Squam Lake: 5-Finger Point and Eagle Cliff

Autumn always seems so brief to me.  And so,  I like to try to experience as much of it as possible while it lasts.  The brilliant colors of "peak season" have faded, or are gone, here in northern New Hampshire.  Therefore, I decided to drive southward to Squam Lake (NH Lakes Region) with the hope of finding some dazzling Autumn colors there.   Only two short hikes were undertaken, but there were many handsome rewards.

Circled in white on the map below are the two areas where I hiked.  One hike included the Five Finger Point area, and the other hike was to Eagle Cliff. (Click on map to enlarge it.)

 Circled in white are the two areas where I hiked

PART 1: Five Finger Point

Starting from the small parking area on Pinehurst Road in Holderness, NH, it's a short and pleasant hike to Five Finger Point peninsula. About midway around the peninsula loop, there is a large sign which is shown in the next snapshot.

Sign located about midway around the peninsula loop

There are segments of the trail on the peninsula loop that are quite colorful, especially at this time of year.

Colorful segment of Five Finger Point Trail

Of course, the views from the shoreline are the superstars of the show.  One of the star attractions is a vista of West and East Rattlesnake mountains (next photo).

West and East Rattlesnake Mountain, as viewed from Five Finger Point

The next four photos provide just a sampling other shoreline views along Five Finger Point that are so beautiful during the Autumn Season.

Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3

Photo 4

The next two photos are my attempt at being "artsy"!  These images merely show a small slice of some things along the shoreline that was visually appealing to me.  But you know what they say, i.e. beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

Artsy Photo 1

Artsy Photo 2

PART : Eagle Cliff

Following my hike to Five Finger Point, I hopped in my car and drove part way around Squam Lake to the trailhead for the Eagle Cliff Trail.  Although you can follow this trail all the way to Red Hill, my modest goal for this particular day was only to go to Eagle Cliff.  I had never been there, and so I was uncertain exactly what to expect.

First of all, this trek took far less time than I had anticipated.  After only about 20 minutes of hiking, I arrived at the main viewing area.  My second surprise was the vastness of the view.   Not only were there the anticipated views of Squam Lake, but there was a marvelous vista of a huge array of peaks in the Sandwich Range.

Perhaps the next series of snapshots will provide some idea of the views from Eagle Cliff.

Squam Lake view from Eagle Cliff

View of Squam Mountain Range on the west side of the lake

Another Squam Lake view from Eagle Cliff

A boater enjoying an Autumn day on Squam Lake

Watching a boat come ashore at a cove directly below Eagle Cliff

A huge array of peaks in the Sandwich Range visible on the horizon

The next photo is a zoomed photo which features Mt. Chocorua (right) and Mt. Paugus (left).  Does any reader have an idea as to which NH village might be the proud owner of the church steeple seen in this photo (a red arrow points to it)?
(FOOTNOTE: As indicated in reader's comments below, the steeple has been identified as belonging to a church located in Center Sandwich, NH.)

Zoomed photo showing Mt. Chocorua on the right and Mt. Paugus on the left
 

To sum it up, hiking in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire is always a pleasure, but I find it particularly nice when the colorful leaves of Autumn contrast so magnificently with the blue waters of the surrounding lake.  I don't know how many, if any, more opportunities there will be for colorful Autumn hikes this season.  Regardless, I'm already eager for next Autumn to come around.  The only things standing in the way are the upcoming Winter, Spring and Summer! :-)