seasonally open, or choose one of the main hiking trails. The summit is the shared destination. When planning your trip, you can first decide whether driving or hiking will be the main focus, and include the fire tower as another destination at the summit.

Hiking Trails and Water Activities at Edward MacDowell Lake

Edward MacDowell Lake in Peterborough has hiking trails, a boat ramp, and a launch area for canoes and kayaks that can be carried from a vehicle to the water. This combination distinguishes the lake from the summit area: here, trails are complemented by facilities for boats and portable canoes or kayaks. If you would like to plan more than a hike during your stay, these different facilities offer a practical way to connect a visit to the lake with your interests. The boat ramp and launch area are separate options for getting watercraft onto the water.

Art and Summer Theater

The Mariposa Museum in Peterborough offers art and multimedia exhibitions about a diverse, multicultural world. It brings together two forms of expression in one offering: exhibitions that combine art with multimedia and explore a multicultural world. For travelers looking for a cultural focus in addition to the mountain and lake, the museum offers another way to experience Peterborough.

The Peterborough Players Theater is 3 miles from downtown Peterborough and produces high-quality professional live theater. Each summer season features five mainstage productions, running from mid-June through late August. Unlike the museum, the theater productions have a specific seasonal time frame. If you would like to include a stage production in your stay, you can take this period into account when choosing your travel dates and check the specific performance dates in advance.

When to Visit and Find a Hotel

If you would like the Peterborough Players Theater to be part of your stay, plan around the summer period from mid-June through late August and check the performance dates. For a drive to the summit of Pack Monadnock, the seasonal opening of the park road matters. Factor these two different conditions into your plans before booking your accommodation.

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