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Halfmoon Lake, New Hampshire, USA

Also known as:  Crescent Lake

Sprawling across the border between the towns of Barnstead and Alton, Halfmoon Lake is a beautiful, quiet lake in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region. Halfmoon Lake was originally known as Crescent Lake and has been drawing visitors to enjoy clean, fish-filled waters for almost a century. It is a tranquil lake perfect for a peaceful, relaxing vacation. Halfmoon Lake, however, is less than an hour from Lake Winnipesaukee,…
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    • All About Halfmoon Lake, NH

    Lake Locations: USA - US New England Region - New Hampshire - Lakes Region, NH -

    Sprawling across the border between the towns of Barnstead and Alton, Halfmoon Lake is a beautiful, quiet lake in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region. Halfmoon Lake was originally known as Crescent Lake and has been drawing visitors to enjoy clean, fish-filled waters for almost a century. It is a tranquil lake perfect for a peaceful, relaxing vacation. Halfmoon Lake, however, is less than an hour from Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire’s largest lake and any water sport a visitor could want. Offering the best of both worlds, Halfmoon Lake is an ideal destination for the entire family.

    Halfmoon Lake stretches over a mile and a half long and about one-half mile wide. The lake covers 253 acres and has a maximum depth of 29 feet and an average depth of 14.4 feet. Classified as mesotrophic, it is a moderately fertile lake supporting healthy populations of fish. Pickerel, horned pout, and white perch all make their home in the lake, and anglers can try their luck against the lake’s largemouth bass.

    Motor boats, fishing boats, paddle boats, canoes and kayaks are all allowed on Halfmoon Lake. Ski craft, however, are not allowed on the lake during the weekend. There are no public beaches, but several vacation rentals have private beaches. The private nature of the lake helps maintain its peaceful character. Halfmoon Lake is connected to 149-acre Locke Lake to the south, with 44,586-acre Lake Winnipesaukee about 45 minutes to the north.

    The border between the towns of Alton and Barnstead runs diagonally through the middle of Halfmoon Lake. Established in 1796, Alton has restaurants, shops and any amenity a visitor might need. There are vacation rentals, cottages and real estate available for sale on both the Alton side of the lake as well as on the Barnstead side of the lake. Barnstead, named for Barnstable on Cape Cod in Massachusetts and Hempstead on Long Island in New York, was incorporated in 1727. The historic colonial Main Street is a charming place to spend the afternoon window shopping or stopping for lunch in one of the town’s restaurants.

    Halfmoon Lake is in Belknap County and set against the backdrop of Prospect Mountain. The lake is approximately an hour from the capital city of Concord and the White Mountains. In addition to the fantastic rock climbing, the White Mountains have skiing with snowmobiling trails nearby. Halfmoon Lake offers visitors four seasons of outdoor recreation.

    Both year round residential communities and seasonal vacation rentals dot the shore of Halfmoon Lake. Its privacy is a favorite with vacationers, retirees and long term residents. The Halfmoon Lake Association (HMLA) was formed in 1966 to be an advocate for property owners concerns regarding water quality, safety issues and property values.

    The beautiful scenery, abundant fishing and proximity to Concord and the White Mountains make it an ideal Lakes Region getaway and a destination to return to again and again. Whether it is for a weekend or for years, Halfmoon Lake has something to offer the entire family and access to anything a visitor might want.

    Things to Do at Halfmoon Lake

    These are some activities in the Halfmoon Lake, NH area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Hiking
    • Rock Climbing
    • Snowmobiling
    • Shopping

    What Kind of Fish Are in Halfmoon Lake?

    Halfmoon Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Cod
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Perch
    • Pickerel
    • Pike
    • White Perch
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    Find Places to Stay at Halfmoon Lake

    If you’re considering a Halfmoon Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Halfmoon Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Halfmoon Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Halfmoon Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Not Dammed

    Surface Area: 282 acres

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 640 feet

    Average Depth: 14 feet

    Maximum Depth: 27 feet

    Drainage Area: 7 sq. miles

    Trophic State: Mesotrophic

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