Squam Lake Reviews

Lovely, serene setting. Truly, On Golden Pond! Beautiful area and very tranquil. Birds and wildlife around. Lots of sounds never heard in the city. Very relaxing place to stop and unwind!

Can't say enough about Squam lake. It is so peaceful, there some power boats and sail boats but we are amateur kayakers and felt perfectly safe. We rented from the Squam Lakes Association for a affordable hourly price. There are a few little islands to paddle to that have trails. The views of the mountains are breathtaking, the water is so clean and fresh we didn't hesitate to jump in. In mid July it was plenty warm enough to swim! Can't wait to go back again soon!

Off Squam Lake Rattlesnake Cove is one of the fingers of FIve FInger Point. Rattlesnake Cove, once the smooth water-skiing jewel of Squam, has become the calm swim and anchor cove since the no-wake rule. There is a large jump rock into 20' of clean clear water. What most people don't know though is the trail loop behind the jump rock and the other quiet beaches. This is the Five-Finger Point trail. It is a great 20 minute hike with coves and beaches. In the winter it makes a great snowshoe loop.

If you do nothing else in the Great North Woods of New Hampshire,go on the pontoon ride for the most relaxing and informative time of your vacation. It is a fascinating 90 minute ride around Squam lake with a guide to tell you everything about the area.He often stops to let passengers take pictures of the loons and the American eagle living there.They also provide blankets because it can get a bit chilly on the water and binoculars for viewing the elusive birds and homes in the woods.This is a real Back to Nature tour....breathtakiing!

The site of the movie On Golden Pond, this very large lake can be viewed by taking a cruise on the lake. Look for the Loons and eagles along with the other wild life. See the many beautiful homes hidden along the shores. Learn about the island made by a man for his residence. See the actual home used for the movie and see homes owned by other famous people. Of course you'll learn about the secret of the Rainbow trout in the movie - there wasn't any rainbow trout in the lake! He was brought there from Castle in the Clouds. In any case this is a beautiful cruise on a magnificent lake.

My family visited Squam Lake because we loved the movie On Golden Pond, filmed here. We were more impressed after our visit. It is beautiful. We rented canoes and saw two loons! They came near our boats and we snapped many photos. The area is beautiful!!! We dined in town and later climbed Rattlesnake Mountain. The view of Squam Lake was amazing! I recommend visiting this attraction!! I believe our canoe rental was from Squam Lakes Conservation Association.

I kayak camped on Moon Island for 2 nights and spent 3 days paddling around and exploring. First, I purchased a waterproof map for $6.00 from the Squam Lakes Association, which I would strongly recommend. The helpful people in the office let me know what islands were public access. There was a nice put-in site there to launch from and parking on the other side. they have restroom facilities as well. And, They have kayaks for rent therel. It is a 2 mile paddle to Moon Island. There are 3 camping spots on Moon Island and 4 at Bowman Island. They should be reserved in advance. There is an outhouse on the island. You must bring in your own water, or filter water from the lake. they provided wood for campfires. Each site is spacious with a fire-ring. We were not bothered by critters. It is a peaceful spot where you can listen to the loons. A nice trail goes around the island. During the day, we explored the area by kayak. My favorite spot was Yard Island. We stopped for a picnic there. I also enjoyed the cool church on Church Island, an open air non-denominational church. It would be an amazing place to get married. There are other options for exploring, including pontoon boats and sailboats.

Stunning, iconic lake. Very relaxing, and during our visit (September) the Loons were out in force. Very laid back, but several boat services, couple of stores and few hotels and vacation rentals.

Love the quiet. This is my happy place 💕. Visit moon island and don’t miss the outdoor chapel on church island.

We had a trip on a pontoon boat with Eric as our guide. I cannot rate this more highly. Eric was both extremely informative and amusing. The lake is breathtaking especially as the leaves are changing colour. We followed this with a walk up West Rattle Snake mountain for amazing views over the lake and into the distance.

For the second year we rented the group campsite on Bowman Island with two other families for 5 days and 4 nights. This vacation is by far my kids favorite. The 6 kids ranged in age from 7-13. Very simple campsites with nice tent platforms. There is a dock for your boat, and a pit toilet. The toilet is the worst part, it never smells great, but hanging out on a beautiful island surrounded by a beautiful lake makes it worth it. Lots of fishing, swimming, water sports, and relaxing for everyone. It is very private, and you feel like you have the island to yourself. There is even a great walking path around the island. SLA (squam lake association) maintains the site and the path.

