Weeks State Park

Off Route 3
Lancaster, NH 03584
Phone: 603-788-4004



Icon Legend

About Weeks State Park

John Wingate Weeks Historic Site's Mt. Prospect estate was built at the direction of John Wingate Weeks, leading conservationist, U.S. congressman, U.S. senator, and Secretary of War under Presidents Harding and Coolidge. The 420-acre Mt. Prospect estate was given to the state of New Hampshire in 1941 by John Weeks' children, Katherine Weeks Davidge and Sinclair Weeks. Set at the very top of Mt. Prospect in Lancaster, New Hampshire, the house and grounds provide a 360-degree panorama of mountain splendor, including the Presidential Range of the White Mountains, the Green Mountains of Vermont, the Kilkenny Range, the Percy Peaks, and the upper Connecticut River Valley. Enjoy a historic Tower and the Lodge.

Weeks State Park 2011 Annual Report

Winter Recreation at Weeks State Park

Just off of Route 3 in Lancaster, you'll find a variety of trails for alpine skiing, nordic skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling in Weeks State Park. The auto road leading up to the Weeks Estate is unplowed in winter, making it a perfect trail for nordic skiers and snowshoers. The gradual uphill climb from Route 3 offers a brisk workout with a rewarding view of the Presidential Mountain Range and surrounding landscape from atop Mount Prospect. You can access the Weeks auto road from the Mount Prospect Ski Tow parking lot, which is just past the the entrance to Weeks State Park on Route 3. From the Ski Tow parking lot, take a right on the Heritage Trail until intersects with the the Weeks State Park auto road (bear left). See photos of Weeks State Park in winter, taken while skiing on January 20th, 2011.

Mount Prospect Ski Tow

Within Weeks State Park there is a small alpine ski hill run by the Mount Prospect Ski Club. This small hill uses a rope tow powered by a 1957 Chevrolet engine and is a unique, old fashioned alternative to skiing at a large resort. There are three runs, with a total vertical drop of 250 feet.

The lift is running Saturdays and Sundays from 1pm-4pm. We are also open to the public on Monday and Thursday evenings from 3-4:40pm when the ski team is practicing. A $7 donation per adult skier, $5 for a child, is requested and given to whomever is operating the rope tow.

Operating Schedule

Weeks State Park is open May 28th to June 19th on Saturdays and Sundays, June 22nd to September 5th from Wednesday through Sunday, September 10th to October 10th on Saturdays and Sundays. Operating hours are 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Fees

Admission is $4 for adults; $2 for children ages 6-11; children ages 5 and under and NH residents age 65 and over are admitted free. Season passes are available.

Are pets allowed at Weeks State Park?

Pets are permitted in the park. See the NH State Parks Pets Policy for more information.

WeeksLegacy.org

2011 marks the 100th Anniversary of the historic Weeks Act. Enacted in 1911, the Weeks Act enabled the aquisition of over 19 million acres in 124 national forests, spanning 42 states, including the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire and Maine. To honor this occasion weekslegacy.org was created by a diverse group of organizations. This website, hosted by NH Public Television, is an aggregation of the many events, stories, lectures and research about the importance of our nation’s forestlands and the role they play in the quality of our lives, as well as about the Weeks Act, the White Mountain National Forest, and the International Year of the Forest. Explore the site and read up on Weeks Act history, news, multimedia, events, links and to share your comments as well.

Week State Park Celebration

On August 13 and 14, 2011, as part of the 8 Days of Weeks Summer Festival, Weeks State Park celebrated the 100th anniversary of the passage of the Weeks Act with a weekend of fun filled family events. Activities included geocaching, concerts and hands-on art-making. North Country Classics Car Club also led a parade to Weeks State Park in tribute to the 100th anniversary of the Weeks State Park auto road. See pictures of the event on the North Country Car Club's online photo gallery.

Keep Your Parks Clean

Through the Carry-In/Carry-Out Program, you can help us keep your parks clean and beautiful by carrying out whatever you carry in. Thank you for your cooperation and remember to recycle.