About Islands of Lake Winnipesaukee

On Winnipesaukee, there is an island property to appeal to anyone's idea of the idyllic island life. Large family compounds with bunkhouses supporting the main house provide an escape where family and extended family can gather to enjoy summer rituals. You can still find rambling, nostalgic residences that hearken back to old New Hampshire summers filled with simple pleasures. Many seasonal camps command stunning private shoreline on countless islands. Parcels of land are available and provide the perfect excuse to build a custom getaway exactly as you imagined. And then there are the private islands with only one residence – the ultimate retreat for those fortunate enough to own them. Winnipesaukee's variety of island homes is vast.

Island Facts

Lake Winnipesaukee and her islands provide us with much interesting history. The islands were used by Native American Indians for perhaps five thousand years.

The Indians in this area were called the Pennacooks. Many of our words come from the Indians. For instance, Winnipesaukee means "beautiful water in high place".

Don't be surprised if you find an arrowhead or artifact on the shore of your island.  An Indian probably stood in this very spot.

Later in history, there were hotels on both Diamond and Bear Islands. On Cow Island, a gentleman by the name of Pillsbury operated a grist mill and supplied flour to local people.

One expression about Lake Winnipesaukee is that there is an island for every day of the year. Realistically, there are about 270 big enough to be called islands.

Birch bark canoes were decorated with the makers distinct markings.

Many centers of the islands are owned by the individual island associations and are restricted from being built upon. Usually, the centers are saved for exploring, hiking, and nature walks.

The shorelines are primarily rocky with wild blueberry bushes galore and scattered natural beaches. The interiors are generally treed with hardwood and evergreens, on which deer graze.

Stonedam, Ragged, Five Mile, and Blanchard Islands (among other smaller islands) are owned by the Lakes Region Conservation Trust and are available for nature walks and hikes.

There are also two sanctuaries for loons, the Melvin Island and the Ragged Island Loon Sanctuary.

“The Forties” – Round, Pop, Fish, LeRoy, Crescent, Saints Rest, Kinneho and Breezy Islands are part of a group of islands between Mark Island and Welch Island referred to as “The Forties”.

27 Biggest Islands on Lake Winnipesaukee

1. Long Island—1,186 acres (bridged)
2. Bear Island—780 acres
3. Cow Island—522 acres
4. Governors Island—504 acres (bridged)
5. Rattlesnake Island—368 acres
6. Welch Island—187 acres
7. Little Bear Island—143 acres
8. Stonedam Island—141 acres
9. Timber Island—136 acres
10. Sleepers Island—113 acres
11. Mark Island—102 acres
12. Black Island—90 acres
13. Barndoor Island—88 acres
14. Black Cat Island—75 acres (bridged)
15. Pine Island—74 acres
16. Whortleberry Island—69 acres
17. Sandy Island—67 acres
18. Jolly Island—50 acres
19. Three Mile Island—47 acres
20. Round Island—43 acres
21. Lockes Island—42 acres
22. Diamond Island—37 acres
23. Dow Island—32 acres
24. Big Beaver Island—30 acres
25. Camp Island—28 acres
26. Mink Island—26 acres
27. Birch Island—25 acres

6 Bridged Islands

• Black Cat Island
• Governors Island
• Long Island
• Oak Island
• Christmas (or Plummers) Island
• Worcester Island

Island Served by the U.S. Mailboat M/V Sophie C.

• Bear Island
• Birch Island
• Cow Island
• East Bear Island
• Jolly Island
• Loon Island
• Three Mile Island
• Sandy Island

Duplicate Island Names

There are several island names used repeatedly for different islands on Lake Winnipesaukee.

• 4 Loon Islands
• 4 Cove Islands
• 3 Dolly Islands
• 3 Little Pine Islands
• 3 Rock Islands
• 3 Rocky Ridge Islands
• 3 Thurston Islands
• 2 Blueberry Islands
• 2 Birch Islands
• 2 Turtle Islands
• 2 Round Islands
• 2 Goose Islands
• 2 Little Mark Islands
• 2 Spectacle Islands
• 2 Ledge Islands
• 2 Chip Islands
• 2 Small Islands