Stark

A dramatic cliff face that looms over Stark village like something out of a New Hampshire postcard. The unmarked trail starts from an obscure gravel pull-off on Northside Road, winding through recent logging cuts where you follow scattered yellow blazes on trees. The summit ledge offers a bird's eye view straight down onto the village's covered bridge and church, while the exposed granite can be treacherous in wet weather.

More than just a bridge, this 1857 beauty is the photogenic heart of one of New Hampshire's most iconic scenes. The 134-foot Paddleford truss bridge has sidewalks on both sides perfect for evening strolls, and every December locals string it with Christmas lights. It survived being swept downstream by a flood in 1895, when oxen had to drag it back to its stone abutments.

Built in 1853 as a non-denominational worship space when multiple small congregations couldn't afford their own churches, this pristine white clapboard church still operates under its original Pew Owner's Association. You can literally buy a deed to your pew, recorded at the county registry. The church sits perfectly positioned next to the covered bridge, creating the classic New England scene that appears on postcards worldwide.

This scrappy 6.3-mile hike through North Country forests leads to open granite ledges with panoramic views of the Percy Peaks and Great North Woods. The trail follows part of the Cohos Trail system and requires some bushwhacking near the summit, but rewards you with broad, breezy ledges where you can walk completely around the peak. It's a perfect half-day adventure when you crave solitude and mountain views.