Eastman Lake, New Hampshire, USA

Also known as:  Eastman Pond

Tucked away in the heart of the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee region just two hours from Boston and minutes from the Vermont border, Eastman Lake is a fantastic year-round destination. With over 320 acres of water for boating and fishing surrounded by trails for hiking, biking and cross-country skiing, Eastman Lake is a western New Hampshire getaway with something to please the entire family. Eastman Lake, also known as…
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All About Eastman Lake, NH

Tucked away in the heart of the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee region minutes from the Vermont border and just two hours from Boston, Eastman Lake is a fantastic year-round destination. With over 320 acres of water for boating and fishing surrounded by trails for hiking, biking and cross-country skiing, Eastman Lake is a western New Hampshire getaway with something to please the entire family.

Also referred to as Eastman Pond, the lake is a reservoir created by a dam owned by the Eastman Community Association (ECA). The lake’s primary inflow is Stony Brook, while Eastman Brook makes up its outflow. The lake stretches two and a half miles long and half a mile wide. The Eastman community surrounds the lake with residential development, including vacation rentals and real estate for sale. Water enthusiasts enjoy recreating on the three islands scattered about the lake, the largest of which has a place to dock a boat for lunch break or an afternoon swim.

There are several sand beaches around the lake which are owned by the ECA and only open to members. Eastman Pond has more than enough water for boating, kayaking, canoeing and sailing with the south end of the lake offering a public boat ramp. The lake’s 10 mile per hour speed limit and the absence of skicraft ensure that the water stays quiet and peaceful.

Fishing on the lake is popular; anglers challenge the abundant largemouth bass and smallmouth bass populations. In addition to residential development, the lake is ringed with trails for hiking and biking, which are used in winter for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. A golf course and tennis courts round out the recreation opportunities.

Most of Eastman Lake is in Grantham, with a small portion located in Enfield. The town of Enfield was chartered by Benning Wentworth, the Royal Governor of the Province of New Hampshire in 1761. Three decades later, in 1793, the Shakers arrived and built the ninth of the original Shaker communities. At its peak the Shaker community had approximately 300 members practicing celibacy, equality of the sexes and pacifism.

The Shakers settled on the western shore of nearby Mascoma Lake and called the area between the lake and Mount Assurance the “Chosen Vale.” By 1850, they were farming about 3,000 acres around Mascoma Lake. In 1923 the Shakers sold the village to the LaSalettes, an order of Catholic priests who occupied the community until 1985. Today, the Great Stone Dwelling, the largest Shaker dwelling house ever built, is the home of the Enfield Shaker Museum. The museum offers an exceptional day trip from Eastman Pond. Visitors can spend the day exploring the Shakers’ way of life through their furniture, tools and clothing or wander through the herb and flower gardens and hike to the top of the Shaker Feast Ground.

Eastman Lake is a short drive from two New Hampshire Wildlife Management Areas (WMA). The Henry Laramie WMA (formerly the Enfield WMA)) covers 3,062 acres in Grafton and Sullivan Counties and is made up of forests scattered with ponds. It is home to moose, white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, black bear, wild turkey and waterfowl. The McDaniels Marsh State Wildlife Management Area was established in 1957 and covers 609 acres in Grafton County. It includes hundreds of acres of wetlands and is home to large numbers of waterfowl.

With hundreds of acres of peaceful water, abundant fishing and sand beaches, Eastman Lake offers exceptional recreation opportunities. Add the surrounding wildlife areas, winter sports and the rich history of nearby Enfield, and a trip to Eastman Lake is sure to become a favorite destination.

Things to Do at Eastman Lake

These are some activities in the Eastman Lake, NH area visitors can enjoy:

  • Vacation Rentals
  • Fishing
  • Boating
  • Sailing
  • Swimming
  • Beach
  • Canoeing
  • Kayaking
  • Golf
  • Tennis
  • Picnicking
  • Hiking
  • Biking
  • Cross-Country Skiing
  • Snowshoeing
  • Wildlife Viewing
  • Birding
  • Museum

What Kind of Fish Are in Eastman Lake?

Eastman Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

  • Bass
  • Black Bass
  • Largemouth Bass
  • Smallmouth Bass
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Find Places to Stay at Eastman Lake

If you’re considering a Eastman Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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More Sites to Book a Eastman Lake Vacation

Our interactive Eastman Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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Eastman Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

Water Level Control: Eastman Community Association

Surface Area: 320 acres

Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 1,109 feet

Average Depth: 10 feet

Trophic State: Mesotrophic

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