By Marty Basch

Though the calendar is firmly in the grips of summer, the clock is ticking for the back to school crowd.

The time for sleeping under the stars is now.

New Hampshire State Parks’ newest campground in more than 40 years sits in the shadows of one of the state's most familiar landmarks, Mount Monadnock. Situated in the culturally- and scenery-rich southwestern corner of the state, Gilson Pond Campground is about two miles from Jaffrey's Monadnock State Park headquarters and contains 35 camp sites plus a handful of remote hike-to sites. Hiking is a large draw as several trails lead to the 3,165-foot Monadnock summit while nearby Greenfield State Park offers fishing and swimming.

Not that far to the north in Washington is the thickly wooded Pillsbury State Park. Under the radar of many campers due to its primitive nature—even the main office doesn't have electricity—much of the activity there is centered on hiking, fishing and kayaking. The state park contains a handful of waterways including May Pond that are perfect for paddling while anglers can try for bass, perch, pickerel and other species. Hikers can trek along a piece of the 51-mile Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway. History lovers can travel back in time to when the region was a farm and lumbering community called Cherry Valley; cellar holes remain.

Lake Francis State Park is an ideal location to explore the woods, waterways and dirt roads of Pittsburg. The Connecticut Lakes get all the accolades but 2000-acre Lake Francis is well worth the trip for paddling and fishing. Tent campers and RVers can use it as base camp during hunting season as moose are plentiful.

"I like the fact that you can drive around the Great North Woods and explore, look at moose and see a completely unique part of New Hampshire," says Division of Parks and Recreation's Amy Bassett.

National Forest campgrounds offer basic amenities, often within easy drives to hiking, fishing and other pursuits. In the White Mountain National Forest, North Woodstock's Wildwood Campground is in Kinsman Notch across the road from the Ammonoosuc River and its trout, and a short drive to the Appalachian Trail leading over Mount Moosilauke. The Campton Campground provides quick access to hiking the Welch-Dickey Loop near Waterville Valley, Sandwich Notch and the Mad River.