Sculptured Rocks: The Little Grand Canyon of New Hampshire

Sculptured Rocks Natural Area is located in rural New Hampshire, about an hour’s drive north of Concord. My wife and I visited on a late summer road trip through New England.  

We got there just after noon on a sweltering and humid Saturday. The small dirt parking lot was about halfway full, with people arriving and leaving as we pulled in. When I opened the door of the cool, air-conditioned car, moist, hot air blasted me in the face, fogging up my glasses immediately. 

Mosquitos were out in force, so bug spray was a must. After a quick drink of water, we walked across the road to start hiking. From the little information I could find online, it looked like some pretty cool rock formations. When researching the park, it was obvious that it was not well known outside of locals, who often call it the “Little Grand Canyon of New Hampshire.”  

Exploring Sculptured Rocks Natural Area

Within a couple hundred yards, we were in the middle of the Sculptured Rocks, which were truly stunning.  It was hard to imagine how long the Cockermouth River took to carve the narrow canyon on its way to Newfound Lake. From a bridge crossing the river, it was easy to understand how the natural area got its name. The canyon walls really do resemble sculptures. The sheer bedrock walls are dotted with peculiar shapes and circular potholes. 

When we were there, there was a crowd of high school, maybe college kids, having a great time swimming and jumping off the walls. Plenty of others were walking dogs and enjoying the scenery.  I did get the feeling we were the only two people who did not live in the immediate area. 

We spent about 45 minutes visiting the Sculptured Rocks Natural Area, walking around, and taking a few photos. If you are in the area, I recommend checking it out.