I came home deciding I want a cabin on a lake for a retirement home. It gives you a feeling of peace as you take your time and venture around area.

One of my fav places in the world, Squam has such a wonderful feel to it. First time back in many years, will not be so long until the next time.

A trip around Squam Lake in a pontoon boat on a beautiful fall day is definitely the way to go. Our guide was knowledgeable with a great sense of humor. Be on the lookout for loons, eagles, and other wildlife. If you are a big On Golden Pond, you will only get a glimpse of the location due to the owners letting the trees grow for privacy coverage.

Rocks in the MIDDLE of the lake. NOT marked at all. So many rocks . Destroyed our prop & Scag. Beautiful lake. Horribly rocky and not marked where it needs to be

We launched at a small beach and parking area on Metcalf Rd north east of Holderness. Very quiet serene part of the lake. Great for kayaking or canoeing. We saw an eagle and a family of loons. Two and a half hours and never had to cross the lake. Lots of coves and islands. Some deer flies and mosquitoes of course. Great day on the water.

The lake is so fun every year we go on boats and go skiing tubing all that fun stuff and just chilling on the lake is so nice I love sqwam

The lake is clear, clean and cold, and the islands are lovely. A great diversion if you are in the area of Holderness. If you come in summer, be prepared for mosquitoes.

Wonderful peaceful lake with sightings of Loon ducks.
Boats to rent cruises to take what could be more relaxing! 🙂

My wife and I were part of a tour group that took a 90 minute cruise on Squam Lake, NH. We boarded a large pontoon boat for the cruise. The tour guide we had was outstanding with a wealth of information about the Lake, wildlife and the natural forces that created the Lake. We viewed the Squam Lake Livery Docks as well as the settings for the 1981 film with Henry Fonda & Katherine Hepburn, "On Golden Pond." An excellent cruise; I highly recommend it.

Rented kyaks from the squam lakes association. Reasonable prices, friendly and knowledgeable staff. Plenty of parking. We rented 2 double kyaks, my 2 boys 12 and 14 have been out with me before. It was the first time out on a lake for my 12 year old daughter. She as well as all of us had a great time. It was a beautiful day. The mountains provide a scenic backdrop. The water is clear and cool. There are islands to explore about an hour paddle from starting point. Although there are motor boats out on the lake water skiing and the like, it was not crowded at all. I would recommend spending some time out paddling, swimming or just about anything you can think of out on squam lake. It truly is a beautiful place.

Beautiful and informative boat trip. Little general store. Have some ice cream after your boat trip. Nice little day excursion.

Very peaceful and beautiful area of NH, we visited to see the foliage and it was perfect. Nice town and friendly people. Found our first of the 5 covered bridges there also. We were there on a perfectly beautiful fall day and that also helped.

Start with an easy family hike on West Rattlesnake Trail to the top and carefully stand on the overlook boulders to see a spectacular view of Squam Lake.

Then, find someone who has a boat. In my case, this would be my brother-in-law. Take a nice leisurely trip on Squam Lake that includes swimming in the clearest cleanest thinnest darkest water. Enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery including the top of West Rattlesnake where you'll see hikers staring toward the lake you are now enjoying from the water.

Scenic beauty at it's best. Definitely part of the Best of America tour. Highly recommended!

We were spending a day touring quaint historic towns - Tamworth, Sandwich, & then we wanted to see Squam Lake, where the movie "On Golden Pond" was filmed.
It is indeed hauntingly beautiful, & our only regret is that we didn't actually find a place to stay & spend some days here!
We would like to go to the Science Center sometime when it is warmer (we were here late October) & take a pontoon boat ride around areas of the lake. We'll be back if we can!

I spent a week on the edge of the Lake and it was exceptionel!
The lake is huge with clear water, many islands and beautiful woods all around. It's a wonderful place for a family trip or a romantic get-away. There are several cute towns all around the lake with restaurants, stores and small shops. The best part of my trip was taking the boat out on the lake, enjoying the sun, swimming in the lake and knee-boarding.
Two thing you must try foodwise if you're at Squam Lake, fried clams and Lobster!

The 90 minute lake cruise is why we came here; we live an hour away, but wanted to check this out, especially after watching again, On Golden Pond. The cruise is an education as to the history of this wonderful location where people have summer homes that are nestled behind the trees on each of the various islands out on this beautiful lake. Our tour guide, Don, was wonderful as he spoke of the many sights including where all the lovely loons were on the water, a couple with their babies. Yes, this is a must see attraction; much less hectic (during the week days at least) than Lake Winny nearby.

