Cardigan Mountain State Park is a 5,655-acre public recreation area in Orange, New Hampshire, centered on Mount Cardigan. Open year-round and free to use, it is known chiefly for hiking and picnicking, especially the climb to the mountain’s 3,121-foot treeless granite summit. That broad, exposed top of open ledges and bare rock gives the park its distinctive character and makes it a notable destination in western New Hampshire. The park’s trail system is oriented around reaching this summit, which defines both the landscape and the visitor experience.