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| Lake Winnipesaukee New HampshireCurrent Temperature and Live Photos from Weirs Beach, NH
Click on the links below to jump to your area of interest History of Lake WinnipesaukeeWinnipesaukee is a native Indian name that means "Smile of the Great Spirit." As New Hampshire's largest lake, and the sixth largest natural lake completely inside U.S. borders, Lake Winnipesaukee is 28 miles long and up to 13 miles wide, with a surface area of 72+ square miles. The lake has many islands, with counts varying from 230 to 274. The largest of these islands are Long Island (1,186 acres), Bear Island (780 acres), Cow Island (522 acres) and Governor's Island (504 acres). Many lovely protected bays and harbors are tucked along its 283 miles of winding shoreline. Its greatest depth is 187 feet, with an average depth of 60 feet. Meredith, Weirs Beach, Center Harbor and Moultonborough all share Winnipesaukee shoreline.Meredith area towns include many other lakes, in fact, New Hampshire's unique Lakes Region has 273 lakes and ponds! There's more water recreation, attractions and family activities than you can fit into one vacation! Here are more facts about the Winnipesaukee Watershed and surrounding area.
Back to TopMeredith, New HampshireThe Meredith Area, the heart of the Lakes Region, offers the best of New Hampshire... picturesque villages, beautiful mountain views, pristine lakes and ponds, and a host of attractions, tax-free shopping, a wide variety of outdoor activities, and special events.
Meredith itself surrounds the pristine protected bay in the northwest end of Lake Winnipesaukee. Meredith's quaint Main Street features traditional white clapboard buildings with a unique variety of distinctive shops, boutiques, galleries and restaurants overlooking the lake. In addition there are nearby shopping centers, many distinctive and unique shops, and several old-fashioned country stores. Antique shops abound in the area as well as arts and crafts shops. For generations, Meredith has greeted visitors with its unsurpassed beauty and a tradition of sincere New England hospitality.
The other communities in the Meredith Area hug the water's edge and provide great variety and interesting exploration:
Back to TopTown ServicesHistorical Societies
Hospital
Newspapers
Public Beaches
Public Boat Launches
School Districts
Service Clubs
Back to TopGetting ThereBy CarThe Meredith Area is located in the center of New Hampshire, just off I-93 at Exit 23E. It's an easy 2 hour drive from Boston. The village of Meredith is at the junction of Routes 3 (Daniel Webster Highway) and 25, two well-maintained roads which circle the Lakes Region.
By AirIf you are interested in a list of private airports, please contact the New Hampshire Division of Aeronautics at 603-271-2551. Logan International Airport (Boston, Massachusetts) - New England's largest airport, a busy hub for domestic and international flights, and only a 2 hour drive from Meredith. 1-800-235-6426. http://www.massport.com/logan/logan.html Portland (Maine) International Jetport - Located on the coast of southern Maine, Portland International Jetport is about a 1 1/2 hour drive from Meredith, and an excellent alternate airport for travelers. 207-775-5809 & 207-774-7301. http://www.portlandjetport.org Manchester (New Hampshire) Airport - The state's largest airport, served with regular flights on several commercial airlines. Directions & General Information: 603-624-6539. http://www.flymanchester.com Pease International Airport (Portsmouth, New Hampshire) - A full-service airport on the state's seacoast, for general aviation and commercial flights. 603-433-6088. http://www.peasedev.org By RailAMTRAK/USA RAIL serves northern New England with a stop in Claremont, NH. AMTRAK has a terminal in Boston's South Station, as does Concord Trailways bus service. For more information on Amtrak call: 800-872-7245. By BusConcord Trailways provides daily bus service to Boston's South Station and Logan Airport from 18 communities in New Hampshire. Stops are primarily in the Merrimack Valley, Lakes Region and White Mountains. 800-639-3317 & IN New England 603-228-3300. Back to TopThings to doBikingOur country backroads and quaint shoreline towns offer BoatingBoat rentals are available for canoes, sailboats, kayaks, jet skis, boats. If you bring your own boat, all motorized boats must be registered. Short term reciprocal agreements may be used with some other state registrations. If your boat is used in NH for more than 30 consecutive days, it must be registered. Covered Bridges
FishingBy Don Miller, New Hampshire Region 2 Fisheries Biologist, New Hampton The Lakes Region offers incredible ice-fishing, but after a long winter
even the most ardent angler begins to whisper the question "When will
the ice be out?" A most anticipated event is ice-out, as landlocked
salmon anglers greet April 1 by casting from icy docks and shorelines, and
paddling frozen canoes and johnboats around small openings in the ice,
underneath bridges, and stream mouths of our salmon lakes. Lake Winnipesaukee is our premier salmon water. Last fall 2000's netting survey revealed an average salmon of 20 inches long and better than 3 pounds. Thirty-five percent of the catch consisted of salmon three years and older, which translates to an abundant age class of four and older salmon this year. Other good bets are Newfound and Winnisquam lakes, where salmon and lake trout are in fine shape, thanks to an abundance of rainbow smelt for forage. The trout angler will find good stream fishing opportunities on the Smith, Newfound, Winnipesaukee, Pemigewasset and Baker rivers. Late summer and fall stockings in these streams should provide good early season fishing. Please consult the Freshwater Fishing Digest for specific rules on these streams. Pond fishing for brook trout is available throughout the region. For the fly-fishing enthusiast, here is a sampling of pretty good fishing destinations: Saltmarsh Pond in Gilford, Sky Pond in New Hampton and Upper Hall Pond in Sandwich. Call the Region 2 office in New Hampton at 603-744-5470, because we love to fish and we'll help you plan your next fishing trip. For more New Hampshire fishing information visit http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing.htm Residents and non-residents over age 16 must have a fishing license. Yearly or one-day licenses are available for NH residents; non-residents may purchase 3-, 7-, or 15-day or annual licenses. Special 1-day family license available - check with our local sports stores. You can apply for your New Hampshire fishing license online at: http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Licensapp.htm Hikes
Horseback RidingGuided horseback rides, on scenic wooded trails, and pony rides are available at Castle in the Clouds, Moultonborough, and at Gunstock, Gilford. Inline Skates and SkateboardsGunstock's 17,000 sq.ft. skate park features a half pipe, 1/4 walls, bank wall, grind boxes, and more, plus a section for new skaters and families. Equipment rentals available on site. Scenic DrivesAny time of year, the country side throughout the Meredith Area offers spectacular vistas, but foliage colors make for especially gorgeous drives in the fall. Hit the road for these spectacular Lakes Region drives:
Skiing and Snowboarding
Walking Trails
Winter ActivitiesIce skating, snowshoeing, ice fishing, ice sailing, snowmobiling, sledding, and cross country skiing are some of the popular Meredith Area outdoor activities in our spectacular "off" season. You'll find equipment rentals and information at many local recreational outfitters.
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wonderful places for you to explore on your bicycles. Mountain bikers will
enjoy the Lakes Region also, including miles of trails for the entire
family at Gunstock's Mountain Biking Center, which rents bikes and helmets
and conducts guided mountain biking tours.
