| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Bear Island (Lake Winnipesaukee), NH |
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 | Trails: |
Unnamed trails, ice walk |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, February 7, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Good parking at the marina at Lovejoy Sands. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Unpacked Powder |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Hiked across frozen lake Winnipesaukee checking the Lake Winnipesaukee Ice Fishing & Ice Conditions Facebook page for ice safety tips first. Started out at the boat launch on Tall Pines Road on Meredith Neck returned via Cattle Landing Road. Lots of ice fishing rigs and snowmobile tracks, deep snow, drifts in places but the ice was pretty thick except near docks. Important to NOT cross the ice anywhere near the permanent docks on the island and mainland because of the ice bubbler devices that keep the docks ice free in winter and can thin the ice a distance out. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Snowshoed across the lake to Bear Island and visited the eastern high point and chapel (and former firetower site). See my remarks about crossing the ice, above, which requires care and advance research. The northern part of the island has an official trail system reserved for summer residents and guests, but the island is uninhabited in the winter and the camps shuttered. SPNHF maintains a forest reserve on the south half of the island. There's a trail system marked with plastic diamonds of different colors on that part of the island accessible from the public canoe/kayak carry trail located at the narrowest (halfway) part of the island. A blue-marked trail leads from the carry trail southerly across the island's south high point to the stone chapel and former fire tower site. The chapel was locked during my visit. None of the trails were broken out. |
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 | Name: |
Paul W Gagnon |
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 | E-Mail: |
paulwgagnon@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-02-08 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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