Discover New Hampshire’s Lakes Region: Where Water, Wilderness & Wonder Meet
Imagine a summer morning when mist lifts from a quiet lake, loons call in the distance, and your day lies wide open before you: paddle, hike, drive, explore. That’s the Lakes Region of New Hampshire — and this is your guide to experiencing it.
From the grandeur of Lake Winnipesaukee — with its 288 miles of shoreline, 258+ islands, deep blue “Broads,” and bays — to the gentle beauty of Squam, Newfound, Winnisquam, Wentworth, and dozens of smaller, hidden gems, this region is a mosaic of natural wonder. Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2
Here’s how this guide will be your gateway:
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Maps & Routes: Scenic drives, loops, and byways to help you navigate and discover.
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Lake Profiles: Key facts, standout features, and what makes each lake unique.
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Things to Do: Boating, kayaking, hiking, beaching, wildlife watching, local culture, and seasonal highlights.
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Tips & Logistics: Boat launches, lodging, best times of year, and local secrets.
Whether you’re planning a first-time visit or returning for year after year, this guide will help you dig deeper — turning a casual trip into an unforgettable Lakes Region journey.
Why You’ll Want to Read On
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Don’t miss hidden gems: Most visitors see Winnipesaukee and maybe Squam. But the Lakes Region is full of quieter coves, tucked-away ponds, and lesser-known trails that feel like your own private escape.
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Plan smarter, not harder: You’ll get insight on how to structure your days — for example, where to start a drive around the lake, or which lakes pair well in a single itinerary.
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Experience more than “just water”: Lakes are the canvas — the colors, seasons, towns, local festivals, and nature all bring it to life.
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Make each day count: With this guide, you won’t waste hours hunting for things. Instead, you’ll spend your time swimming, paddling, hiking, photographing, and relaxing.
Whether it’s great day fishing on the big lake, seeing rainbows, catching salmon and some Lakers along with a few Rock Bass & shorts in the mix. How much better does it get! You can even rent a boat for your magical day fishing, swimming or just cruising. Check our Links page for Boating in our Menu!
The Lakes Region of NH offers some of the cleanest fishing and finest waters in the country. From Lake Winnipesaukee to all of the smaller lakes that are located in every county of this wonderful state.
Some of the finest hotels, campgrounds, lake front cottages and timeshare resort in New England are located right here in NH. Listed on NH Lakes are the many lakes you may come into contact with while searching for that favorite fishing hole, or boat ramp to unload. Swimming in NH can be found not only in lakes and ponds but also in some of the many streams and rivers throughout the state.
With the unlimited choices – you can enjoy endless hours and days discovering NH Lakes and the towns they are located in.
