Connecticut Lakes facts for kids

View across a section of First Connecticut Lake

The Connecticut Lakes are a group of beautiful lakes in northern New Hampshire, United States. They are found in Coos County, right where the Connecticut River begins. You can reach these lakes by taking the northern part of U.S. Route 3, which runs between the village of Pittsburg and the border with Canada. The lakes are located within the town of Pittsburg, but they are quite a distance from the town center. The Connecticut Lakes State Forest is right next to them.

There are four lakes: First, Second, Third, and Fourth Connecticut Lake. They are numbered from south to north. As you go from the First to the Fourth lake, they get smaller in size but higher up in the mountains. The Fourth Connecticut Lake is super special because it's where the mighty Connecticut River actually starts! You can easily see and get to the first three lakes from U.S. Route 3. However, to reach the Fourth Lake, you need to hike on the Fourth Connecticut Lake Trail. This trail even goes into Canada for a bit! All the lakes are north of the 45th parallel, which is an important line of latitude.

Just south of these four lakes is Lake Francis. This is a reservoir (a man-made lake) and the last big lake along the Connecticut River in northern New Hampshire.

Exploring the Connecticut Lakes

First Connecticut Lake

Quick facts for kids First Connecticut Lake
First Connecticut Lake Location in New Hampshire
Location	Coos County, New Hampshire
Coordinates	45°5′37″N 71°14′52″W / 45.09361°N 71.24778°W / 45.09361; -71.24778
Primary inflows	Connecticut River
Primary outflows	Connecticut River
Basin countries	United States
Max. length	5.3 mi (8.5 km)
Max. width	2.7 mi (4.3 km)
Surface area	3,071 acres (1,243 ha)
Average depth	56 ft (17 m)
Max. depth	163 ft (50 m)
Surface elevation	1,638 ft (499 m)
Settlements	Pittsburg

First Connecticut Lake is located in the town of Pittsburg. It's about 7 miles (11 km) northeast of the village center. This lake covers about 3,071 acres (1,243 ha), making it the eighth-largest lake completely within New Hampshire. It's the lowest in elevation and the biggest in surface area of the four Connecticut Lakes.

You can find fish like landlocked salmon and lake trout here. The lake is about 56 feet (17 m) deep on average, but its deepest point is 163 feet (50 m)! There are three places where you can launch a boat. You can also go ice fishing from January through March. The water flowing out of the lake into the Connecticut River is controlled by the First Lake Dam. This dam is located near U.S. Route 3 on the southwest side of the lake.

A special marker on the southwestern shore remembers Luther Parker. He was an important person from the time of the Republic of Indian Stream in the 1830s.

Map of First Connecticut Lake

Marker for Luther Parker at First Connecticut Lake

Second Connecticut Lake

Second Connecticut Lake
Second Connecticut Lake Location in New Hampshire
Location	Coos County, New Hampshire
Coordinates	45°9′23″N 71°10′14″W / 45.15639°N 71.17056°W / 45.15639; -71.17056
Primary inflows	Connecticut River
Primary outflows	Connecticut River
Basin countries	United States
Max. length	3.1 mi (5.0 km)
Max. width	1.3 mi (2.1 km)
Surface area	1,102 acres (4 km2)
Average depth	20 ft (6.1 m)
Max. depth	63 ft (19 m)
Surface elevation	1,866 ft (569 m)
Islands	3
Settlements	Pittsburg

Second Connecticut Lake was once called Lake Carmel. It covers about 1,102 acres (446 ha) in Pittsburg. It's about 15 miles (24 km) northeast of the village center. This lake is 228 feet (69 m) higher than the First Lake and is also shallower.

You can find fish like brook trout, landlocked salmon, and lake trout here. There's one public boat launch. Just like the First Lake, you can go ice fishing from January through March. The water flowing out of this lake is controlled by the Second Lake Dam, located near U.S. Route 3.

