Lake Winnisquam popularity continues to increase

There are literally 273 lakes, ponds, and rivers to enjoy in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region. When you take Exit 20 off of I-93 North, you only have to travel a few miles to Lake Winnisquam, New Hampshire’s fourth largest lake. Let’s take a look at this beautiful, popular lake in the heart of our Lakes Region.

The lake is approximately 4,214 acres, roughly 1/10 of the size of Lake Winnipesaukee in surface area. The lake includes a shoreline of 28.2 miles. The lake is roughly 10.5 miles long and approximately 1.5 miles wide. The lake is very deep by New Hampshire standards, with a maximum depth of 173 feet and an average depth of 49 feet.

There are five towns that enjoy shorefrontage along the lake: Tilton, Sanbornton, Belmont, Laconia, and Meredith. Lake Winnisquam has five islands: Loon Island, Three Islands, Pot Island, Hog Island, and Mohawk Island. The lake is a natural habitat for bald eagles, loons, and many species of fish, including rainbow trout, lake trout, salmon, and white fish. The warm water species include large and small mouth bass, pickerel, hornpout, white perch, northern pike, walleye, black crappie, yellow perch, and blue gill.

A series of lakes creates a wonderful watershed for the region. Merrymeeting Lake flows into the Merrymeeting River, into Lake Winnipesaukee, Winnipesaukee flows into Paugus Bay through the Lakeport Dam into Lake Opechee in Laconia, Opechee then flows through the dam in Downtown Laconia and into Lake Winnisquam through the Winnipesaukee River, from there Winnisquam flows through the river to Silver Lake and eventually reaches the

Merrimack River ending up in the Atlantic Ocean.

There are also a number of natural springs that help create the quality of the water our lakes are known for nationally. Additionally, the freezing of the lakes during the winter months helps to cleanse and regenerate the water before the spring season, in addition to the constant movement of water throughout the watershed.

Winnisquam has a large northern basin and a small southern basin, which is separated by the Mosquito Bridge on Route 3. From the bridge, you can see in the distance a huge sandbar that attracts many boaters for swimming and water activities. There are several marinas on the lake offering boat sales, rentals, gas, service, boat slips, valet rack service, as well as winter storage. The public boat launch is located off Water Street in Laconia and has several staging lanes and a large parking area.

The general public can swim at Bartlett Beach and Ahern State Park, which offers 3,500 feet of undeveloped shoreline with a gradual, natural sand beach on 128 acres with beautiful walking and biking trails. The lake is surrounded by all sorts of housing styles, from rustic camps, elegant lakefront homes, condominiums, and there are many neighborhoods and associations on the lake that offer private deeded beach rights to the members of each association. For example, on Shore Drive in Laconia, the Lakewood Beach Association beach includes 1,280 feet of natural sand beach on 4.65 acres. Waldron Bay on the northern side of the lake includes 3,482 feet of shoreline with 170 acres of wooded conservation land bordering the community, a clubhouse with a large sandy beach and docking. Wildwood Village Condominiums and the Wildwood Association Beach is another example of private association beaches on the lake.

Lake Winnisquam is located in Belknap County and is within close proximity to shopping, music venues, hiking trails, restaurants, theatres, Gunstock Ski Area & snowmobiling trails. The Tanger Outlet Mall is only three miles from the southern end of the lake.

On the southern end of the lake in Tilton, the new Lake Estate luxury resort hotel is nearing completion. PK Zyla, Nancy Williams, and I of Roche Realty Group listed and sold the original Anchorage at The Lake cottage colony, which has been transformed into a modern resort complex.

The resort has every imaginable amenity, on 36 acres with 3,312 ft of level sandy shore front, and awesome lake views. It will offer 114 luxury rooms, including 18 suits, several dining facilities, a 5,000 square foot luxurious spa, wine cellar, wedding venue, movie theater, oversized pool with hot tubs, fitness center, tennis courts, pickleball courts, and two expansive sandy beaches, with docking along the lengthy shoreline, and walking trails.

Real estate activity

• During 2021, there were 20 sales. The median sales price was $1.24 million. The lowest sales price was $145,000. The highest sales price was $2.95 million. The median days on the market was six.

• During 2022, there were 21 sales. The median sales price was $1.27. The lowest sales price was $586,000. The highest sales price was $3.5 million. The median days on the market was seven.

• During 2023, there were 13 sales. The median sales price was $1.52 million. The lowest sales price was $698,000. The highest sales price was $3.5 million. The median days on the market was 21. 

• During 2024, there were 17 sales. The median sales price was $1.4 million. The lowest sales price was $360,000. The highest sales price was $3.6 million. The median days on the market was 20.

• During 2025 to date, there have been four sales. The median sales price is $1.8 million. The lowest sales price is $775,000. The highest sales price is $2.1 million. The median days on the market was 41.

• With only six available lakefront homes for sale on Lake Winnisquam, ranging from $1.1 million to $3 million, all of us in the real estate industry are looking toward the spring market for a new inventory to appear. Talking to my agents at Roche Realty Group, it looks like we have a new listing on Lake Winnisquam with westerly exposure, a beautiful lot, and a nice cottage with 125 feet of pristine shorefront, priced at $1.5 million. Coming on the market on Monday. 

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This article was written by Frank Roche, president of Roche Realty Group with offices in Meredith and Laconia, and can be reached at 603-279-7046. Visit rocherealty.com to learn more about the Lakes Region and its real estate market.