40 min south of the lodge, past Plymouth, the mountains give way to the Lakes Region and the first big water you meet is Squam — the second-largest lake in New Hampshire, and by a wide margin the quietest, ringed by conservation land and old-money camps rather than marinas and motels. It is where On Golden Pond was filmed in 1981, and it looks it still: islands, loons calling at dusk, water clear to the bottom.
The way in for a visitor is the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness — a live-animal trail through the woods with New Hampshire's native wildlife, and the naturalist-guided lake cruises that leave from across the road. It is the best non-mountain day trip from Lincoln, and the one we suggest for the day after a big hike.
The cruise
The Science Center runs 90 min cruises on canopied pontoon boats with a naturalist aboard — the Discover Squam cruise is the standard one — looking for the resident loons and bald eagles, tracing the lake's islands and coves, and telling the human history from the Abenaki to the summer camps to the film crew. Reservations are required and cruises fill; the 2026 schedule started in mid-May with a 1 pm daily sailing, adding an 11 am from July.
Adults are $36, seniors $34, youth $32 in 2026, with a members' discount; kids twelve and under wear life jackets by state law. Arrive 15 min early. Bring binoculars and a layer — it is cooler on the water than in the parking lot.
The Science Center
The land side is a nature center in the best sense: a trail loop through woods and meadow with live native animals in naturalistic enclosures — black bear, mountain lion, otters, bobcat, birds of prey, and more — plus exhibits and a kids' play area. It is a morning on its own; combined with an afternoon cruise it is the whole day.
It sits on Route 113 in Holderness village; you park at the Center and walk across the road to the cruise dock. Admission for the trail is separate from the cruise; check nhnature.org for the current combination pricing.
The lake itself
Squam is protected in a way Winnipesaukee is not: the Squam Lakes Association and generations of shoreline families have kept development thin, so what you see from the boat is forest and rock and the occasional grand old camp. Public access is limited — the cruise is the easiest way onto the water; kayak rentals exist in Holderness for the self-propelled. West Rattlesnake, a short hike above the north shore, is the classic overlook, and our trail guides mention it in passing.
The loons are the thing. Squam holds one of the state's watched populations, and a pair calling across still water at dusk is the sound the movie sold the world.
Making a Lakes Region day
From Lincoln: I-93 south to Plymouth, then Route 3 and 25 to Holderness — 40 min. Morning on the animal trail, cruise after lunch in Holderness, and home by way of Plymouth's small downtown, or Polar Caves in Rumney if the day is young. Our scenic-drives itinerary strings the Lakes Region loop together for the non-hiking day.
Where to stay for it
About 40 min south of the lodge — the classic rest-day trip after a summit. Book the cruise ahead, do the animal trail in the morning, and you are back in Lincoln for dinner having spent a day at sea level.
Sources & official info: nhnature.org · nhnature.org · visitwhitemountains.com
— Launchpoint Lodge, From the lodge
