Days
<1
Motors Allowed?
Yes
Difficulty
Easy / Class A
Distance
1.00 mi (1.61 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Lake Winnipesaukee is a large lake in central New Hampshire with 72 square miles of water and 182 islands. The lake is a popular spot in the summertime, when locals and vacationers enjoy the small towns, cabins, campgrounds, beaches, parks, and hiking trails that surround the lake. From cruise tours to waterskiing to swimming and scuba diving, Lake Winnipesaukee is a fun and busy place all summer long.

Since motorized watercrafts are popular and frequently zip across the lake, canoe and kayak paddlers may enjoy finding a quieter location to explore, and there are certainly plenty of bays and coves to choose from. Wolfeboro has two public boat launches, one of which is located in Back Bay. The Back Bay boat landing offers several docks and a ramp to access the water, a visitor information center, a playground, restrooms, and parking only a few steps away. From the launch site, paddle northeast along the shoreline for bird watching opportunities, or stop off at Front Bay Park and take a short walk on a nature trail to a gazebo for lunch. If you’re up for more open water or a longer paddle, head south from the launch site under the bridge and out into the sparkling waters of Wolfeboro Bay.

For canoe and kayak rentals on the water, visit Dive Winnipesaukee, located only 0.1 mile from the Back Bay Boat Landing. If stand-up paddleboarding is your thing, check out Full Moon Paddleboard for rentals and paddleboard yoga sessions starting in June!

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

Moderate

Parking Pass

None

Open Year-round

No

Open from

May 01 to October 31

Pros

Easy paddle. Nearby rentals.

Cons

Motorized boat traffic in summer.

Pets allowed

Allowed

Put-in location (lat, long coordinates)

43.586004, -71.212861

Take-out location (lat, long coordinates)

43.586004, -71.212861

Water Temperature

70.00 °F (21.11 °C)

Features

Family friendly
Flushing toilets
Picnic tables
Boat ramp(s)
Fishing
Bird watching
Rental facilities
Big vistas

Trail type

There-and-back

Access

Vehicle

Typically multi-day

No

Shuttle required

No

Site characteristics: Water

Lake

Portage required

No

Location

Nearby Adventures

Southern Lakes Region, New Hampshire
Southern Lakes Region, New Hampshire
Southern Lakes Region, New Hampshire

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Comments

06/09/2023
Yes Wolfeboro Back bay is a calm place to paddle. Alton Bay is another great location, it has a lazy river. Both these locations are a clamer way to paddle Lake Winnipesaukee. I am an instructor @ SUPNH Paddleboard. We offer lessons & rentals in Wolfeboro & Alton Bay. More info @ www.supnh.com
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