Squam Lakes is known as one of the most peaceful and pristine in the country. The fog rises from the water early in the morning, loons fill the air with their haunting call.

- Conde Nast Magazine

Squam Lakes, located 40 miles north of Concord, are natural, spring-fed bodies of water consisting of a small and large lake connected by a channel. The Squam Lakes are not only rich in natural beauty but history as well. Squam Lakes’ earliest inhabitants were from the Abenaki nation of the Algonguin Federation of Indians.

Originally, they referred to Squam as Keeseenunknipee, which meant “the goose lake in the highlands”. The white settlers that followed shortened the name to Casumpa, Kusumpy and/or Kesumpe around 1779. In the early 1800’s, the lake was given another Abenaki name, Asquam, which means water. Finally, in the early 1900’s, Asquam was shortened to its present version, Squam.

Though the lakes’ name has seen many changes, the Squam Lakes area has seen relatively few. Despite being located only a couple of hours from major metropolitan areas, Squam has managed to maintain its pristine and undeveloped landscape.

The lack of transportation to the Squam Lakes at the turn of the century helped the area to stay relatively undeveloped. With the railroad stopping in Ashland, commercial activity remained limited directly around the lakes. Today, the interstate highway brings visitors into Ashland, where the center of commerce exists for the Squam Lakes area. Holding onto the history of the area, many camps on the lakes date back a century and discretely line the lush shoreline. Families have been coming for vacations for generations and many make the lakes their year round residence upon retirement.

Photos courtesy of Rick Frost