While Newfound Lake is not as well known nor nearly as large as its big sister, Lake Winnipesaukee, its nearly 20 miles of shoreline has enough natural attractions to keep most people busy for an entire day.
A Mountain Bound Lake Shore
West Shore Road follows the lake shore closely, with steep hillsides to the west and the placid waters of the lake to the right. Look for views of Mayhew Island before getting to Wellington State Park. One of the least known parks in New Hampshire, the long sandy beach shaded by tall pines has long been a favorite of locals and, unlike many of the lake beaches maintained by towns in the state, they are open to non-residents. The beach here is perfect for parents who want to stay close to children playing in the shallow water. This park is also an ideal spot for picnics, kayaking or swimming -- the water in Newfound Lake has been declared among the clearest of any lake in the country.
A Natural Wonder Carved By A Glacier
North of Wellington State Park the road continues to hug the shore along the lower edges of the steep cliffs of Sugarloaf Mountain. At the northern end of the lake, at Hebron, the road keeps to the west to Groton. At a point where the road bends sharply to the right, continue straight ahead on Sculptured Rocks Road.
Approximately one mile further on a sign for Sculptured Rocks points to what many consider to be one of New Hampshire’s great natural sights. Here the Cockermouth River has flowed over the underlying bedrock for millennia. At the time of the last great ice age this small stream was a raging torrent of melting glacial water. The result was the creation of fantastically carved sluices, cliffs and potholes in the granite of the riverbed. Paths allow visitors good vantage points for viewing this exciting site.
More Wonders of Living Nature
By returning to Hebron and continuing around the lake on North Shore Road, visitors can explore the Hebron Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary and Paradise Point Nature Center, both outstanding properties of the N. H. Audubon Society. It is perhaps best to start at the Nature Center where a small museum tells about the loons on the lake. The program includes an audio-program on the melancholy calls of these threatened birds. The center also has a bird-viewing area and trails that wander through the woods. Off the Elwell Trail, beside a swamp, visitors can see a tupelo tree, very rare this far north.
At the point where the Cockermouth River enters Newfound Lake the marsh and open field habitat is rich in birdlife. The Hebron Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary encompasses 34 acres of marsh that was created when the river was dammed to form Newfound Lake. Today it supports a healthy gathering of different species. Birders, and the curious, can get views of wood ducks, great blue heron, osprey, grebes, snipes and other birds. Visitors should also look for smaller mammals and the more rarely seen moose.
The Nature Center and the Marsh are open July 1 to September 1 from 10am to 4 PM. Educational programs are offered throughout the season and information is available on their website or by calling the Center at 744-3516 (July-August) or 224-9909 (September-June). The trails at the Sanctuary are open dawn to dusk.
Getting There
Interstate 93 runs straight north through the center of New Hampshire and New found Lake lies west between exits 23 and 26. Take exit 23 at New Hampton and follow Route 104 to Bristol, then taking Route 3A north to the south end of the lake. Turn left onto West Shore Road.
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