This was a last minute booking, so we had to take what was available. We stayed in the Holderness room, which happened to be pretty small. There was no place to sit other than the bed and no hooks to hang you jackets on when you came back from a hike. The room was extremely hot, so I had the window opened the entire time and fan on. Otherwise, the service was impeccable and Sarah was exceptional. The breakfasts were average such as pumpkin waffles, pancakes, and a ham and cheese basket? Also, there is no communal dining, which we usually love. Never really had a chance to meet others staying at the Inn. Access to attractions is good, and restaurant suggests like Six Burner Bistro and The Common Man were great. We traveled October 22nd at which time many attractions were already closed. I suggest you go before October 18th.

Check out the Squam Lake cruise and nearby Nature Center. Great walking trails, animal exhibits, and a relaxing well-narrated cruise of the Lake. A definite plus was seeing bald eagles nesting and a pair of Loons on the lake feeding their offspring.

Absolutely gorgeous environment, although pretty busy July 4th weekend. Lots to do, hiking, boat rentals, biking, fishing and so much more. The drive up is nature at it's best.

A big lake worth exploring by kayak, pontoon or tour boat! The beauty of the area goes on forever! A trip not to be forgotten!!

Squam Lake it the perfect lake for canoeing. Go to the Squam Lakes Association to get detailed maps of all the coves, camp sites, and launches. The lake is calm, clean, clear, filled with interesting coves and canoeing crevices, islands and wildlife. We saw loons, herons, deer and other bird life. Absolutely beautiful.

i loved spending the day at squam lake, everyone enjoyed the calmness of the lake the views of the mountains were really something to see, they had boat rides you could take around the lake. or like we did just hiked around the beautiful lake the sand on the beaches were so lean i can;t wait to go back again soon

This is a hidden gem. People who have homes here make them invisible so you get the feeling that you are on a pristine lake. Lots of gorgeous trees and fantastic landscape. Actually some people bought the views around the lake so the hills could not be developed or ruin the views. We took a ride from Cindy, (Experience Squam), who gave us a great narration while driving her boat. She is a full time resident and knows the history, the people, the filming of the movie "On Golden Pond" and can show you everything.

If you only have time to sit on the shore and admire beauty, do it. Squam has a unique serenity. As a kayaker I find endless intrigue in the wind and the water. I am easily entertained paddling along the shore watching for boulders underwater and tiny islands to clue me into the creation of the lake. There is little boat traffic in the bays and every day on the water is unique. Loons seem to track the humans always showing up . I figure they have a conservation society like we have for them.

Squam lake is the second-largest lake located entirely in New Hampshire. If you are going for paddling there, there are only a few public places for launching your boat and the one I found provided by the lake association. They also provide rental boats and a paid public parking is available on site. This is a lake with lots of motor boats around, so not quite peace and quiet. Its is relatively more windy for those looking for a flat water paddling. Overall, for iSUP paddlelers, consider it a moderate in terms of difficaulty.

Camped here with a group of friends for a weekend, and it was magical! The leaves were changing colors and the temps were crisp. Highly recommend!

My wife and our best friends travel up to Squam every summer. We get in early and have a pontoon boat waiting our arrival. After the usual boat check out, we head from Little Squam to the main lake.

The entire day, yeay after year, has been perfect, weather wise. We usually head to a quiet cove, drop anchor and spend the day knoshing and swimming. The music of the loons and the rustle of the leaves make the day so peaceful.

Squam is never crowded, unlike Winnipesaukee.

After topping of the fuel tank and checking in, we're exhausted and feeling fantastic. Really, it's the quintessential New England summer's day.

Spent a week here with family, bored out of my mind. Lake Winnipesaukee is much more fun......much bigger lake for driving boast fast, lots good fishing spots, and great public beaches. Funny, Squam even felt crowded compared to Winnipesaukee since so much smaller. Squam is ok but cant compete with the bigger lakes!

Beautiful. Excellent hiking, clear clean lake. Lot's of different activities to do around lake. One of my favorite places in New Hampshire.

The mountain ridge that borders Squam Lake on the north is called the Squam Range and is actually several distinct peaks with very similar elevations at the summit. There is a trail that runs the entire ridge from Holderness to the Dinsmore Road near Center Sandwich. There are also some trails that run directly from route 113 to a summit.

