Outdoor Adventures in the Seacoast: Trails, Water and Parks

New Hampshire's stretch of the Atlantic is short, but it packs a lot in. Outdoor activities on the NH Seacoast range from tide-pool walks and beach days to kayaking a tidal estuary, cruising a working harbor, surfing in Rye and riding the back roads out of Exeter. May is a good month to start: the parks are open, the outfitters are gearing up for the season and the crowds of high summer have not arrived yet. This guide covers the parks, the water and the local businesses that help you get outside.

State Parks Along the Coast

Rye is home to several state parks along the Atlantic coastline, and they make the easiest introduction to the Seacoast outdoors.

Odiorne Point State Park sits on the coast in Rye near Portsmouth. Its features include the Seacoast Science Center and the remains of Fort Dearborn, a World War II fort. The park offers hiking, cycling, picnicking, fishing and boating, so it works for a short walk or a full day.

Wallis Sands State Park, also in Rye, is a sandy beach with a bathhouse, picnicking and a large pay parking lot. In spring, it is a fine place to walk the shoreline before the swimming season.

Hampton Beach State Park covers 50 acres on a peninsula where the Hampton River meets the Atlantic, with Ocean Boulevard, Route 1A, along its western edge. It has a large beach with lifeguards in season, a playground, an amphitheater, a pavilion and a campground with full RV hook-ups. Activities include swimming, fishing and picnicking.

Rye Harbor, shown at the top of this guide, is the departure point for trips to the Isles of Shoals, described below.

Great Bay and the Piscataqua

Behind the beaches lies a different landscape. Great Bay is a tidal estuary in southeastern New Hampshire that covers more than 6,000 acres, not counting its tidal river tributaries. Its outlet is at Hilton Point in Dover, where it joins the Piscataqua River. Five rivers flow into Great Bay: the Bellamy, Oyster, Lamprey, Squamscott and Winnicut.

The Piscataqua itself is a 12-mile tidal river that forms the boundary between New Hampshire and Maine before emptying into the Gulf of Maine east of Portsmouth. The last six miles before the sea are known as Portsmouth Harbor, where the tidal current runs at about four knots. The river is considered one of the swiftest in the United States, which is worth knowing if you plan to paddle. Beginners are better off on the sheltered waters of Great Bay and its rivers, ideally with a guide.

Kayaking and Paddleboarding with Seven Rivers Paddling

Seven Rivers Paddling in Portsmouth offers kayaking and paddleboard instruction for children, adults and families, along with kayak rentals, stand-up paddleboard rentals, guided tours and summer camps. It also sells season passes for people who expect to rent often. Reviews on the outfitter's site describe group paddles out to Great Bay and an evening paddle on the Lamprey River, with the crew providing boats, life jackets, paddles and brief instruction on and off the water.

If you are new to paddling, a guided trip or a lesson is the safest way to learn the tides and currents of the estuary.

Cruising Portsmouth Harbor

For a view of the water without the paddling, Portsmouth Harbor Cruises runs narrated tours of the Seacoast's waterways aboard a 1963 60-foot Deltaville Deadrise. The captains' commentary covers the birdlife of the inland waterways, the folklore of the Isles of Shoals, the shipbuilding history of Portsmouth Harbor and the changing tides of the Piscataqua. The company also offers inland river cruises and private charters aboard the 49-passenger M/V Heritage.

A harbor cruise is a good choice for families or anyone who wants to see the historic buildings, bridges and shoreline of Portsmouth from the water.

A Trip to the Isles of Shoals

The Isles of Shoals are a group of small islands and tidal ledges about six miles off the coast, straddling the border of Maine and New Hampshire. People have lived on them for more than 400 years, first in fishing communities and later in private homes, a large seasonal hotel and a marine research facility. The islands hold both the easternmost point of New Hampshire and the southernmost point of Maine.

Island Cruises, operating as Granite State Whale Watch and Island Cruises, runs Isles of Shoals tours, Star Island ferry service, Star Island walkabouts and whale watches from Rye Harbor, the closest mainland port to the islands. Trips are seasonal, so check the company's website for the current schedule before planning around one.

