The 7 Best New Hampshire Lakes For Swimming

New Hampshire has some of the clearest and most beautiful lakes in the country. These lakes are excellent swimming holes and spots, perfect for beating the heat during warm summers. Listed below are the top 7 best swimming lakes in New Hampshire, although there are a lot more!

1. Echo Lake

One of the best swimming lakes in New Hampshire is Echo Lake in Echo Lake State Park. Echo Lake is part of the Saco River watershed. Although many people visit this stunning lake to swim, it only has a small beach swimming area. Echo Lake instead is best known for its scenic views and wildlife viewing experiences. It has a surface area of about 15.7 acres. The lake is also a popular fishing spot. While here, you can fish for yellow perch and smallmouth bass. Echo Lake State Park is in North Conway, a small village in Carroll County. Interestingly, a part of Echo Lake is also within Franconia Notch State Park. This state park is known for the Flume Gorge, Old Man of the Mountain Site, and Cannon Mountain.

2. Lake Wentworth

Another great swimming lake in the state is Lake Wentworth in Wentworth State Park. This lake is the seventh largest lake entirely in New Hampshire. Lake Wentworth is about 3.9 miles long and 2.2 miles wide. The surface area of this stunning swimming lake is 3,097 acres. Lake Wentworth’s average depth is 25 feet, while its maximum recorded depth is 80 feet at Fullers Deep. This lake is so large that it has 20 miles of shoreline to enjoy swimming, kayaking, hiking, and fishing. Within the lake are at least 18 islands. The largest named island within the lake is Stamp Act Island. Stamp Act Island is a 100-acre undeveloped island that is now protected land by The Nature Conservancy.

3. Lake Francis

The next swimming lake on our list is Lake Francis, which is in Lake Francis State Park in the town of Pittsburg. The lake is a great way to spend the summer enjoying the clear and refreshing water, surrounded by beautiful green mountains and hills. Also within the state park and on the lake is a boat launch. Lake Francis is on the Connecticut River in northern New Hampshire. This reservoir is fairly new, impounded by the Murphy Dam in 1940. Lake Francis is a calm swimming lake and a coldwater fishery. While here, you can fish for lake trout, landlocked salmon, brown trout, and rainbow trout. The surface elevation of the lake is 1,379 feet. It’s about 5.4 miles long and 1.3 miles wide. The surface area of this lovely lake is 1,934 acres. It’s best to swim at your own risk as the average depth is 40 feet.

4. White Lake State Park

Next on our list is White Lake in White Lake State Park. White Lake is a beautiful lake, perfect for locals. It’s a 125-acre glacial lake known for its refreshing and clear water. White Lake is thoroughly enjoyed in the summer as a great scenic and nature getaway. Not only can you swim, kayak, and canoe on the water, but also fish. Within White Lake State Park are also many things to do. For example, visitors can camp and hike. While hiking, you may encounter beavers!

5. Forest Lake State Park

Forest Lake is another stunning swimming lake in New Hampshire. It’s within Forest Lake State Park. Within this state park, you can enjoy a 200-foot sandy beach on the shore of Forest Lake. The surface area of the state park is 397 acres and it was established in 1935. Forest Lake is in Winchester, New Hampshire. The maximum depth is approximately 35 feet. While you can kayak and canoe, there is no boat ramp in the park. Instead, to reach a boat ramp, you need to go to Newell Lane off Forest Lake Road.

6. Kezar Lake

Kezar Lake is a popular and peaceful 170-acre lake in Sutton, New Hampshire. The water is very clear and perfect for swimming. Many locals come to visit Kezar Lake for swimming, bird watching, and wildlife viewing. Loons are common in the lake. This magical beach is also home to some bald eagles! A part of this lake is in Wadleigh State Park. You can swim in the lake and enjoy the sandy beach area with shade as tall pine trees provide natural shade. While swimming or hiking the three-mile loop around the lake, you can see the dazzling Mount Kearsarge in the background.

7. Lake Winnipesaukee

There was no way we were going to make a list of the best swimming beaches in New Hampshire without mentioning Lake Winnipesaukee. This stunning lake is also the largest in the state. It has a surface area of 71 square miles. Lake Winnipesaukee is about 20.8 miles long and 9 miles wide. The maximum recorded depth on the lake is 180 feet. With how large this lake is, you can imagine that it’s filled with islands. there are at least 250 islands within the lake. To swim in this lake, you can visit multiple swimming beaches.

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