Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire

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Lake Winnipesaukee is located in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire at the foothills of the White Mountains. Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest lake in the state at 72 square miles. Surrounded by three mountain ranges, the wooded shoreline and crystal clear water of this spring-fed lake make it a popular summer resort and a place to rest and relax in beautiful surroundings and enjoy water sports of all sorts.

Visitors may explore the numerous villages on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee by boat or by car. Each one offers something unique. Weirs Beach has arcades and boardwalks, waterslides, a public beach and an activity center. Meredith is a restored mill village, where you can browse through antique, art and craft galleries. Wolfeboro is a picture perfect village, right down to its historic Main Street. Center Harbor, Moultonborough, Tuftonboro, Alton, Gilford and Laconia all have their own special flavor. All communities have public parks and docks, and feature varied activities such as fireworks displays and band concerts throughout the year.

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Smile of the Great Spirit

Many moons ago on the northern shores of this beautiful lake there lived a great chief, Wonaton, renowned for his great courage in war and for the beauty of this fair daughter, Mineola. She had many suitors, but refused them all. One day, Adiwando, the young chief of a hostile tribe to the south, hearing so much of the fair Mineola, paddled over the lake and fearlessly entered the village of his enemies. Her father happened to be away at the time and, admiring Adiwando's courage, the rest of the indians did not harm him. Before long, he and the Indian maid were desperately in love with each other. Wonaton, on his return, was exceedingly wroth to find the chief of the enemy in his camp and a suitor for the hand of his daughter; so much so, that he immediately raised his tomahawk and started to kill him.

"Mineola, rushing in between them, pleaded with her father for the life of her lover, and finally succeeded in reconciling them. After the wedding ceremony, the whole tribe accompanied the two lovers in their canoes halfway across the lake. The sky when they started was overcast and the waters black, but just as they were about to turn and leave them, the sun came out and the waters sparkled around the canoe of Mineola and Adimwando. "This is a good omen," said Wonaton, "and hereafter these waters shall be called Winnipesuakee, or The Smile of the Great Spirit."

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Fishing the Big Lake

Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Lake Trout, Small/Largemouth Bass, Pickerel, Yellow/White Perch, Hornpout, Cusk, Smelt, Bluegill, Whitefish

Best Lake Trout and Salmon fishing in New England
Look for Salmon in Alton Bay and the Merrymeeting River when the season opens in the spring
Troll streamer flies, lures and smelt near the surface for Salmon, Lake and Rainbow Trout in early spring
Troll with weighted line and down-riggers in later spring
Fish Smallmouth Bass along rocky shorelines
Bass fishing best from May to early July (nesting period)

Lake Winnipesaukee Stats

504 Feet above Sea Level
Maximum Depth: 180 feet
Average Depth: 43 feet
Volume: 625 billion gallons
Length: Approximately 25 miles
Width: Approximately 15 miles at widest point
Water Surface: 72 square miles
Distance around the lake: 182 miles
Shoreline excluding islands: 178 miles
Islands: 244
Island shoreline: 100 1/2 miles

Public Beaches

Alton Town Beaches - Alton Small Swimming Beach -Restrooms, parking. No admission fee. Rt 28A on Alton Bay. No lifeguard on duty. Swim Dock on Rt 11 next to town docks. No admission fee. Lifeguard on duty. 875-0109 www.altonparksandrecreation.com parksrec@alton.nh.gov

Brewster Beach - Wolfeboro Rt 28, (South of downtown), to Clark Rd (across from Huggins Hospital). Beach on Lake Winnipesaukee. No fee. Restrooms, swimming, picnicking. 569-5639.

Carry Beach - Wolfeboro Public beach on Lake Winnipesaukee. Rt 28 (north of downtown) to Forest Rd. Swimming, picnicking, restrooms. 569-5639.

