Lake Winnipesaukee NH

Lake Winnipesaukee

Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest lake in New Hampshire and can be found nearly in the geographical center of the state. The Native American name means either "smile of the Great Spirit" or "beautiful water in a high place". Either way, Lake Winnipesaukee is a great place to spend time during the warm summer months or the icy cold winters of New England.

The lake is approximately 21 miles long (measured southeast to northwest) and anywhere between one and nine miles wide. This gives the lake a total area of 69 square miles, or 71 square miles when Paugus Bay (the lake’s main outlet) is included in the tally. The deepest point in Lake Winnipesaukee is 212 feet, making it one of the deeper lakes in the state as well as the largest.

Over 250 islands dot the lake from one end to the other, some large enough for small neighborhoods, while others are tinier than ¼ acre in size. Driving distance around the lake is 63 miles, but the total shoreline, including islands, peninsulas and bays, totals over 285 miles. Winnipesaukee sits at 504 feet above sea level and is the third-largest lake in New England, right behind Lake Champlain in Vermont, and Moosehead Lake in Maine. The Lakeport Dam (in Lakeport, NH) regulates the outflow of the lake as the water leaves through the Paugus Bay.

A tribe of Indians known as the Winnipesaukee Indians (a sub-tribe of the Pennacook Indians) were the first to make the western edge of the lake their home. They lived in a village called Acquadocton and fished the lake for many years. Colonists who first explored the area found fishing weirs (small traps set along the shoreline) and named the area Weirs Beach, a name that is widely recognized today.

Tourists flock to Lake Winnipesaukee, not only from New Hampshire and New England, but also from as far away as Canada, New York and further still. The Lake offers countless activities for the whole family, including boating, fishing, swimming, sunbathing, tours and cruises and much, much more. In the winter months, there are organized ice fishing tournaments, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, dog sled racing, ice hikes and other activities to keep you busy through the cold winter months. There’s something for everyone at Lake Winnipesaukee.

Winnipesaukee is surrounded by several beautiful towns, each with their own special flair and feel. These include Wolfeboro, Alton, Gilford, Laconia, Meredith, Center Harbor, Moultonborough and Tuftonboro. Every one of these amazing communities offers visitors and residents alike a myriad of activities to enjoy both on the lake and off.

So come visit Lake Winnipesaukee and enjoy all that New Hampshire has to offer. And if you’re interested in living in the Granite State, you should call Jim Miller Bean Group at (603) 801-3987. Jim is happy to answer your questions about New Hampshire and it’s wonderful communities and would love to find you the perfect home in the perfect setting.