Where is Swains Lake?

Swains Lake is a lake in Strafford County, New Hampshire. Its water-quality measurements are published by NHDES and shown on this page as reported.

How deep is Swains Lake?

Swains Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet and an average depth of 9.2 feet. The lake covers 341 acres.

Are there boat ramps on Swains Lake?

Swains Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Swains Lake. Public access is listed as yes.

Can I fish at Swains Lake?

Swains Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by New Hampshire's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.

Swains Lake

Strafford County, New Hampshire341 acresView map Directions

No nutrient or algae sampling on record from NHDES for this lake.

Max depth

25 ft

Bathymetric survey

Area

341 acres

Surface area

Shoreline

8 mi

Measured length

Impaired · Algal growth
25 ft max depth
Public access

See the measurements Directions Where to stay

Swains Lake in Strafford County, New Hampshire has water-quality measurements published by NHDES, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 341 acres.

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Swains Lake is a 341-acre lake in Strafford County, New Hampshire with a maximum depth of 25 feet (9-foot average). Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, your state environmental agency. Methodology: how these readings are compared.

What Swains Lake is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

Boat launch1 documented ramp

Swimming conditions

No reading

Not rated

Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Swains Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, mercury, nuisance exotic species, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO), pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.

Whether Swains Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.

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Water quality measurements for Swains Lake

These are the measurements NHDES publishes for Swains Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.

No clarity data. TSI undefined.

Ask about Swains Lake

Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.

Lake Details

Max depth

25 ft

Average depth

9.2 ft

Surface area

341 acres

Shoreline

8 mi

Public access

Yes

Listed by NHDES

The depth above comes from a bathymetric survey of this lake, not from a regional estimate.

Recreation & Access

Boat Landings

Yes

Public Access

Swains LakePublic

Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps

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Stays near Swains Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Swains Lake in Strafford County, New Hampshire — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.

Top-rated places to stay near Swains Lake

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Fishing Swains Lake

→ Swains Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

EPA Impairment Status

Swains Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

Algal growthMercuryNuisance exotic speciesNutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)Oxygen depletion (low DO)pH / acidity

Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Fish consumption.

A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NHLAK600030903-03 · Official waterbody report

Nearby Lakes in Strafford County

Mendums Pond1.4 miView →Nippo Pond2.6 miView →Winkley Pond-Deep SpotMesotrophic2.8 miView →Ayers Pond-Northwest Cove4.1 miView →Ayers Pond-Deep SpotOligotrophic4.5 miView →Long Pond4.4 miView →

Frequently asked questions about Swains Lake

Where is Swains Lake?: Swains Lake is a lake in Strafford County, New Hampshire. Its water-quality measurements are published by NHDES and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Swains Lake?: Swains Lake in Strafford County, New Hampshire has water-quality measurements published by NHDES, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 341 acres.
Is Swains Lake safe to swim in?: Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Swains Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, mercury, nuisance exotic species, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO), pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Swains Lake?: Swains Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet and an average depth of 9.2 feet. The lake covers 341 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Swains Lake?: Swains Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Swains Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Swains Lake?: Swains Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by New Hampshire's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.