Second Connecticut Lake, Pittsburg

Second Connecticut Lake, Pittsburg

Pittsburg, New Hampshire 03592

Connecticut Region map

About this Location

Pristine and beautiful, Second Connecticut Lake in Pittsburg is located near Moose Alley. The second in a chain of lakes running numerically south to north, Second Connecticut is the second largest of the four Connecticut Lakes. Second Connecticut Lake is located fifteen miles north of the village of Pittsburg NH. North of the 45th Parallel, the glacial lake reaches depths of more than 60′.

Anglers come to the area to fish the waters for lake trout, brook trout, and salmon in warmer months and to fish for cusk, brook trout, and lake trout in winter. A heron rookery can be found on a small island on the lake. Second Lake is home to nesting pairs of loons.

About Connecticut Lakes

See all hotspots at Connecticut Lakes

High in the mountains of New Hampshire, you’ll find the Connecticut Lakes and headwaters of the Connecticut River. Starting as just a trickle in the small town of Pittsburg, the Connecticut River flows through a chain of lakes, the Connecticut Lakes, as it makes its way from the US-Canadian border in New Hampshire to Long Island Sound. Its journey of 400 miles begins at the height of land, becomes the diving border between Vermont and New Hampshire, then flows through the industrial valley of Massachusetts and into Connecticut before finding the sea.

The lakes are accessed via the northernmost segment of US-3, between the village of Pittsburg and the Canada port of entry south of Chartierville, Quebec. The lakes are located within the boundaries of Pittsburg but are far from the town center.

The lakes are popular destinations for fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing. The area is also home to several lodges and campgrounds that cater to outdoor enthusiasts. The lakes are surrounded by the Connecticut Lakes State Forest and are near the Lake Francis State Park. The area offers views of the mountains and forests, as well as opportunities to spot moose, deer, bears, and other animals.

The Connecticut Lakes are named after the river they feed, which in turn was named after an Algonquian word meaning "long tidal river". The lakes are numbered from south to north: First Connecticut Lake is the largest and deepest; Second Connecticut Lake is slightly smaller and shallower; Third Connecticut Lake is the smallest and most remote; and Fourth Connecticut Lake is the source of the Connecticut River, located just south of the Canadian border. The lakes have a combined surface area of about 2,660 acres and a maximum depth of 163 feet at First Connecticut Lake.

Features

  • Roadside viewing

  • Restrooms on site

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Entrance fee

Last updated November 22, 2023