Best Flatwater Paddling & Canoeing in New Hampshire

This list represents the most popular flatwater paddling & canoeing in New Hampshire (learn more about Top Trails). Use this list to plan your next New Hampshire flatwater paddling & canoeing trip. Select a state and/or activity below to find even more top trails.

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#1. Contoocook River

An easy half-day paddle through the New Hampshire countryside. The Contoocook is one of New Hampshire's high-volume rivers, beginning near the Massachusetts border in Jaffrey and flowing north to ente…

From the guidebook "Discover Southern New Hampshire"
Jaffrey , NH - Flatwater Paddling & Canoeing - 7 miles

Published by Appalachian Mountain Club Books

#2. Massabesic Lake

Because Massabesic Lake serves as the water supply for the city of Manchester, the city prohibits swimming and water-skiing, and a portion of the lake remains off-limits to all boating. Despite this—a…

From the guidebook "Quiet Water New Hampshire and Vermont: Canoe & Kayak Guide"
Manchester , NH - Flatwater Paddling & Canoeing - 8 miles

#3. Nubanusit Lake and Spoonwood Pond

Spoonwood Pond is well protected, inaccessible by car and off-limits to motorboats. Like Nubanusit, Spoonwood has a rocky shoreline, and in some places giant slabs of granite extend down to and into t…

From the guidebook "Quiet Water New Hampshire and Vermont: Canoe & Kayak Guide"
Hancock , NH - Flatwater Paddling & Canoeing - 8 miles

#4. The Connecticut River: Orford, NH and Newbury & North Thetford, VT

Bed and breakfast inns along the Connecticut River. The Connecticut Valley is rich in history and extremely old. Older than the first steam-powered vessel tested near the Orford bridge, older than a s…

From the guidebook "Roughing It Easy in New England: Outdoor Adventures Near Lodgings"
Orford , NH - Flatwater Paddling & Canoeing

#5. Squam Lake

Squam Lake, one of New Hampshire’s real treasures, remains one of our favorite lakes for an extended visit. This large, highly varied lake boasts dozens of islands, deep coves, and marshy inlets to ex…

From the guidebook "Quiet Water New Hampshire and Vermont: Canoe & Kayak Guide"
Holderness , NH - Flatwater Paddling & Canoeing

#6. Connecticut River - Northern Section

The real draw—and our primary reason for including this section—lies to the east: the string of White Mountain peaks that provide a backdrop to this meandering section of the Connecticut. These peaks,…

From the guidebook "Quiet Water New Hampshire and Vermont: Canoe & Kayak Guide"
Woodsville , NH - Flatwater Paddling & Canoeing - 16.5 miles

#7. Exeter River

Huge trees drape out over the water of this meandering, slow-moving stream. Neither we nor the several other canoes and kayaks that shared this water with us on a June Saturday could detect any curren…

From the guidebook "Quiet Water New Hampshire and Vermont: Canoe & Kayak Guide"
Exeter , NH - Flatwater Paddling & Canoeing - 6 miles

#8. Grafton Pond

A half-day paddle among pine-covered islands and wildlife-filled coves. Grafton Pond is one of those gems where you can spend as much time as you like exploring nooks and crannies or sunning yourself…

From the guidebook "Discover Southern New Hampshire"
Enfield Center , NH - Flatwater Paddling & Canoeing - 5 miles

#9. Conway Lake

Conway Lake is a big lake by White Mountain standards, and provides miles of pine-covered shoreline filled with nooks and crannies that are fun to explore. This trip takes you to the southern half of…

From the guidebook "Discover the White Mountains of New Hampshire"
Conway , NH - Flatwater Paddling & Canoeing - 7.5 miles

#10. Long Pond

Long Pond personifies quietwater paddling: it is remote, filled with wildlife, completely undeveloped, and surrounded by mountains. Despite its relatively small size (124 acres), Long Pond has plenty…