Ellacoya State Park - Gilford 600-ft. sandy beach on southwest shore of Lake Winnipesaukee; RV park with 38 camp sites. Call (603) 271-3628 to make a reservation. Swimming, picnicking, store, bathhouse. Route 11, Gilford, 03249 (603)293-7821. Email: nhparks@dred.nh.us

Leavitt Park - Meredith Swimming, picnicking. No fee. Small playground area. From Rt 25/Rt3 intersection in center of town, take Rt 25 North to Leavitt Rd. 279-4538

New Hampshire State Parks - Concord PO Box 1856, Concord, 03302-1856 (603) 271-3556. New Hampshire has 45 state parks, 14 natural areas/waysides and 10 historic sites. The parks offer a diverse use from camping to swimming to just enjoying the views.

Weirs Beach Endicott Park- Weirs Beach Small public beach on the Weirs Beach Channel connecting Paugus Bay with the larger portion of Lake Winnipesaukee. Historic Endicott Rock - Surveyors commissioned by Royal Governor John Endicott of the Massachuseets Bay Colony signed their initials in 1652. Great place for boat watching. Admission fee. Rt 3, Weirs Beach - overlooking the town docks. (603) 436-1552

19 Mile Bay Beach - Tuftonboro Swimming, picnicking. No fee. Portable toilets. No Lifequard on Duty, parking. Govenor Wentworth Highway, Rt 109, Tuftonboro 569-4539

20 Mile Bay Beach - Tuftonboro Swimming, picnicking. No fee. No Lifequard on Duty, limited parking. Govenor Wentworth Highway, Rt 109, Tuftonboro 569-4539

Melvin Village Warf – Melvin Village Swimming, No Lifeguared on Duty, no rest rooms, limited parking. Govenor Wentworth Highway, Rt 109, Melvin Village

Public Boat Launches

Lake Winnipesuakee offers visitors four seasons of vacation fun! Launch your boat at one of the many launch sites on the Lake. Whatever your choice of craft, Winipesuakee has 72 square miles to explore. If you don't own a boat, you can rent one, charter one or take a cruise on one of the many excursion boats on the "Big Lake". In the winter months when temperatures dip, families still enjoy the lakes. Ice fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, ice skating, cross country skiing or ice boating provide great family recreation.

