Weeks State Park
A historic fire tower with 360-degree mountain views — just 6 miles from Riverside.
Weeks State Park sits atop Mount Prospect in Lancaster, New Hampshire, just 6 miles from Riverside Camping & RV Resort. The park is named for John Wingate Weeks, a U.S. Senator and Secretary of War who authored the Weeks Act of 1911, the landmark legislation that established the eastern national forest system and ultimately led to the creation of White Mountain National Forest. The Weeks family estate and the summit fire tower remain the centerpieces of this 420-acre park.
The Fire Tower
The fire tower at the summit of Mount Prospect stands at an elevation of approximately 2,059 feet and offers unobstructed 360-degree views. From the tower's observation deck, you can see the Presidential Range to the south, the Kilkenny Range to the east, Vermont's Green Mountains to the west, and on exceptionally clear days, the peaks of Quebec to the north. The tower is one of the most accessible panoramic viewpoints in the White Mountains region, requiring no strenuous hiking to reach.
Trails and Access
You can reach the summit by a paved auto road (open seasonally) or by hiking. The main trail from the parking area to the summit covers about 1.5 miles with moderate elevation gain, making it suitable for families and hikers of all skill levels. Additional trails wind through mixed hardwood and conifer forests, with interpretive signage about the park's history and ecology. The park is open from late June through Labor Day weekend, with limited access during fall foliage season.
Dark Sky Viewing
Mount Prospect's elevation and Lancaster's low light pollution make Weeks State Park one of the better stargazing locations in northern New Hampshire. The summit provides views above the surrounding tree canopy, reducing light interference from ground-level sources. While the park itself closes at dusk, the area around Weeks State Park and nearby Riverside both fall within a Bortle Scale 3-4 zone, offering exceptional conditions for observing the Milky Way, meteor showers, and planetary alignments.
The Weeks Estate
The historic Weeks Estate at the summit houses a small museum and exhibit space documenting the history of the Weeks Act and the conservation of the White Mountains. The building itself, constructed in 1912, offers a glimpse into early 20th-century architecture and the era of federal conservation leadership. Admission to the park and museum is free.