Parasailing and Paddleboards at Hampton

Hampton Beach Parasail and Paddleboard offers three ways to get on or above the water. Parasail rides take two or three people at a time, with boat takeoffs and landings, and are open to ages 5 and up. From the air you can see New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine, and on clear days the White Mountains. The family-owned business has operated since 2017.

If you would rather stay low, the company rents paddleboards for exploring Hampton Harbor and runs private harbor and sunset cruises for up to six guests.

Surfing in Rye

The Seacoast has a dedicated surf community, and Summer Sessions Surf Shop is one of its anchors. The family-owned shop serves local surfers and stand-up paddleboarders, with a shop on Ocean Boulevard in Rye Beach, where it also runs the Sandpiper Cafe, and a second shop on Congress Street in Portsmouth. It offers a kids camp and a surf cam on its website so you can check conditions before you drive over.

Spring surfing in New Hampshire means a wetsuit, so talk to the shop about the right gear before you go out.

Cycling the Seacoast

The roads between the coast and the inland towns are popular with cyclists, and Odiorne Point lists cycling among its activities. Exeter Cycles, on Portsmouth Avenue in Exeter, is a local bike shop owned and staffed by cyclists. It has been in business since 1988 and describes itself as the oldest shop on the Seacoast under continual ownership. The shop sells road, gravel, mountain, fitness, electric and kids' bikes, along with helmets, lights and apparel, and it offers bike service by appointment and bike fitting.

A spring tune-up before the season is a good idea if your bike has been in the garage all winter.

Planning a Spring Seacoast Day

Here is one way to combine these activities:

• Morning: Walk the trails and shoreline at Odiorne Point State Park, and visit the Seacoast Science Center.
• Late morning: Drive down Route 1A past Wallis Sands to Rye Harbor.
• Afternoon: Take a guided paddle on Great Bay with Seven Rivers Paddling, or a narrated harbor cruise out of Portsmouth.
• Late afternoon: Stop at Summer Sessions in Rye to check the surf, then finish with a walk on the beach at Hampton Beach State Park.

Pack layers. Even on a warm May day, the wind off the water can feel much cooler than inland.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best outdoor activities on the NH Seacoast?

Walking and tide-pooling at Odiorne Point State Park, kayaking Great Bay, a harbor cruise out of Portsmouth, a trip to the Isles of Shoals from Rye Harbor, surfing in Rye and parasailing at Hampton Beach are all popular.

Where can I kayak on the Seacoast?

Great Bay and its tributary rivers offer sheltered paddling. Seven Rivers Paddling rents kayaks and paddleboards and runs guided tours and lessons. The Piscataqua River has strong currents and is better left to experienced paddlers.

How far are the Isles of Shoals from shore?

About six miles. Rye Harbor is the closest mainland port, and Island Cruises runs trips there in season.

Can kids go parasailing at Hampton Beach?

Hampton Beach Parasail takes riders ages 5 and up, with two or three people flying together.

Is the Seacoast worth visiting in spring?

Yes. The state parks are quiet, outfitters are opening for the season and the coastal trails are pleasant for walking before summer crowds arrive.

Sources

• Odiorne Point State Park, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odiorne_Point_State_Park
• Wallis Sands State Park, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallis_Sands_State_Park
• Hampton Beach State Park, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampton_Beach_State_Park
• Rye, New Hampshire, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rye,_New_Hampshire
• Great Bay (New Hampshire), Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Bay_(New_Hampshire)
• Piscataqua River, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piscataqua_River
• Isles of Shoals, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isles_of_Shoals
• Seven Rivers Paddling: https://sevenriverspaddling.com
• Portsmouth Harbor Cruises: https://www.portsmouthharbor.com
• Island Cruises / Granite State Whale Watch: https://www.uncleoscar.com
• Hampton Beach Parasail and Paddleboard: https://hamptonparasail.com
• Summer Sessions Surf Shop: https://www.newhampshiresurf.com/
• Exeter Cycles: https://www.exetercycles.com/