LAKE RESOURCES
Ossipee Lake is an adventure for the whole family, with activities that take you on the water, up the mountainside or across the land.
Public area and things to do
BOATING
Lake Ossipee has a public boat launch at Pine River, which is off Route 16 to the south. Boat rentals are also available.
Public Boat Launch
Pine River Boat Launch, Route 25, Ossipee
Boat Rentals
Boat Bud
Rent a boat or arrange a charter with Captain Miles.
75 Pine River Path, Effingham
Lakefront Landing Marina
Family-owned and -operated rowboat, pontoon and powerboat rentals.
85 Pequawket Trail, Center Ossipee
Lakehouse Boat Rentals
Pontoon boat rentals on Lake Ossipee.
25 Cassie Cove Road, Center Ossipee
Goodhue Boat Company
Boat sales, rentals, service and storage since 1903.
244 Sewall Road, Wolfeboro
NATURE PRESERVES
A part of the Ossipee Lake Natural Area is completely undeveloped and home to endangered species, rare plants and archaeological sites that are thousands of years old. More developed areas are rich with opportunities to hike, canoe and climb fire towers.
Bearcamp Woodlands
This 244-acre preserve, once hayed, was returned to woodlands when Ossipee Lake was dammed. Land and forest types are very diverse and home to black bears, moose, muskrats and otters. It borders the unspoiled Bearcamp River, which is superb for canoeing. Located on the east side of Route 16, 6.8 miles north of the junction of Route 28 and Route 16, the entrance to the forest is directly across the highway from the Mt. Whittier Motel and to the left of the Ossipee Fire Station.
Stimson Forest
A white pine and wildlife habitat demonstration area, the 45-acre Stimson Forest, near Pine River State Forest, sits at the junction of routes 16 and 28 in Ossipee.
White Lake State Park
The 140-acre White Lake State Park offers some of the best swimming in New Hampshire. The lake is also popular for canoeing, kayaking and trout fishing. Winter activities include cross-country skiing and snowmobile trails.
Madison Boulder Natural Area
The largest known erratic in New England and among the largest in the world, this huge granite rock measures 83 feet in length, 37 feet in width, 23 feet in height above the ground and weighs upward of 5,000 tons.
Hemenway State Forest
Located on Route 113A in Tamworth, Hemenway State Forest features wide and varied trails for hiking. Two highlights include the long, flat trip beside Paugus Brook and the views from the fire watchtower atop Great Hill.
COVERED BRIDGES
New Hampshire is home to a large number of beautiful covered bridges, and two of them are within a stone’s throw of Ossipee Lake.
Whittier Bridge, Ossipee
Built in the 1870s by Jacob Berry, the 132-foot covered bridge crosses the Bearcamp River in Ossipee Village. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the bridge is closed to vehicular traffic.
Durgin Bridge, Sandwich
Also built by Jacob Berry, the 96-foot-long crosses the Cold River, one and a half miles north of Route 113 near Sandwich Village. The bridge was erected in 1869.
HIKING
Ossipee Lake is a destination for expert hikers who answer the challenge of summiting one of the surrounding mountains via steep climbs and open ledges. Novice hikers can enjoy the scenery, as well, however, on easier, shorter trails.
Champney Brook Trail
Start at the Champney Brook Parking Lot 10 miles west of Route 16 on the south side of the Kancamagus Highway. Hike 3.8 miles to the summit of Mt. Chocorua along the moderately difficult trail, which takes about three hours one way. A loop path diverges left off the trail to Champney Falls and Pitcher Falls, where the most dramatic waterfall views can be seen during wet times of the year.
Bald Knob
The remains of an ancient volcanic ring dike, the Ossipee Mountains offer a number of popular hikes, including the Bald Knob summit, which rewards hikers with spectacular views. The trail is located in the Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area.
Piper Trail
The Piper Trail, which begins six miles south of Conway, is a moderate to difficult trail along open ledges to the summit of Mt. Chocorua. The four-and-a-half-mile-long hike takes approximately three and a half hours.
Mt. Hedgehog Hiking Trail
This beginner-friendly trail is perfect for families or those short on time. Follow the five-mile loop clockwise for the best views.
FISHING
Cast your line for a variety of species of bass, trout, pickerel, perch and more.
THE OSSIPEE LAKE STORY
A quiet lake that’s teeming with life
Settlements around Ossipee Lake began to spring up soon after the end of the Revolutionary War, built upon fine sand and soil left behind from the glaciers of the last ice age. And while it has become a popular vacation destination, a large portion of the surrounding land remains undeveloped. This pristine, untouched landscape is home to a “sandy pond shore system,” including four rare and imperiled natural communities and some species of plants found nowhere else in the world.
Today, geologists come to Ossipee to study its “ring dyke,” a volcanic area formed when magma upswells into a circular shape, which is visible from the top of the surrounding mountains. Archaeologists are inspired by important artifacts found there dating back thousands of years. And anglers come to catch their share of the lake’s bountiful fish population.