There are plenty of places to explore the outdoors in New Hampshire. From the obvious choices, like Franconia Notch State Park, the White Mountains, and even the beach, most of us don't have to worry about staying entertained. But, if you're a little more on the adventurous side, you may want to check out this abandoned copper mine in New Hampshire. This abandoned mine in New Hampshire located in the woods of Lyman, New Hampshire offers a bit of mystery and even offers an important home to a special nocturnal animal.

For a true New Hampshire adventure, head to the Paddock Mine in Lyman to do some (very careful!) exploring of a former copper mine.

It's one of several abandoned mines in New Hampshire.

You'll still see some of the foundations of the original operation. The mine was named after John Paddock who bought much of this land in 1875.

The mine is part of about 1,081 acres that have been preserved by The Trust for Public Land and the Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust on Gardner Mountain. If you've been Googling "abandoned mines near me," you've just found one of the most fascinating.

This mine is one of the largest copper mines in the area and the tunnel is accessible to intrepid explorers. If you're not 100% confident or comfortable in dark enclosed areas, this adventure might just take you to the opening to peer inside.

If you're a fan of adventures and "abandoned places near me," you're in for a one-of-a-kind experience.

You'll want to be extremely careful if you do go inside. Always go with someone else, tell people where you're headed, and how long you'll be gone. And always wear a headlamp.

There's also likely to be water, so make sure you've got boots.

While you can't go very far down the first shaft, there's a unique surprise hiding just inside. Brown bats have made their home here and you can see them on your trip through the tunnel. In fact, this is thought to be the second-largest bat cave in the state.

At one point, there may have been upwards of 3,000 bats living in the Paddock Mine Tunnel.

While the bat population may be dwindling, this is still a nice place to explore. Be aware that the second shaft is a bit more challenging as it's not a straight walk through a tunnel. We recommend you skip that and simply poke around the first.

White Nose Syndrome drove down the population of local bats, but conserving this area is important to ensure that these colonies survive.

The area surrounding the mine is also beautiful and it's open to all non-motorized (legal) activity. So, you won't be able to take your ATV out here.

We don't blame you if you choose to explore the abandoned copper mine in New Hampshire through this article rather than with your actual feet! To bring it to life even more, check out this wonderful video!

And, to learn more about the area take a look at the Trust for Public Land.

We have so many amazing places to visit in New Hampshire, don't we? For more caves and other unique places to explore check out these abandoned places in New Hampshire. When you're out there exploring, you'll need a pair of sturdy hiking boots, too.