5 Favorite Lakes For Boating

Lake Winnipesaukee, photo Wikimedia.

Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire

Lake Winnipesaukee has been attracting visitors since the mid-1800s. Spread across 72 square miles and with more than 250 islands, it offers plenty for boaters to explore and enjoy. The lake treats visiting boaters to stunning scenery, fun lakeside attractions, great fishing, fantastic dock and dines, and excellent marine facilities. Read more about Lake Winnipesaukee here.

Candlewood Lake, photo Candlewood Lake Authority.

Candlewood Lake, Connecticut

Created in 1928 as a hydropower source, 5,420-acre Candlewood Lake—the largest lake in Connecticut—serves as a playground for all types of boaters, anglers, and paddlers. Most boaters congregate in the lower part of Candlewood, which is dotted by islands and coves where you can beach your vessel and simply hang out. The lake has several open areas that provide good venues for wakeboarding, waterskiing, wake surfing, and tubing. Read more about Candlewood Lake here.

Moosehead Lake, photo by Tom Richardson.

Moosehead Lake, Maine

Moosehead is a spectacular place, and it’s remarkably uncrowded for such a large lake. It’s 41 miles long by 10 miles wide, and even during summer you’re not likely to encounter many other boats, especially in the less-developed northern part of the lake. Many days it feels like you have the place to yourself, especially if you tuck into one of the innumerable secluded coves along the shore. Read more about Moosehead Lake here.

Lake Champlain, photo Lake Champlain Region.

Lake Champlain, Vermont

Often referred to as New England’s West Coast, Lake Champlain is scenic, deep—400 feet in places—and spacious, with 500 square miles for boaters to enjoy. The lake is roughly 120 miles long and 14 miles at its widest, and is surrounded by rocky ledges, scenic fields, and sandy beaches. The islands of the lake’s Inland Sea enchant boaters with their pristine waters, natural surroundings, and fantastic fishing. Burlington sits right on the shore and is a boater’s paradise and one of New England’s most fun cities. Read more about Lake Champlain.

Lake Sunapee, photo New Hampsshire

Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire

At approximately eight miles long and two-and-a-half miles wide, with a maximum depth of 140 feet, Sunapee is a big lake—the fifth largest in New Hampshire—that somehow manages to feel small and intimate. Spend some time drifting its protected coves, swimming in its super-clear water or fishing along its sylvan shores, and you’ll remember why you bought a boat. Read more about Lake Sunapee here.

SIGN UP FOR OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR EXCLUSIVE AND FIRST-LOOK CONTENT HERE.