Mt. Morgan Trail - this trail is about 2.5 miles from highway to summit. Parking is available just off the north side of 113 directly across from the Rattlesnake trail parking, which is about 1/2 a mile east of Pinehurst Road. The trail follows a grade that gets progressively steeper until it actually ascends a series of ladders followed by a passage through a cave in the rocks and a scramble over some very large boulders. The ladders and boulder scramble are scary and difficult for all but the very young and very adventurous, but the summit comes shortly after that section and the payoff is worth it. The view from the summit is fantastic. Going down Mt. Morgan will be even more challenging than going up.

Mt. Percival Trail - a terrific trail for family hiking because it is a gradual grade most of the way. Even the steepest sections are doable by inexperienced hikers or young people. Mt. Percival is a little longer than Mt Morgan, but not nearly as challenging. Mt. Percival also has fantastic views - well worth the hike. For small mountains these views are amazing.

Doublehead Trail - I only hiked this trail from the Crawford Ridge trail. Its trail blazes were old and hard to see in some places. The trail is not used a lot, so it is tricky to follow sometimes, making the blazes even more important. The trail also goes over every rock on route, gratuitously. Annoying. There are views from time to time, which help to make the walk rewarding.

We took a lake cruise. This lake is beautiful. It's clean and clear. We saw a few loons,
one mom with her twins. There is a lot of activity on the lake. Everybody was
respectable and friendly. On Golden pond was filmed here.

A beautiful lake, surrounded by mountains. Given the its many rocky and shallow channels, you do not see as many powerboats as you would on the bigger lakes, which makes it great for sailing, canoeing and kayaking. I love to take a kayak, some food and my playlist for a long trip around the lake. There is plenty of wildlife, including Loons and Bald Eagles. There are plenty of places to stop for lunch, swimming and enjoy all the beauty of Squam.

Squam lake is one of the last lakes in New Hampshire that we haven't taken a cruise on, so last week we did? We went through the Science Center in Holderness and the cruise with the expert narration was just the right trip for a lazy summer morning. Great lake to view wild life, learn all about it's history and lore and enjoy the story how "On Golden Pond was filmed there." Take the cruise you won't be disappointed.

With blankets and binoculars thoughfully provided, we had a very enjoyable hour being shown and told about this delightful lake with it's varied history, natural life and lovely houses in great situations.
Many thanks to the very knowledgable guides who took us around.

Traveling with our 3 children (11,11,5) in early September, we took a speedboat on Squam Lake. The tour was about 3 hours long, swimming, jumping off a cliff, and water skiing. The lake is just beautiful and everything is so clam. It was one of our best days during our US trip.

We took a pontoon boat cruise. Our driver had excellent knowledge of the lake. We also saw loons as well as eagles. It was a very restful cruise and well worth the charge.

once you assess the magnitude of the headliner lake, you really come to appreciate the elegance of the smaller and nearby squam lake. so glad we lucked out staying in holderness by pure serendipity to be closer to squam or should I say ON SQUAM at the retro white oaks motel. you can do all the fun water sports you like right here. It's not a small lake; it's just that Lake Winni is huge. To the newbies, these two lakes are close to adjoining and it's hard to tell them apart.

The suggested prompts are dead on.. A great place to shoot lots of pics. Jane and Henry also thought so years ago. I want to see the lakes by boat but the views from shore are stunning. Near and far. Also this place is beyond peaceful. If you want the LA night life and action don't come here. If you want to get away and relax from the crazy world, this is the place. But please, come here, relax, boat, fish, enjoy but don't bring the crazy with you, it will be there when you go home.

Squam Lake must be one of the most picturesque lakes in the world. Several dozen small islands scattered throughout the lake add interest and scenery. Very little traffic during the week in the summer. Loved kayaking to various points from our rental cabin. Water in July was pleasantly warm, and so clear. Saw and heard loons on most every outing. We are smitten.

We experienced Squam lake via Moon Island, where we camped for two nights. I highly recommend campsite #2 as its got its own shallow shoreline, the best sunset views, and is well separated from the other two campsites. The water was clear and the perfect temp. We fished and couldn't catch anything big enough to eat, but had a blast. Those we met were mostly friendly. Not too buggy, as one of us actually slept out in a hammock (vs a tent) and nightime temps were perfect: the wind hitting Moon was just enough to keep it cool. Make sure to lather up sunscreen and drink enough water - it got hot (but a dip into the lake fixes that in a jiffy!