COMMUNITY	SITE	INFORMATION
Alton	Alton Bay Public Launch	About 1/4 mile north of the Route 11 bridge, on Route 11, in a public parking lot. No fee charged. Public parking for trailers about 1/2 mile away.
Alton	Downing's Landing	Just east of the Route 11 bridge. Parking fee charged (Includes launch).
Alton	West Alton Marina	At the junction of Route 11 and Route 11-A. Fee charged (Includes parking).
Alton	Roberts Cove Marina	From the Alton traffic circle, proceed 5 1/2 miles towards Wolfeboro on Rte 28.Turn left onto Roberts Cove Road. Fee charged.
Center Harbor	Public Docks	In town behind Heath's Hardware Store adjacent to town docks. Fee charged. Short walk to parking.
Gilford	Ames Farm Inn	Route 11, 2.2 miles west of Route 11-A. Southwest of Diamond Island. Two launch ramps. Fee charged (Includes parking).
Gilford	Fay's Boat Yard	From Jct. 11/11B, east on route 11 for .1 mile. Turn left onto Varney Point Road. Fee charged.
Gilford	Gator, Inc., Silver Sands Marina	On Route 11B, 1/2 mile northwest of junction 11B/11. Fee charged (Parking included).
Laconia (Downtown)	Public Launch	Downtown - off Water Street, Laconia NH
Laconia/Weirs	Christmas Island	Weirs Boulevard, 1 1/4 miles south of the Weirs Bridge on the east side of Paugus Bay. Fee charged.
Laconia/Weirs	Lakeport Landing Marina	Southern end of Paugus Bay at the Junction of Elm Street and Union Avenue. Fee charged.
Meredith	Public Docks, Route 3	Route 3 at the public parking lot between the Mount Washington dock and Heskey Park. Fee charged. Parking for trailers is nearby.
Meredith	Public Docks, Lovejoy Sands Road	North on Route 25/ 2/10 mile from downtown Meredith, turn right onto Pleasant Street as it curves around Meredith Bay. Follow Pleasant Street to Meredith Neck Road. Turn right. Follow for 3 miles and turn left onto Lovejoy Sands Road. Launch is next to Shep Brown's Boat Basin. No fee charged. Parking available.
Meredith	Meredith Marina	2 Bay Shore Drive. Just off Route 3 on the right between Route 104 and Route 25. Fee charged.
Moultonborough	Harilla Landing, Long Island	From Route 25 and Moultonboro Neck Road, proceed 6 2/10 miles south/east on Moultonboro Neck Road and cross onto Long Island. After crossing bridge, proceed 2 2/10 miles on Long Island Road.
Moultonborough	Public Launch	Turn right onto Moultonboro Neck Road from Route 25. Proceed 6 2/10 miles south/east on Moultonboro Neck Road and cross onto Long Island. Launch site is on the left 2/10 mile after crossing bridge. Parking requires Moultonboro beach & dump sticker.
Moultonborough	Lee's Mills	From Moultonborough Center, proceed 4/10 mile south on Route 25. Turn Left onto Blake Road. At end of Blake Road, turn right onto Lee's Mills Road and proceed to end. No fee charged. Parking available.
Moultonborough	States Landing	From the intersection of Route 109 and Route 25 (at the Moultonborough Airport), proceed south/east on Route 109 for 2 8/10 miles and turn right onto States Landing Road. Follow States Landing Road 1 mile.
Tuftonboro	Melvin Village Public Landing	Off Route 109. No fee charged.
Wolfeboro	Libby Museum	Opposite the Libby Museum on Route 109, 3 1/10 miles northwest of Wolfeboro. No fee charged. No parking.
Wolfeboro	Goodhue & Hawkins Navy Yard	Sewell Road, Wolfeboro. From downtown Wolfeboro, head west on Route 109 for 2/10 mile. Turn left onto Sewell Road and proceed for 1 mile.
Wolfeboro	Back Bay Marina	Bay Street, Wolfeboro.
Wolfeboro	Public Launch	Back Bay. In downtown Wolfeboro, go one block north (away from the main lake) on Railroad Avenue. Launch site is behind the old Wolfeboro railroad terminal. No fee charged. Parking available. Note: to get to the Big Lake you must travel under a bridge with a clearance of only a little over four feet (full lake).
Wolfeboro	Public Launch	Main Street. In the public parking lot behind shops, next to Wolfeboro town docks. No fee charged.

Lake Winnipesaukee Facts & Tidbits

Lake Winnipesaukee Waterfront Towns
Meredith, Center Harbor, Moultonborough, Melvin Village, Tuftonboro, Wolfeboro, Alton, Alton Bay, Gilford, Laconia, Weirs Beach

Nature Preserves
Loon Preservation Center & Marcus Wildlife Sanctuary – Moultonborough Lees Mills Road 200-acre parcel on the northeaster shores of Winnipesaukee. Upland forests, marshes, a pond, clear running streams and more that 5,000 feet of undeveloped shore land.

Ragged Island - Tuftonboro 11-acre island maintained owned and operated by the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center. Ragged Island is not open to the public to protect the islands fragile ecosystem.

Stonedam Island - Meredith 112-acre wildlife preserve. Lakes Region Conservation Trust 603-279-3246.

Knights Pond - Alton 332 acres, includes clear pond impounded by beavers. A well maintained trail skirts the shoreline. Lakes Region Conservation Trust 603-279-3246.

Major Events
• Holiday events – Visit www.YuletideAtTheLakes.org
• Great Rotary Fishing Derby - Headquarters in Meredith February Sponsored by the Meredith Rotary Club.
• Sled Dog Races – Sandwich Notch 60, Laconia, Meredith
• Winni Derby going on its 25th year. Mid May, Sponsored by the Lakes Region Inland Fishing Association.
• Laconia Rally & Race Week - June
• Timberman Triathlon - Gilford
• Lakes Region Arts & Crafts Festival - Meredith Juried show
• Crafts Fairs - Alton, Wolfeboro
• NASCAR - New Hampshire Motor Speedway
• NH Open Water Ski Tournament – Back Bay Wolfeboro, Abenaki Water Ski Club USA Water Ski sanctioned.