Water skiing swimming, boating, Canoe, Kayaking – or diving for wrecks of times past, you will find the perfect lake in New Hampshire.
Here’s a NH Lakes LIST / Guide – Lake | Town Located | Area |
| Lake |
Town(s) or city |
Area (acres) |
Area (hectares) |
| Akers Pond |
Errol |
276.3 |
111.8 |
| Armington, Lake |
Piermont |
152.2 |
61.6 |
| Arlington Mill Reservoir |
Salem |
268.6 |
108.7 |
| Ashuelot Pond |
Washington |
367.8 |
148.9 |
| Ayers Island Reservoir |
Bristol, Bridgewater, New Hampton |
500.0 |
202.3 |
| Baboosic Lake |
Amherst, Merrimack |
228.5 |
92.5 |
| Back Lake |
Pittsburg |
347.7 |
140.1 |
| Balch Pond/Stump Pond |
Wakefield, NH; Newfield, ME; Acton, ME |
570.7 |
230.9 |
| Baxter Lake |
Farmington, Rochester |
302.1 |
122.3 |
| Bellamy Reservoir |
Madbury, Dover |
382.2 |
154.7 |
| Bow Lake |
Strafford, Northwood |
1,160.7 |
469.7 |
| Broad Bay |
Freedom, Effingham |
463.8 |
187.7 |
| Canaan Street Lake |
Canaan |
303.0 |
122.6 |
| Canobie Lake |
Windham, Salem |
373.4 |
151.1 |
| Cedar Pond |
Milan |
78 |
32 |
| Chocorua Lake |
Tamworth |
222 |
90 |
| Christine Lake |
Stark |
197 |
80 |
| Cobbetts Pond |
Windham |
302.1 |
122.3 |
| Comerford Reservoir |
Monroe, NH; Littleton, NH; Barnet, VT; Waterford, VT |
1,093.0 |
442.3 |
| Contoocook Lake |
Jaffrey, Rindge |
322.9 |
130.7 |
| Conway Lake |
Conway, Eaton |
1,299.0 |
525.7 |
| Country Pond |
Kingston, Newton |
255.0 |
103.2 |
| Crystal Lake |
Enfield |
404.4 |
163.7 |
| Crystal Lake |
Gilmanton |
440.9 |
178.4 |
| Crystal Lake |
Manchester |
18.6 |
7.5 |
| Dan Hole Pond |
Ossipee, Tuftonboro |
443.3 |
179.4 |
| Deering Reservoir |
Deering |
315.4 |
127.6 |
| Dublin Pond |
Dublin |
240 |
97 |
| Eastman Pond |
Grantham, Enfield |
335.0 |
135.6 |
| Echo Lake |
Franconia |
38.2 |
15.5 |
| Echo Lake |
Conway |
15.7 |
6.4 |
| First Connecticut Lake |
Pittsburg |
3,071.0 |
1,242.8 |
| Fourth Connecticut Lake |
Pittsburg |
1.8 |
0.74 |
| Francis, Lake (Murphy Dam) |
Pittsburg, Clarksville |
1,933.8 |
782.6 |
| Franklin Pierce Lake |
Hillsborough, Antrim |
483.4 |
195.6 |
| Goose Pond |
Canaan, Hanover |
624.6 |
252.8 |
| Grafton Pond |
Grafton |
321.0 |
129.9 |
| Granite Lake |
Nelson, Stoddard |
232.5 |
94.1 |
| Great East Lake |
Wakefield, NH; Acton, ME |
1,829.6 |
740.4 |
| Great Pond |
Kingston |
268.0 |
108.5 |
| Greenough Pond |
Wentworth’s Location |
234 |
95 |
| Halfmoon Lake |
Barnstead, Alton |
282.4 |
114.3 |
| Harrisville Pond |
Harrisville |
138 |
56 |
| Highland Lake |
Stoddard, Washington |
712.0 |
288.1 |
| Hopkins Pond (Adder Pond) |
Andover |
27 |
11 |
| Horn Pond |
Wakefield, NH; Acton, ME |
227 |
92 |
| Island Pond |
Stoddard |
179 |
72 |
| Island Pond |
Derry, Hampstead, Atkinson |
531.6 |
215.1 |
| Ivanhoe, Lake |
Wakefield |
68 |
28 |
| Jenness Pond |
Northwood, Pittsfield |
266.9 |
108.0 |
| Kanasatka, Lake |
Moultonborough |
371.0 |
150.1 |
| Lakes of the Clouds |
Sargent’s Purchase |
0.6 |
0.24 |
| Little Squam Lake |
Ashland, Holderness |
408.1 |
165.1 |
| Little Sunapee Lake |
New London, Springfield |
472.0 |
191.0 |
| Locke Lake |
Barnstead |
149 |
60 |
| Lonesome Lake |
Lincoln |
12.2 |
4.9 |
| Lovell Lake |
Wakefield |
538.0 |
217.7 |
| Mascoma Lake |
Enfield, Lebanon |
1,165.3 |
471.6 |
| Massabesic Lake |
Auburn, Manchester |