From the guidebook "Discover the White Mountains of New Hampshire"
Lincoln , NH - Flatwater Paddling & Canoeing - 2.5 miles

#11. Chocorua Lake

Chocorua Lake is familiar to travelers on NH 16 who approach the White Mountains from the south. The view of craggy Mount Chocorua from the lake is one of the most famous in all of New England. Despit…

From the guidebook "Discover the White Mountains of New Hampshire"
Tamworth , NH - Flatwater Paddling & Canoeing - 3.3 miles

#12. Pawtuckaway Lake

Pawtuckaway Lake, a large body of water well known for its bass fishing, boasts a highly varied shoreline with numerous coves, inlets, and islands to explore.…

From the guidebook "Quiet Water New Hampshire and Vermont: Canoe & Kayak Guide"
Nottingham , NH - Flatwater Paddling & Canoeing - 8 miles

#13. Lake Armington and Lake Tarleton

Though you will not paddle alone here, except perhaps in the off-season, the scenery makes Lake Tarleton and Lake Armington well worth a visit. The Appalachian Trail passes over the peaks just east of…

From the guidebook "Quiet Water New Hampshire and Vermont: Canoe & Kayak Guide"
Piermont , NH - Flatwater Paddling & Canoeing - 5 miles

#14. Ballard Pond

As we paddled out on a perfectly still morning with glasslike water, a family of Canada geese cast rippling Vs as they beat a hasty retreat ahead of us. This wonderful spot, free from development, hos…

From the guidebook "Quiet Water New Hampshire and Vermont: Canoe & Kayak Guide"
Derry , NH - Flatwater Paddling & Canoeing - 1 mile

#15. Great Bay

Great Bay is a large tidal estuary in southeastern New Hampshire near Portsmouth. Though located near heavily populated areas, the shoreline has only sparse development, and because of its shallowness…

From the guidebook "Quiet Water New Hampshire and Vermont: Canoe & Kayak Guide"
Newmarket , NH - Flatwater Paddling & Canoeing - 10 miles

#16. First Connecticut Lake and Lake Francis

First Connecticut Lake and Lake Francis, like the other Connecticut Lakes (Second and Third Lakes), are jewels of northern New Hampshire. Though some limited development has encroached on their shores…

From the guidebook "Quiet Water New Hampshire and Vermont: Canoe & Kayak Guide"
Clarksville , NH - Flatwater Paddling & Canoeing - 8 miles

#17. Marsh Pond and Merrymeeting River

The Merrymeeting State Wildlife Management Area on the Merrymeeting River offers superb quietwater paddling. One could spend hours paddling this waterway, absorbed in the marsh’s biologically rich won…

From the guidebook "Quiet Water New Hampshire and Vermont: Canoe & Kayak Guide"
New Durham , NH - Flatwater Paddling & Canoeing - 10 miles

#18. Lake Umbagog

Umbagog, pronounced “um-BAY-gog,” straddles the Maine–New Hampshire border, covering more than 12 square miles. Oriented generally north-south, with a highly varied shoreline that extends for more tha…

From the guidebook "Quiet Water New Hampshire and Vermont: Canoe & Kayak Guide"
Errol , NH - Flatwater Paddling & Canoeing

#19. Pawtuckaway Lake

Pines, loons, and mountain views on the secluded northern end of this large lake. Pawtuckaway State Park is full of recreation opportunities —camping, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and paddling. M…

From the guidebook "Discover Southern New Hampshire"
Nottingham , NH - Flatwater Paddling & Canoeing - 5 miles

#20. Androscoggin River and Pontook Reservoir

Though Pontook Reservoir on the Androscoggin River spans Route 16, we heartily recommend this as a paddling destination. We watched three mature moose at the reservoir in June, two bulls with large ra…

From the guidebook "Quiet Water New Hampshire and Vermont: Canoe & Kayak Guide"
Dummer , NH - Flatwater Paddling & Canoeing - 4 miles