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10 Best Lakes in New Hampshire

New Hampshire’s mountainous region spans across the entire north-central portion of the state, with the rest of it being made up of woods, valleys and ocean coast. It is home to some of the largest ski areas in the East Coast, giving it its nickname ‘The White Mountain State’.

The state is home to the Lakes Region, which sits in the middle of the state. It has officially listed 944 lakes, 17 of them larger than 1000 acres. These are the 10 best lakes in New Hampshire;

1. Conway Lake

Conway Lake – Flickr

Conway Lake is located in the towns of Conway and Eaton, just to the east of the White Mountains, and is part of the Saco River watershed. It covers an area of 1,316-acre (5 km2) with a maximum depth of 45 feet (14 m) and a 19.2 miles (30.9 km) shore length. Originally, the lake was known as Walker’s Pond.

The lake is a source of recreation with one public beach which was added in 1952, where you can enjoy swimming, boating, canoeing, and fishing. You can also enjoy the scenic beach view and observe the herons, loons, eagles, deer, snakes, stinkpot turtles, painted turtles and snapping turtles.

2. Lake Winnipesaukee

Lake Winnipesaukee – Flickr

Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest lake in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, located in the Lakes Region at the foothills of the White Mountains. It is approximately 21 miles (34 km) long, from 1 to 9 miles (1.6 to 14.5 km), wide covering 69 square miles (179 km2) and 504 feet (154 m) above sea level. The lake contains at least 264 islands, half of which are less than a quarter-acre in size.

Winnipesaukee is a glacial lake that provides a picture-perfect scenery being surrounded by three mountain ranges, the wooded shoreline and crystal-clear water where you can enjoy al sorts of water spots.

3. Squam Lake

Squam Lake – Flickr

Squam Lake is located in the Lakes Region of central New Hampshire, United States, south of the White Mountains, straddling the borders of Grafton, Carroll, and Belknap counties. It is the second-largest lake located entirely in New Hampshire, covering 6,791 acres (27.48 km2). Originally the lake was called Keeseenunknipee, then shorted to “Casumpa”, “Kusumpy” and/or “Kesumpe” by white settlers around 1779. In the early 19^th century, it was renamed to Asquam, meaning “water” then shortened to Squam in the early 20^th century.

The 1981 film site for, On Golden Pond, is known as one of the most peaceful and pristine in the country and offers visitors plenty of opportunity to enjoy its natural beauty and wildlife.

4. Newfound Lake

Newfound Lake – Flickr

Newfound Lake is located in the Lakes Region of central New Hampshire, in the towns of Alexandria, Bridgewater, Bristol, and Hebron. The lake is about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) wide, 6 miles (10 km) long, the deepest point is 183 feet (56 m) and covers an area of 4,451 acres (18.0 km2).

In 1751, John Kendall and Jonathan Farwell referred to the lake as “Newfound Lake” or “Baker’s Pond”. In 1766 the New Chester proprietors refer to the lake in printed records as “Newfound Pond”.

Reed lighthouse, built in 1932, is located on the West Shore of the lake. Enjoy boating, fishing, canoeing, and swimming in the State’s Cleanest Lake. There are also a couple of popular sandbars on the lake.

5. Lake Sunapee

Lake Sunapee – Flickr

Lake Sunapee is located within Sullivan County and Merrimack County in western New Hampshire, in the United States. The lake is approximately 8.1 miles (13.0 km) long, from 0.5 to 2.5 miles (0.8 to 4.0 km) wide, 1,093 feet (333 m) above sea level and covering 6.5 square miles (17 km2) with a maximum depth of 105 feet (32 m). The lake resembles a goose in flight, with the bird’s head as the harbor area, from an aerial view and many geese that passed over the lake during migration hence its current name which translates to “Wild Goose Waters”.

The glacial lake contains three lighthouses on the National Register of Historic Places. Lake Sunapee has seven white sandy beach areas and is best known for its skiing and snowboarding. The lakes surrounding are great for camping and hiking. 

6. Pawtuckaway Lake

Pawtuckaway Lake – Flickr

Pawtuckaway Lake is a 784-acre (3.17 km2) reservoir in Rockingham County in southeastern New Hampshire, located in the Piscataqua River drainage basin. The official name of the lake is Pawtuckaway Pond because originally it was a pond which was enlarged such that it encompassed nearby Dolloff Pond. However, it is usually referred to as Pawtuckaway Lake by residents and organizations.

Most of the western side of the Lake is occupied by Pawtuckaway State Park, a well-known camping, swimming, boating, hiking and bouldering site. The lake is classified as a warmwater fishery, with observed species including smallmouth and largemouth bass, chain pickerel, white perch, horned pout, and black crappie.

7. Lake Umbagog

Umbagog Lake – Flickr

Umbagog Lake is a wilderness lake located in Coös County, New Hampshire, and Oxford County, Maine. The lake is part of the Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge and Umbagog Lake State Park. Its name is said to come from the Abenaki word meaning “shallow water”. It is one of the most pristine lakes in the state of New Hampshire.

On the lake’s southernmost shore, there is a public campground and a public boat launch ramp. Along its northwest shore is an expansive natural floating island composed of generations of decomposing marshland vegetation. The lake area is abundant with wildlife, including coyote, wild turkey, bald eagle, osprey, bobcat, moose, rabbit, bear, loons and many other native species.

8. Lake Winnisquam

Lake Winnisquam – Flickr

Lake Winnisquam is in Belknap County in the Lakes Region of central New Hampshire, United States. The lake is roughly triangular, with the vertexes pointing north, east, and south. At it’s maximum the lake is 10.5 miles (16.9 km) long, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) wide, with a maximum depth of 155 feet (47 m) and covering 4,214 acres (17.05 km2).

The lake is home to many species of fish. Cold water species include rainbow trout, lake trout, landlocked salmon, and whitefish. The warm water species include small- and largemouth bass, pickerel, horned pout, white perch, northern pike, walleye, black crappie, bluegill, and yellow perch. Ahern State Park is on the eastern shore of the lake.

9. Echo Lake

Echo Lake – Flickr

Echo Lake is a water body located in Franconia Notch in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, at the foot of Cannon Mountain. At it’s maximum the lake is 0.4 mi (0.6 km) long, 0.2 mi (0.3 km) wide, with a maximum depth of 39 ft (12 m) and covering 38.2-acre (15.5 ha).

Artists Bluff, a hill with open ledges, rises north of the lake and provides views south over the lake into the center of Franconia Notch. Echo Lake lies in Franconia Notch State Park. The park’s Cannon Mountain ski slopes rise directly to the southwest of the lake. The lake is classified as a coldwater fishery, with observed species including brook trout.

10. Lake Wentworth

Lake Wentworth – Flickr

Lake Wentworth is located in Carroll County in eastern New Hampshire, United States, in the town of Wolfeboro. The lake covers an area of3,097 acres (12.53 km2) and is the seventh-largest lake located entirely in New Hampshire. It is considered oligotrophic, with excellent water quality, except at its deepest points where it is considered mesotrophic, in fair condition due to low dissolved oxygen levels.

The lake is located in Wentworth State Park which offers recreational activities such as swimming, picnicking, non-motorized boating, and fishing. The lake is classified as a warmwater fishery, with observed species including rainbow trout, smallmouth and largemouth bass, chain pickerel, horned pout, and white perch.