Event Location: Errol NH
Trip Leader(s)
Meeting Time: 10:00 AM
Max # People: 12
Guiding / Event Fee: No, I will not be asking participants for money
Difficulty Level:
Easy
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Curious about paddleboarding but don’t know where to start? This beginner-friendly session is designed to help you feel confident, safe, and comfortable on the water. No experience required.
We’ll cover:
Whether you’re nervous or have simply never had the chance to try, this is your invitation to experience paddleboarding in a supportive, low-pressure environment.
We will launch directly from Umbagog Lake State Park in Errol, New Hampshire. Umbagog Lake is large and open, but the launch area and nearby shoreline offer calm conditions that work well for beginners, especially in the morning when winds are light and boat traffic is minimal.
The lake is known for its wild feel and undeveloped shoreline, with broad views, quiet coves, and clear northern water. Wildlife sightings are common, including loons, mergansers, bald eagles, and osprey overhead. Moose and deer are often seen along the shoreline, and the surrounding landscape feels remote and spacious compared to more developed lakes.
Umbagog Lake State Park sits along the New Hampshire–Maine border and borders the Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge, offering a paddle experience that feels expansive, natural, and deeply connected to the surrounding wilderness.
More Information:
Umbagog Lake State Park Address: NH-26, Errol, NH 03579 GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude): 44.7480 N, 71.0562 W
Directions:
From I-93 northbound (from southern New Hampshire or Massachusetts): Take I-93 north to Exit 35 in Littleton, NH. Follow signs for US Route 302 east toward Berlin. Continue on Route 302 through Carroll and Twin Mountain to the junction with Route 16 north. Take Route 16 north through Gorham and Errol. In Errol, turn left onto Route 26 west briefly, then turn right onto Diamond Road. Follow Diamond Road to Umbagog Lake State Park.
From I-95 northbound (from Maine): Take I-95 north to Exit 102 in Augusta, ME. Follow Route 3 west toward Bethel. In Bethel, turn right onto Route 5 north, then continue to Andover, ME. Pick up Route 120 west to Route 26 west. Follow Route 26 into Errol, NH. Turn right onto Diamond Road and continue to the park entrance.
From Gorham, NH: Take Route 16 north approximately 25 miles to Errol. In Errol, turn left onto Route 26 west, then make an immediate right onto Diamond Road. Follow Diamond Road directly to Umbagog Lake State Park. Get driving directions from Google Maps
Outdoor Fitness Level: Moderate to Strenuous
Directions Corrections: It is Exit 40 in Littleton and NOT exit 35! Big thanks to @sedonahikerman for catching that error and letting me know!
Keep an eye out for more beginner and intermediate paddles. I have two more "learn to paddle" and one more intermediate paddle in the works for Lake Groton in Vermont. (They have paddleboard rentals on site at Lake Groton State Park). And sometime in August I am planning a 21 mile SUP down the Connecticut River!
Yes, you will need your own paddleboard. There are a number of places you can rent gear on your way up. An inflatable paddleboard will easily fit in a car. (And although "inflatable" might give you the impression of a pool toy, they are solid). My paddleboard -- the one you see in the pictures -- is an inflatable paddleboard.
Yes, the pics are from Umbagog Lake.
This sounds great and I’ve always wanted to try it. But I clicked on the site link and it seems that only canoe and kayak rentals are available at the location. Do we nee to bring our own paddle/board? Thanks!
