Western New Hampshire is one of my favorite places for hiking due to the spectacular summits and varied terrain. This also tends to be a quieter part of the state, well away from the more busy population centers. Whenever I travel over to hike at Mt. Cardigan, I pass through the New Hampshire small town of Alexandria. The center of its village isn't exactly what you would call a bustling metropolis but within the town's borders, Alexandria offers a lot to see.
The tiny hamlet of Alexandria in western New Hampshire doesn't have a booming downtown but that doesn't mean it's without interest. First settled in 1769, the town was later incorporated in 1782. A portion of Alexandria was later spun off into today's town of Danbury in 1795.
The 4,451-acre Newfound Lake is in the northeast corner of the town and is the third largest lake entirely within New Hampshire behind Lake Winnipesaukee and Squam Lake.
The Fowler River rises from its headwaters on Mt. Cardigan, flows through Alexandria, and empties out into Newfound Lake.
The dominant landscape feature in the area is the 3,149-foot Mt. Cardigan, which lies in Alexandria and neighboring Orange. Its bald dome was bared by a raging fire in 1855. As a result, it has become one of the most scenic hiking destinations in the state (and one of my personal favorites).
In addition to Mt. Cardigan, Alexandria is home to Mowglis Mountain, which gets its name from the hero in Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book. The long-distance Elwell Trail passes over the summit.
Tucked away near Mt. Cardigan is the tiny Welton Falls State Forest, which protects Welton Falls. This 30-foot drop of Clark Brook is a wonderful spot during times of high water.
The Haynes Library, established in 1894, was one of the first free-standing libraries in this region. The library closed in 2019 but was later placed on the National Registry of Historic Places, which may result in its reopening in the future.
If you are in western New Hampshire and are looking for a New Hampshire small town to explore, give Alexandria a look! Visit the official website of Alexandria, New Hampshire to learn more.
New Hampshire has soooooo many neat small towns to explore, and here's a six-hour road trip that will bring you to several of them.
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/new-hampshire/hidden-gem-road-trip-nh/
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