Lakes Region NH Boating Guide

Laconia Plymouth New Hampshire Marinas & Boat Dealers

In the NH Lakes Region boating is king. This is the Land of Lakes in the Granite state with hundreds of lakes, ponds, and rivers. The large lakeside marinas are located here and you have plenty of great boat launching options. After all, the New Hampshire Lakes Region is a boaters’ paradise. Summer residents usually get their boats in the water by mid June and enjoy the season until October. Boat slips can be hard to find at some New Hampshire lakes region marinas. Boat rentals and boat sales are available at many New Hampshire marinas. Ask us about NH Boating or share Marina comments.

NH Lakes Region Boating & Marinas

Alton Bay

Lake Winnipesaukee
Area: 45,000 acres
All types of craft allowed.

Belmont

Lake Winnisquam
Area: 4,200 acres
All types of water craft are allowed.

Bristol

Newfound Lake
Launch: Wellington State Park
Area: 4,100 acres
Has a reputation for tricky wind conditions. All types of craft are allowed.

Center Harbor

Lake Winnipesaukee
Launch: Rte 25, across from the Center Harbor Chamber of Commerce
Area: 45,000 acres
One of many boat launch facilities on Lake Winnipesaukee. All types of craft allowed.

Gilford

Lake Winnipesaukee
Launch: Public access at Ellacoya State Park
Area: 45,000 acres
One of many boat launch facilities on Lake Winnipesaukee. All types of craft allowed.

Lake Winnisquam
Area: 4,200 acres
The long, skinny neighbor of Lake Winnipesaukee. All types of craft allowed.

Holderness

Squam Lake
Launch: Rte 113 (you will be backing into the launch while still on Route 113)
Area: 7,000 acres
All types of craft allowed. Squam Lake has a reputation for being very beautiful, yet treacherous.

White Oak Pond
Launch: Rte 3, 2 miles east of where Route 3 crosses Squam Lake
Once attached to Squam Lake, separated mainly by Route 3. Motors on the lake are limited to 7.5 horsepower.

Laconia

Lake Winnisquam
Launch: Downtown, at the end of Whipple Avenue
Area: 4,200 acres
One of two lakes located in Laconia. All types of craft allowed.

Lake Winnisquam
Launch: Opposite Rte 107, Opechee Park, into Winnipesaukee’s Opechee Bay.
Area: 4,200 acres
Opechee Bay is separated from Lake Winnipesaukee by a dam. All types of craft allowed.

Melvin Village

Lake Winnipesaukee
Launch: Rte 109, across from the Libby Museum
Area: 45,000 acres
East side of the lake, good access. All types of craft allowed.

Meredith

Lake Winnisquam
Area: 4,200 acres
All types of craft allowed.

Moultonborough

Lake Winnipesaukee
Launch: Blake Road
Area: 45,000 acres
Two launch ramps and excellent parking. All types of craft allowed.

Ossipee

Lake Ossipee
Launch: Deer Cove, off of Rte 16
Area: 3,000 acres
Several launches available to public for a fee. The Deer Cove launch is free of charge.

Plymouth

Pemigewasset River
Runs: Plymouth to Bristol to Franklin
Length: 29 miles
The initial 15 miles easy, scenic, and easily navigated most of the year. Initial put in point is at the municipal parking lot in Plymouth. You can ride the current almost completely through to Bristol. The Class II and III rapids below Ayers Island Dam in Bristol can be challenging, you may want to put in again off Flood Plain Road. The river passes through a town known as Hill, which was moved for the Franklin Falls flood control project. Take out at that dam, accessible from Rte 127. You may also continue here another 14 miles to the Public Service Company dam, which is the last point in Franklin. The last stretch of water is extremely calm, also known as deadwater.

Sanbornton

Lake Winnisquam
Area: 4,200 acres
All types of craft allowed.

Sandwich

Bearcamp River
Runs: Bearcamp Pond to Bennet Corners, Bennet Corners to West Ossipee
Length: 17 miles
Begins in meadowland and winds along for 3 miles to the beginning of a challenging 4 mile section of whitewater at Bennet Corners. Initial put in is off the Bearcamp Pond road at the pond and take out is at the Rte 113 bridge to avoid the rapids. The Class III and IV rapids continue to the dam at South Tamworth, through to Whittier where there is a put in off of Old Rte 25. The river winds gently from there for 10 miles to the take out point on Rte 16 just before Ossipee Lake.

Tamworth

Chocorua Lake
Launch: Rte 16, north of the village of Chocorua
Area: 223 acres
No motorboats allowed on this lake. Plenty of parking and room for turning trailers around at the Rte 16 launch.

Tilton

Lake Winnisquam
Area: 4,200 acres
All types of craft allowed.

Tuftonboro

Lake Winnipesaukee
Area: 45,000 acres
All types of craft allowed.

Wentworth

Baker River
Runs: Wentworth to Plymouth
Length: Over 10 miles
Kayaking. Pleasant stretch that runs through sandy banks and steep wooded hillsides. Put in point is below the bridge on Rte 25; this provides Class I and II rapids in the first 10 miles. This section is followed by gradually decreasing currents and flattens out where Baker joins the Pemigewasset. Take out is on a dirt road that leads to a municipal parking lot in downtown Plymouth.

Weirs Beach

Lake Winnipesaukee
Area: 45,000 acres
All types of craft allowed.

Wolfeboro

Lake Winnipesaukee
Launch: Off of Rte 109, behind the town hall
Area: 45,000 acres
One of the more popular launches. All types of craft allowed.

Wentworth Lake
Launch: Wentworth State Park
All types of craft allowed. Connects to Winnipesaukee’s Back Bay through Crescent Lake.

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SUGGESTED NH LAKES REGION LODGING Visit NH Lakes Region Vacation Specials. Browse current Lakes Region area vacation rentals, inns, resorts, and pet-friendly lodging availabilities below.

NH Boating & Marinas

Great North Woods NH Boating
Berlin, Colebrook, Errol, Dixville, Lancaster, Pittsburg
White Mountain NH Boating
North Conway, Lincoln, Woodstock, Littleton, Franconia, Gorham, Jackson, Sugar Hill, Whitefield, Waterville Valley
Lakes Region NH Boating
Laconia, Rochester, Plymouth, Ossipee, Meredith, Ashland, Wolfeboro, Bristol, Winnipesaukee
Dartmouth Lake Sunapee NH Boating
Lebanon, Hanover, Claremont, Newport, Tilton, Lyme, Plainfield, Newport
Monadnock NH Boating
Keene, Peterborough, Fitzwilliam, Westmoreland, Chesterfield
Merrimack Valley NH Boating
Manchester, Concord, Nashua, Salem, Derry, New London, Merrimack, Loudon
Seacoast NH Boating
Portsmouth, Dover, Durham, Hampton, Exeter, Rye, Hampton Beach

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