Pawtuckaway State Park is a 5,000-acre preserve in southeastern New Hampshire known for combining a large lake, low mountain summits, forests, and rugged boulder fields. Its distinctive landscape centers on the Pawtuckaway Mountains, a circular range formed by an ancient volcanic ring dike dating to the Cretaceous. The area also bears traces of human reshaping: brooks and ponds were enlarged for sawmills in the 18th century, then transformed into a reservoir system for downstream industry in the 19th century, eventually becoming the modern lake. Since state acquisition in 1955, the park has become a major destination for boating, hiking, climbing, camping, and orienteering.