2,561.4 |
1,036.6 |
| Massasecum, Lake |
Bradford |
401.7 |
162.6 |
| McIndoes Reservoir |
Monroe, NH; Barnet, VT |
545.0 |
220.6 |
| Mendums Pond |
Barrington, Nottingham |
252.7 |
102.3 |
| Merrymeeting Lake |
New Durham |
1,233.0 |
499.0 |
| Milton Pond |
Milton, NH; Lebanon, ME |
270.5 |
109.5 |
| Mirror Lake |
Tuftonboro |
332.8 |
134.7 |
| Monomonac, Lake |
Rindge, NH; Winchendon, MA |
593.8 |
240.3 |
| Moore Reservoir |
Littleton, NH, Dalton, NH; Waterford, VT; Concord, VT |
3,490.0 |
1,412.3 |
| Newfound Lake |
Bristol, Hebron, Alexandria |
4,450.7 |
1,801.2 |
| Northeast Pond |
Milton, NH; Lebanon, ME; Acton, ME |
682.7 |
276.4 |
| Northwood Lake |
Northwood, Epsom |
653.0 |
264.3 |
| Nubanusit Lake |
Nelson, Hancock |
715.0 |
289.3 |
| Opechee Bay |
Laconia |
449.0 |
181.7 |
| Ossipee Lake |
Ossipee, Freedom |
3,245.3 |
1,313.4 |
| Paugus Bay |
Laconia |
1,220.0 |
493.7 |
| Pawtuckaway Lake |
Nottingham |
783.4 |
317.0 |
| Pearly Lake |
Rindge |
191.5 |
77.5 |
| Pemigewasset Lake |
New Hampton, Meredith |
255.8 |
103.5 |
| Penacook Lake |
Concord |
360.0 |
145.7 |
| Pine River Pond |
Wakefield |
570.4 |
230.8 |
| Pleasant Lake |
Deerfield |
479.0 |
193.8 |
| Pleasant Lake |
New London |
606.0 |
245.2 |
| Pontook Reservoir |
Dummer |
280.0 |
113.3 |
| Potanipo Pond |
Brookline |
136.2 |
55.1 |
| Powder Mill Pond |
Bennington, Hancock, Greenfield |
435.0 |
176.0 |
| Powwow Pond |
Kingston, East Kingston |
285.3 |
115.5 |
| Profile Lake |
Franconia |
13 |
5.3 |
| Province Lake |
Wakefield, NH; Effingham, NH; Parsonsfield, ME |
967.1 |
391.4 |
| Sebbins Pond |
Bedford |
20 |
8.1 |
| Second Connecticut Lake |
Pittsburg |
1,102.1 |
446.0 |
| Silver Lake |
Harrisville, Nelson |
332.7 |
134.6 |
| Silver Lake |
Hollis |
39 |
16 |
| Silver Lake |
Madison |
969.4 |
392.3 |
| Skatutakee Lake |
Harrisville |
228 |
92 |
| Solitude, Lake |
Newbury |
4.6 |
1.9 |
| Spofford Lake |
Chesterfield |
738.8 |
299.0 |
| Squam Lake |
Holderness, Center Harbor, Moultonborough, Sandwich |
6,790.7 |
2,748.2 |
| Stinson Lake |
Rumney |
350.0 |
141.6 |
| Success Pond |
Success |
290.0 |
117.4 |
| Sunapee, Lake |
Sunapee, New London, Newbury |
4,136.2 |
1,673.9 |
| Suncook Lakes |
Barnstead |
697.0 |
282.1 |
| Sunrise Lake |
Middleton |
256.9 |
104.0 |
| Sunset Lake |
Alton, Gilmanton |
252.7 |
102.3 |
| Surry Mountain Lake |
Surry |
265.0 |
107.2 |
| Swains Lake |
Barrington |
348.8 |
141.2 |
| Tarleton, Lake |
Piermont, Warren |
334.3 |
135.3 |
| Third Connecticut Lake |
Pittsburg |
231 |
93 |
| Thorndike Pond |
Jaffrey, Dublin |
248.7 |
100.6 |
| Turkey Ponds |
Concord |
339.0 |
137.2 |
| Tuxbury Pond |
South Hampton, NH; Amesbury, MA |
119 |
48 |
| Umbagog Lake |
Errol, NH; Cambridge, NH; Upton, ME; Magalloway, ME |
7,538.9 |
3,051.0 |
| Waukewan, Lake |
Meredith, New Hampton |
928.3 |
375.7 |
| Weare Reservoir |
Weare |
279.1 |
113.0 |
| Webster Lake |
Franklin |
612.0 |
247.7 |
| Wentworth, Lake |
Wolfeboro |
3,115.6 |
1,260.9 |
| White Oak Pond |
Holderness |
291.0 |
117.8 |
| Wicwas, Lake |
Meredith |
350.1 |
141.7 |
| Willard Pond |
Antrim |
108.0 |
44.0 |
| Winnipesaukee, Lake |
Laconia, Gilford, Meredith, Center Harbor, Moultonborough, Tuftonboro, Wolfeboro, Alton |
44,586.0 |
18,043.1 |
| Winnisquam Lake |
Tilton, Belmont, Sanbornton, Laconia, Meredith |
4,237.5 |
1,714.9 |