Lake Warren
Last paddled: May, 2009.
Lake Warren is a hidden little gem in Cheshire County. It isn’t a big lake – only about 135 acres, but it has enough little coves, inlets and islands to keep you busy for a short paddle.
Lake Warren doesn’t have a motor restriction and is very popular with fishermen, so it’s more than likely that you’ll be sharing the lake with some occasionally noisy boats and people. Since I visited the lake early in the season, I enjoyed a pretty quiet afternoon and only had to deal with one family in a boat who were respectful of the kayak and kept their distance. There are many houses which dot the shoreline. In fact only one cove at the far north western side was free of homes and camps.
One of the nicest things about Lake Warren is the small island smack in the middle. It’s clearly a popular location for boaters to take a break and go for a swim. I’ve also heard that it’s a great place to go camping in the summer.
Overall, Lake Warren is a nice place to go if you are in the area. Due to the population an dthe lack of motor restrictions, I probably would recommend it only for a quick lazy trip out. Preferably in the early or late parts of the day to avoid the busiest traffic times.
How to get there: Find your way to Route 123 to Alstead, NH. which is accessed either from Route 10 on the eastern side or Route 12 on the western side. In the center of Alstead is a public beach and boat access on a very sharp corner. There’s limited parking and the launch tends to be pretty busy. You might be better off to make friends with an owner of one of the many camps and cottages along the shore.
Put in: Easy, but busy. Dirt.
