Step outside and enjoy classic winter fun right in our backyard—sledding, building snowmen, and playing in the snow across our beautiful, spacious grounds. Simple, joyful winter memories start just outside the door.

Enjoy warm meals, craft drinks, and small-town charm at nearby restaurants and cafés in Plymouth, Holderness, and Meredith, many featuring fireplaces and hearty New England comfort food.

In winter, Squam Lake transforms into a serene frozen landscape perfect for ice fishing, snowshoeing, skating, and quiet shoreline walks, offering a true New Hampshire winter experience just steps from the Inn.

Ice Castles is a one-of-a-kind winter attraction where towering ice formations, winding tunnels, frozen thrones, and shimmering sculptures are illuminated with colorful lights, creating a magical, fairytale-like experience for all ages.

Enjoy winter traditions on Squam Lake, where ice fishing is a favorite cold-weather pastime. Each February, don’t miss the Rotary Ice Fishing Derby in Meredith—a family-friendly, almost carnival-like day as Meredith Bay fills with vendors, bob houses, and festive energy on the ice.

During February and March guests can visit nearby farms and sugarhouses to see sap collected and boiled into fresh maple syrup. The Inn on Golden Pond also has its own on-site sugar shack, giving guests a firsthand look at this classic New England tradition and the chance to enjoy locally made syrup right where it’s produced.

After a day in the winter air, return to the Inn to unwind in a warm, cozy setting—curl up by the fire, enjoy a hot drink, and settle into the quiet comfort that makes winter stays at the Inn especially inviting.

Browse local shops and country stores near the Inn for everyday essentials, locally made goods, and classic New England finds, along with nearby antique shops offering vintage pieces and one-of-a-kind treasures worth exploring.

Choose from several excellent ski mountains nearby, including Tenney Mountain, Gunstock Mountain Resort, Waterville Valley, Loon Mountain and Cannon, offering everything from family-friendly slopes to challenging terrain and full après-ski amenities.

Snow Tubing is a fun, no-experience-needed winter activity where guests can race down groomed tubing lanes, enjoy lift service back to the top, and laugh the whole way down—perfect for families and groups at nearby spots like Gunstock Mountain Resort and Tenny Mountain Resort.

Snowmobiling is a popular winter activity in the area, with snowmobile rentals available nearby in Lincoln and access to miles of well-groomed trails through forests and mountain scenery. For a unique winter experience, guests can also book guided dog sledding adventures in the region, offering a memorable way to explore the snowy landscape.

Winter is an excellent time to spot bald eagles, deer, foxes, owls, and other wildlife around Squam Lake, with bare trees and fresh snow making animal tracks and sightings easier to see.

Winter Hiking offers peaceful, snow-covered trails and stunning cold-weather views, with popular local spots like West Rattlesnake overlooking Squam Lake, and the White Mountain National Forest offering endless options for everything from gentle winter walks to more adventurous snowshoe and winter hiking experiences.