Pillsbury State Park, Washington NH

• 3-star hikes
• 2 to 9 mile options
• Moderate | Gain 530 to 1,240 feet
• Washington, NH | Sunapee Region
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A vibrant autumn landscape features a large tree on the left adorned with fiery orange and red leaves above colorful underbrush. The tree stands at the edge of a tranquil blue pond, which reflects the clear sky above filled with light, wispy cirrus clouds. A small sandy shoreline leads into the water, surrounded by grassy banks and a forest of evergreen and deciduous trees displaying vivid fall foliage. In the background, rolling hills rise under the expansive bright blue sky, creating a serene and colorful outdoor scene.

All three hikes begin at the trailhead by Mill Pond.

Known for its quiet woodlands, secluded ponds, and rich wetlands, Pillsbury State Park offers a peaceful escape for hiking, mountain biking, paddling, and camping. While many routes follow broad snowmobile corridors, narrower single-track paths lead deep into the forest, including a stretch of the 51-mile Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway. Traces of early history hide along these trails, from 18th-century cellar holes to historic remnants from when the area was called Cherry Valley.

Below are three of the most popular hiking routes, featuring a range of distances and terrain to suit your trip. We've capped our ratings at three stars. While the park delivers classic New Hampshire woodland solitude, it lacks standout scenic features, and the state park service misses opportunities to elevate the experience, such as clearing viewpoints or extending trails to true summits like Bryant Mountain.

Trail Options Expand KMZ · Google Earth ·

⬤ 3★ Kittredge Hill Loop 4.4 mi loop, moderate, gain 890 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions GPX?

⬤ 3★ Balance Rock 2.0 mi out & back, moderate, gain 530 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions

⬤ Lucia's Lookout [Y] 8.7 mi loop, gain 1,240 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions

$ State Park fee per person Y Yet to review

⬤ 3★ Kittredge Hill Loop 4.4 mi, 890 ft
Partial pond views, short hill climb.
Unofficially known as Ponds Loop on AllTrails, this route combines the wide Five Summers and Bear Pond Trails with a section of the narrower Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Trail. The Greenway section leads through both deciduous and pine forest and over a tree-covered summit. There are partial views of Bear Pond from Five Summers Trail. Logging outside the park’s southeastern boundary has opened a broad view in the direction of Lovewell Mountain.

⬤ 3★ Balance Rock 2.0 mi, 530 ft
Moderate hill hike.
This narrow one-mile trail leads up the side of Bryant Mountain without any steep sections and ends at a glacial erratic boulder that appears precariously balanced. Bryant Mountain is the tallest in the park, but there is no trail to its summit. We bushwhacked towards it to reach the top all the same, and can confirm there is no view from the summit.

A cascading waterfall flows through a narrow, rocky gorge at Pillsbury State Park. The rushing water plunges between moss-covered stone walls, creating a swirl of white foam in the dark pool below. Vibrant autumn foliage frames the scene, with brilliant yellow, orange, and red maple leaves lining the banks and overhanging the stream. The surrounding forest is dense with trees displaying peak fall colors, casting a warm, natural glow over the rugged stone channel.

Mill Pond Falls, located just east of the trailhead.

⬤ Lucia's Lookout 8.7 mi, 1,240 ft
Longer loop. Yet to review.
After Kittredge Hill, Lucia’s Lookout is the most popular hiking destination reached from the park. The lookout itself lies outside the park, so the trail extends beyond its boundary. We’re yet to explore it, but we’ve included it on our map for your consideration. The most common route is a loop up Five Summers Trail and back on the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Trail and Bear Pond Trail. Some prefer an out and back on Five Summers Trail only, which is slightly shorter at 7.9 mi with 1,010 feet of gain.

Remember to pay the per-person day use fees at the office as you enter the park from Washington Road, and display the ticket on your vehicle dashboard. During offseason the park is not staffed and gates may be closed.