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Aerial view of Pleasant Lake, New London, NH

Maps & Charts

94 feet deep. 602 acres. One of New Hampshire's finest cold-water lakes — mapped in detail.

Lake at a Glance

Surface Area
602 Acres
Total surface area of Pleasant Lake
Max Depth
94 Feet
28.6 meters — one of NH's deepest lakes
Fishery
Cold-Water
Trout, Salmon, Bass, and Perch
Public Access
Elkins Dam Site
Primary public boat launch location

Lake Chart

The bathymetric chart shows depth contours across the full lake basin.

Historical Reference Only

This 1966 bathymetric chart is considered historical and inaccurate for modern navigation or precise depth measurement. It is provided for general interest only.

Download Lake Chart (PDF)

Depth Contours

The lines on the chart represent depth intervals. Closely spaced lines indicate a steep drop-off; widely spaced lines indicate a gradual slope.

Public Access

The primary public boat launch is at the Elkins Dam site. Please observe all posted rules and clean, drain, and dry your boat before launching.

Invasive Species Prevention

Watershed Chart

The Pleasant Lake watershed area, showing the land catchment that drains into the lake.

Pleasant Lake's watershed is highlighted in red on the map below.

Map of Pleasant Lake Watershed

Ice Cover & Ice-Out Data

Ice-out dates and ice cover duration are tracked each year at Pleasant Lake. The data shows a clear long-term decline in ice cover duration — from roughly 4 months in the 1980s to 3 months in recent years. In 2023, ice cover lasted only 46 days.

Number of Days of Ice Cover: Pleasant Lake 1986–2025
Ice In and Ice Out Dates: Pleasant Lake 1986–2025
Year Ice-Out Date Year Ice-Out Date
2006April 22017April 16
2007April 262018April 27
2008April 212019April 20
2009April 132020April 2
2010April 22021April 5
2011April 222022April 6
2012March 222023April 12
2013April 172024March 21
2014April 222025April 13
2015April 212026April 12
2016March 17

Resources