Great Island Common – New Castle, NH

Great Island Common in New Castle, NH is a scenic, dog friendly place to visit during the off-season. Consisting of 32 acres it includes a small sandy beach, rocky shoreline, picnic area, and stone jetty popular for fishing. This is a scenic location to walk your dog with sweeping views of two lighthouses, Whaleback and Portsmouth Harbor Light; three forts, Fort Constitution, Fort McClary and Fort Foster; and the historic Lifesaving Station in the harbor. Open daily from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, there is a paved roadway around the perimeter and green space in the center.

Please note dogs are only allowed during the off-season, and must be on-leash. NO DOGS allowed from May 15 through September 15. However, this is actually a good rule for dogs. Due to the small size of this popular park and beach, it is far more enjoyable to visit during the off-season when crowds are smaller and the admission fee is waived.

During the summer when dogs are not allowed, we recommend heading just over the border to Fort Foster in Kittery, Maine. For additional scenic walks and dog friendly beaches in New Hampshire and Maine, please visit our Dog Friendly Places page.