Day Use

Edward MacDowell Lake Day Use Facilities

Edward MacDowell Lake
Near Peterborough, New Hampshire

Facilities

This year-round park offers two day-use picnic shelters, perfect for large parties or family functions. Flush toilets, drinking water, picnic tables and grills are provided. Summer hours 8am-8pm - Off season hours: sunrise to sunset. A swim beach, playground, horseshoe pits, car top boat launch and volleyball court offer additional recreation opportunities.

Natural Features

The 165-acre lake is surrounded by densely forested rolling hills. Shady pine, birch, poplar, maple, oak, beech, hemlock and alder trees cover the area.

Wildlife is abundant in and around the park. White-tailed deer, moose, beaver, fisher, muskrat, otter and many other mammals make their homes around the lake. Birders may observe many species including osprey, hawks, owls, great blue herons, woodpeckers, waterfowl and songbirds.

Recreation

Visitors can spend days kayaking and canoeing on the scenic lake, and a boat ramp is provided for easy lake access.

Fishing is also a popular activity. Largemouth bass, pickerel, perch and horned pout are all found in abundance.

Several hiking trails link up around the lake as well, including the West Ridge Trail, which runs along the entire western edge of the lake and up through the surrounding wetlands.

Younger visitors enjoy the park's Junior Ranger Program, which focuses on the surrounding forest, its wildlife and waterways and protecting the environment. Kids ages six through 12 become honorary park rangers upon completion and receive a patch and certificate.

Recreation Sites

  • Group Shelter Nonelectric
  • Day

Activities

  • Swimming Site
  • Wildlife Viewing
  • Hiking
  • Fishing
  • Interpretive Programs
  • Boating
  • Birding
  • Canoeing
  • Kayaking
  • Picnicking
  • Ranger Station

Amenities

  • Accessible Picnic Shelters
  • Accessible Sites
  • Accessible Trails
  • Drinking Water
  • Emergency Services
  • Flush Toilets
  • Grills
  • Horseshoe Pit
  • Parking Area
  • Pay Phone
  • Picnic Area
  • Playground
  • Swimming
  • Volleyball Courts
  • Accessibility
  • Accessible Occupant Message

Nearby Attractions

Educational programs are offered by park rangers, and the nearby ranger station contains interpretive exhibits.

Getting Here

Latitude
42° 53' 37.7016" N
Longitude
71° 59' 3.5016" W
From Route 101 in Peterborough, take a right onto Union Street for 1/2-mile, then take a left onto Wilder Street and travel all the way to the end of the street.

Need to Know

  • Edward MacDowell Lake is a flood control facility and the park may be flooded during severe storm events.

  • Day-use only. Camping or or occupancy between 8:00pm - 8:00am is prohibited.

  • Park grills are for charcoal use only. Please bring your own charcoal as charcoal is not provided. Burning wood or any material that is not charcoal in park grills is prohibited and subject to fines.

  • Carry in, carry out trash.

  • Pets are allowed, however, they must remain on leash and not left in a vehicle. Pets are not allowed on swim beach.

  • There are no life guards; it is a swim at your own risk facility.
  • Beach advisories may be posted at any time due to water quality issues
  • No glass permitted on the beach.

  • No ground fires; Only charcoal fires or self-contained gas grills

  • Don't Move Firewood: Protect your forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information.

    • Contact Information

    75 WILDER STREET
    PETERBOROUGH, NH 03458
    75 Wilder Street
    Peterborough, NH 03458

    For campground inquiries, please call: 603-924-3431

    Additional Information