The beach is at the southern end of Little Squam Lake near the Covered Bridge…read morehttps://www.yelp.com/biz/squam-river-covered-bridge-ashland?hrid=-CsLYrwpyCYyvKiqRStYmQ and is the only public beach on the lake. However, it is only open to town residents, taxpayers, and campers at Edward Doggett Campground. There is a parking lot and they have lifeguards on duty from 10am to 4pm. The beach has a roped swimming area as there are power boats on the lake. A water-accessible wheelchair ramp looks useful and there are restrooms available but you'll have to find an employee to get the key. Look for the volleyball court as well. [Review 18532 overall - 83 in New Hampshire - 2054 of 2022.]

Lake Runnemede was once a privately owned lake which was donated to the town at some point. It is…read moreadjacent to Paradise Park, so you can take quite a little hike if that's your preferred activity. I personally like to take the Zig Zag trail up. You can't quite walk the entire way around the lake, but you can climb the hill and take a short walk to the entrance just past the legion. There is a gazebo to relax in across from the popular access point (near price chopper.) there are benches to sit and relax along the bank too. If you're taking kids fishing, the sunfish will be literally NONSTOP- so it keeps fishing exciting for kids but obnoxious for grown fishermen. No boats or swimming is allowed in this lake (if you need to swim, head to Kennedy Pond!) Do NOT drive down the driveway, it's not allowed for anyone for any reason (unless you live on the road.) Also be aware of the "no parking between signs" because the fire department requires access at all times and you WILL be ticketed if you choose to ignore the signs. There's plenty of parking, don't be that guy!

Lake Runnemede, or Everett's Pond, as the locals call it is a aquatic gem in the heart of Windsor,…read moreas well as part of Paradise Park. Once privately owned by the Everett's family, it is now co-owned by the Town of Windsor and a local conservation organization. The lake is mostly for visual beauty and wildlife, as much all recreation is off limits. Not boats or swimming is allowed. I believe fishing may be off limits too now, but I used to fish here all the time. (The lake has huge carp, bass, and pickerel, and other crap fish). Access to the lake is from a path across the street from Price Chopper. Another is on State Street which is a walk in- only access road across from the School. More hiking paths as well from Paradise Park.

Elkins Beach is one of the two public beaches in the town of New London, New Hampshire. It's…read morelocated at the Eastern end of Pleasant Lake, overlooking spectacular scenery as its elevation is over 700 feet lower than the rest of New London. It also adjoins a boat launching point across from the parking lot and the US post office at the village, although boats may not be brought into the beach area. The beach also has an area that is tree shaded and a small cove with a tiny beach itself. The main beach area is over an acre, providing for a good space for sun bathing and water sports. It is staffed during the summer with lifeguards During the Covid pandemic, the beach has been restricted to townspeople only to alleviate any crowding and possible infection potential. Elkins is a wonderful place to spend a day at the beach with family and friends.

Windsor's favorite summertime swimming destination family friendly nice quiet pond perfect for the…read morelittles and big kids

A small pond right in the town of Windsor, VT. Small beach and open to the public for a small…read morenominal fee, only during summer. I learned to swim here. Managed by the the town's rec dept. One can also kayak or canoe. Water comes from the Brownsville Brook and Mt Ascutney. The pond drains out into the Connecticut River. ONe can also skate here in winter if its been REALLY cold and no snow.

The Esther Currier Wildlife Management Area and the Davis Path within it are amazing conservation…read moreareas that contribute in great part, to the immense quality of life in New London. It is a superb area for admiring wildlife, beaver dams, bog vegetation and contemplation. It is also a superb 2.2 mile flat hike, suitable for families with children, pets and elderly. It is a postcard scenic area during Fall's Foliage. And a great area for hiking, snowshoeing and Nordic skiing in the Winter. The Esther Currier Wildlife Management Area at Low Plain is preserved through the efforts of a diverse group of citizen councils and nonprofit organizations. The New London Conservation Commission, and elected body, manages the area in conjunction with the Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust, the Elkins Fish & Game Club, and the NH Fish & Game Department. A self guided trail map with notes is available at the Route 11 entrance and also through their website. The trails can be accessed from the parking area off Route 11 or from a parking area on Mountain Road. Most of this material is taken from the New London Conservation Commission's trail description. The main trail is named the Davis Path. It is a gated gravel road running between Route 11 and Mountain Road. Hikers can also take side trails that lead to several overlook spots and observation blinds along the edge of an active Beaver Pond. In addition, there is a quaking bog that may be viewed from a boardwalk on the trail to the Marsh Point blind. A high water bridge, built by Elkins Fish and Game Club, takes visitors over the waters that flood a portion of Davis Path during Spring thaw (bridge is shown at the right). A geological exhibit (boulder collection) and a salamander pool are visible from the Davis Path. The Davis Path is 1.13 miles in length (one way). A half mile loop trail to Shepard Spring is also shown across Mountain Road from the Davis Path. Parking is available along Mountain Road. The trail is only marked for a clockwise trip around the loop. The Conservation Commission has also developed a Forestry Management Cover Map and Forestry Plan for the Low Plain area. An unbeatable location to enjoy a couple of hours with family or simply, to admire nature in its very best.