Map of Second Connecticut Lake

Second Connecticut Lake near the Second Lake Dam

Third Connecticut Lake

Third Connecticut Lake
Third Connecticut Lake Location in New Hampshire
Location	Coos County, New Hampshire
Coordinates	45°14′15″N 71°12′0″W / 45.23750°N 71.20000°W / 45.23750; -71.20000
Primary inflows	Connecticut River
Primary outflows	Connecticut River
Basin countries	United States
Max. length	1.1 mi (1.8 km)
Max. width	0.5 mi (0.80 km)
Surface area	231 acres (93 ha)
Average depth	42 ft (13 m)
Max. depth	101 ft (31 m)
Surface elevation	2,188 ft (667 m)
Settlements	Pittsburg

Third Connecticut Lake was once known as Lake St. Sophia. It's a 231-acre (93 ha) lake in Pittsburg. It's about 20 miles (32 km) northeast of the village center. This lake is less than 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the Canadian border. It can be as deep as 100 feet (30 m). It sits 322 feet (98 m) higher in elevation than the Second Lake.

You can find rainbow trout and lake trout here. There's one public boat launch off U.S. Route 3 on the eastern side of the lake. Ice fishing is also allowed from January through March.

Map of the Third and Fourth Connecticut Lakes

Third Connecticut Lake near the public boat launch along U.S. Route 3

Fourth Connecticut Lake

Fourth Connecticut Lake
Fourth Connecticut Lake Location in New Hampshire
Location	Coos County, New Hampshire
Coordinates	45°14′52″N 71°12′52″W / 45.24778°N 71.21444°W / 45.24778; -71.21444
Primary outflows	Connecticut River
Basin countries	United States
Max. length	0.1 miles (.16 km)
Surface area	1.8 acres (0.73 ha)
Surface elevation	2,670 ft (810 m)
Settlements	Pittsburg

Fourth Connecticut Lake is the northernmost and most difficult to reach of the Connecticut Lakes. It's also the smallest, covering only about 1.8 acres (0.73 ha). This tiny lake is the official source of the Connecticut River! It's located in Pittsburg, about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) upstream and 482 feet (147 m) higher than Third Connecticut Lake. The Fourth Lake is right next to the Third Lake, but a bit to its northwest. You can hike to it using the Fourth Connecticut Lake Trail.

Fourth Connecticut Lake Trail

The Fourth Connecticut Lake Trail is a public hiking path. It's cared for by The Nature Conservancy. This trail crosses the border between New Hampshire and Quebec, Canada, for about 0.6 miles (1 km). It ends with a 0.5-mile (0.8 km) loop around Fourth Connecticut Lake. It's one of the few trails in North America that crosses an international border! The land around the lake is owned by The Nature Conservancy.

Trail sign

The parking area for hikers is at the American border crossing facility for Pittsburg–Chartierville Border Crossing. This is about 22 miles (35 km) north of Pittsburg town center on U.S. Route 3. The trail starts about 50 yards (46 m) to the right of the American building, where you'll see a small sign.

It's important to be prepared for this hike! There's no cell phone service on the trail. You'll need to do some non-technical climbing, and the trail starts at a high elevation. Even in summer, be ready for a good hike. Please remember that pets are not allowed on the trail. Also, no camping, hunting, or fishing is permitted.

If you start hiking from the United States, you don't need a passport. Even though parts of the trail go into Canada, the trail begins and ends on the American side of the border. However, if you were to start from Canada, you would need a passport or other border crossing document to enter the United States at the border facility before hiking the trail.

Climate Around the Lakes

The area around First Connecticut Lake has a type of climate called a warm-summer humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and cold, snowy winters. The hottest temperature ever recorded at First Connecticut Lake was 93°F (34°C) on July 8, 1921, and again on July 19, 1953. The coldest temperature ever recorded was a very chilly -45°F (-43°C) on February 1, 1920.

Connecticut Lakes Natural Area

USGS map of First, Second, and Third Connecticut Lakes (bottom to top)

In 2002, a large area of 25,000 acres (10,000 ha) around the lakes was protected. This was done as a land conservation project by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. This special protected area is located within the towns of Clarksville and Pittsburg, all the way up to the border with Canada. This helps keep the beautiful natural environment safe for everyone.