Hiking Around Lake Winnipesaukee
Belknap Mountain - Gilford Turn of Route 11A at Gilford, drive south through Gilford Village, pass the high school, road makes a sharp left. And you will begin drive up Belknap Mountain Road to parking and trailhead. 1 1/2 miles, vertical rise 740 feet Magnificent views

Mt Major - Alton Bay. Route 11 A about five miles north of Alton Bay (close to Ellacoya State Beach) highway sign marks parking lot. Popular hiking spot due to spectacular views. 2 1/2 mile, vertical rise 100 feet.

Chamberlain-Reynolds Memorial Forest - 157 acre forest with over a mile of waterfront, several beaches, swamp walk, over 4 miles of hiking trails managed by the Squam Lakes Association- Trailhead off College Road, Center Harbor

West Rattlesnake Mountain - Rt. 113 Holderness --– Trailheads off Rt. 113- approx. 5 miles from downtown Holderness on right, (after Rockywold Deephaven Camps sign) park on left. Short and Easy Climb, spectacular views. Use caution with children. Steep cliffs at summit.

Red Hill - Moultonborough (elevation 2,029 feet) Fire tower run by town of Moultonborough Fire Department. Bean Road in Center Harbor 1.4 miles to Shibley Road (fire tower sign) to parking lot with gated jeep road. Distance to tower 1.7 miles. Contact the Lakes Region Conservation Trust for a map 603-279-3246.

Ossipee Mountains, Bald Peak - Tuftonboro. Trail access from Castle in the Clouds offering a variety of difficulty levels.

Gunstock Recreation Area - Gilford. Four season recreation area on Route 11 in Gilford. It includes a major downhill ski/tubing area on Mount Rowe and Gunstock Mountain, a 420-site campground, summer mountain Sports Park (skateboard, mountain board, mountain bike and a cross-country skiing area. A map of hiking and mountain biking trails is available at the Base Lodge).

Abenaki Tower – Wolfeboro Route 109 in Tuftonboro. A 5-minute walk from the parking area to an 80’ tower overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee and the Ossipee Mountains.

Cotton Valley Trail - Wolfeboro to Sanbornville - A 12-mile railroad corridor stretching from Lake Winnipesaukee to the railroad turntable in Sanbornville. It meanders across three lakes, many trestles, Cotton Valley and winds through scenic woods and fields. Contact Wolfeboro Chamber for info 603-569-2200

Russell C. Chase Bridge Falls Path - behind the Railroad Station is a half-mile path from downtown to the Wolfeboro Falls Area.

State Parks & Beaches
Ellacoya State Park, Gilford

Cross Country Ski Trails
Wolfeboro Cross Country Ski Association WCCSA - Headquarters for trail maps, tickets and information is located at Nordic Skier, downtown Main Street. Hiking, biking, X-C ski trail networks.

Gunstock Recreation Area, Hiking, biking , X-C ski trail network Gilford Ski, Snowshoe, bike, mountain board, mountain scooter rentals

Biking
Wakefield – A bicycle friendly Community Six loops ranging in length fron 11 to 52 miles long. A bicycle tour booklet is available at the town hall.

Site developed
and maintained by

Lakes Region Association

Lakes Region Association
PO Box 737, Route 3, Exit 20, Tilton NH 03276
(603) 286-8008 / (800) 60-LAKES
www.lakesregion.org / visit@lakesregion.org

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and Lakes Region Map & Guide
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Paid for in part by
NH Division of Travel and Tourism
For statewide information visit www.visitnh.gov.

The Official Vacation Planning Website for the Lakes Region of New Hampshire including Lake Winnipesaukee, Squam Lake, Lake Ossipee, Mirror Lake, Newfound Lake, Lake Winnisquam and the White Mountains. Call LRA today to speak with a vacation planning specialist!