The Incredible Road Trip Through New Hampshire That Leads You To 5 Stunning Lakes
By Ken MacGray|Published July 03, 2024
×
Ken MacGray
Author
Hey! I'm a freelance writer and guidebook author. I've authored "New Hampshire's 52 With A View - A Hiker's Guide", serve as editor of Appalachian Mountain Club's "Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide", and and am co-editor of the "White Mountain Guide", also for AMC. I'm currently beginning work on the 6th Edition of AMC's Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide, which will be published in 2025. I live in southern New Hampshire and can usually be found wandering throughout the state's mountains and forests.
As I’ve written about in previous articles here on OIYS, the town of Pittsburg in New Hampshire is a favorite place to explore. Its location far away from the busy population makes it a perfect destination to escape and recharge. Life is much simpler here and a visit to this northernmost town is intended to make one slow down and enjoy the surroundings. If you are looking for something a little different, here’s a North Country road trip that makes a tour of Pittsburg’s lakes that form the Connecticut River.
Our road trip through the upper reaches of New Hampshire begins at the crossroads of State Route 145 and U.S. Route 3. From here it's only a short hop to the first lake on this drive, Lake Francis. While this one is man-made, you'd never know it by taking in its natural beauty. And I can speak from personal experience that camping at Lake Francis State Park is an enjoyable experience.
A bit further up Route 3, we arrive at First Connecticut Lake, the first in a series of four lakes that form the headwaters of the 406-mile Connecticut River. First Connecticut Lake, the southernmost of the four, has the largest surface area and lies at the lowest elevation.
Second Connecticut Lake lies at the 15-mile mark of our drive. A public boat launch allows for access to the abundant fishing opportunities here, including brook trout, landlocked salmon, and lake trout. Second Lake Dam controls the outflow of the lake as it channels the Connecticut River on its southern journey.
Shortly before reaching Pittsburg's border with Quebec (about one mile away), Third Connecticut Lake makes its appearance on the left side of the highway. This lake sits over 300 feet higher in elevation than Second Connecticut Lake. Fish species here include rainbow trout and lake trout, and a public boat launch is also available here.
Our journey officially ends at the Canadian border crossing, so turn around here! For a bonus lake, however, explorers can make the two-mile round-trip hike to tiny Fourth Connecticut Lake from a dedicated parking area at the international boundary. This secluded bog is the source of the mighty Connecticut River, which this North Country road trip has been following since the start.
While you are in this area of the state, extend your adventure with a trip to the remote Garfield Falls; grab a cabin for the night; pay a visit to Young’s Store for just about anything you may need, or hike to an abandoned fire lookout.