The views at the top of this short walk are amazing. It's a relaxing walk from the trailhead and…read moreonly .8 miles round trip. Great photo opportunities and it's a good place to walk your dog. There is small chestnut tree restoration farm along the way as well as a stone wall that lines the trail. Well worth a visit to see the beautiful vista at the end of this short and easy trail.

The Kearsarge/Lake Sunapee area is post-card beautiful, and residents and visitors enjoy the active…read morelifestyle and the plethora of things to do. One of the many four-season things available is hiking. And a gem in the hiking category is the Davis Hill and Clark Lookout Trail. The first thing is that almost anyone can negotiate the trail. It is only 0.7 miles long out and back in its totality. But still, visitors should plan an hour. That's because the Clark Lookout Trail provides a spectacular, I mean, write home to mom kind of beautiful, view of Lake Sunapee and Mount Sunapee. A camera or a good quality smartphone is a must, as the views here are amazing. The Clark Lookout property cuts through a neighborhood of million-dollar homes and was made available to the residents through the generosity of Sydney L. Crook and Mary D. Haddad, who donated land and funding to the town of New London for conservation and recreation use. The trail is managed by the New London Conservation Commission. Much of the land and its conservation easements are held by the area's prime land conservation organization, the Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust. For a family traveling on the Interstate that wishes to have a nice break, this spot is optimum. It is also a must for anyone visiting for the first time, as you will fall in love with the area on the spot. The trail is also amazingly dog friendly (on a leash) and poopy bag dispensers are available indifferent places. The Clark Lookout Trail starts on Rt 103-A, across from the Park and Ride lot near Exit 12 on Rte. 89. From that point, the trail climbs only 100 feet. From the Conservation Commission's description, "heading up the trail, the first point of interest is the trail kiosk, which has information about the history of the trail and includes a bulletin board where notices and information are posted. Near it is the libary box, where hikkers can borrow or lend books when they visit. Turn left at the kiosk to continue up the trail. Further on is the four corner road intersection (turn right) which is the last turn before proceeding to the lookout summit". Once on top, a majestic view of Lake Sunapee, Lake Sunapee and the surrounding area greets the visitor. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Clark Lookout is one of these places where you can see the beauty of nature and feel optimistic again.

The Kidder Brook Trail is a 1.2 mile one-way or a 2.4 mile round trip through some pristine water…read morescenery. It is both, one of the most popular and also one of the most beautiful trails in the New London area. The trail is managed by the New London Conservation Commission. From the parking area at the bridge on Twin Lake Villa Road, it crosses a stone bridge and ascends 230 feet along Kidder Brook with amazing views of the flowing brook, rushing water, water falls, and views, culminating in a beautiful lake. A camera, either a stand alone or a smartphone, is a must have to capture this trail. Numerous brook scenes with flowing water, gorgeous mature pine forest scenes, and granite formations are part of the trail. This trail also crosses several other trails including the Sunapee, Ragged and Kearsarge Greenway, a magnificent, multi day trail. It also crosses and can join with the Morgan Pond Trail A must see in the area.

Absolutely beautiful trail maintained by the New London Conservation Commission. It's an…read moreout-and-back trek basically 5 miles and with a 750 foot elevation gain. The trail begins near Pleasant Lake and follows Great Brook, one of the lake tributaries, until reaching Devil's Half Acre, where a large pond provides excellent views. This trail is absolutely dog-friendly and there were families with dogs on the trail. It is worth mentioning, that there was bear scat on the trail and that unleashed dogs could find themselves in trouble.... I hiked this after a late summer dry spell and, between the dry weather and cooler temperatures, there were no bugs to speak of. However, as the trail follows a brook, I can imagine there could be many bugs pestering the hiker. The Upper Cascades require walking in wet boulders so if one is going to go all the way to the pond, sturdy hiking shoes are a must. Once on the trail, hikers have a choice to detour to the Webb Forest interpretive trail. Also, a small "take one, leave one" library is handily accessible on the trail itself. The route winds up the Great Brook, providing peaceful and beautiful sights, including a gigantic glacier-carried Erratic the size of a house. Some of the trail is on an abandoned, two-hundred year old coach road, with a historical Hayes Farm site ruins on the trail. These are the remains of one of the original settlers. The Lower Cascades were worth seeing, although I imagine the volume in the Spring Thaw must make it almost impassable and yet, a magnificent sight. Towards the end, the Devil's Half Acre Pond was a delightful sight. Highly recommended hike when in the Lake Sunapee/Kearsarge area.