• Limited Hiker Parking at Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area

    Starting December 1st, hikers, skiers, and snowshoers are welcome to visit the grounds and access the LRCT hiking trails, which are open daily from dawn until dusk, but according to Castle in the Clouds management there will be limited access to parking this winter. For more detailed information, please click here.

  • John M. and Eileen R. Weeks Conservation Project

    Gilford, NH

    You did it! We are pleased to announce, in partnership with the Town of Gilford Conservation Commission, the completion of the 65-acre John M. and Eileen R. Weeks project located on Belknap Mountain Road in the Belknaps Region of NH. Thank you to all our members who contributed to this effort!

  • Mount Pleasant Property

    Tuftonboro & Wolfeboro, NH

    With an updated deadline of December 31st, LRCT is working diligently to raise the funds needed to purchase the 127-acre Mount Pleasant property in Tuftonboro and Wolfeboro, NH. Can we count on your support?

    Please make a gift  today or click here to learn more about the project.

  • Red Hill River Project – Myers

    Sandwich, NH

    Lakes Region Conservation Trust is pleased to announce the recent closing on the 26-acre Myers family property along the Red Hill River in Sandwich, NH.  This project was accomplished with the help of a $45,000 disbursement from the LRCT Sandwich Land Conservation Fund, in addition to two generous challenge pledges of $5,000 each from anonymous donors and $56,000 in private donations from members like you. THANK YOU to all who contributed to this effort.

     

  • Looking across Lake Winnipesaukee from Bald Knob, by Kristen Clothier

    LRCT’s Explorer Patch Program

    Explore a variety of LRCT conservation areas throughout the Lakes Region with our Explorer Patch program!

    To learn more about the patch program click here.

Together We Have Conserved:

  • Over 28,200 acres in more than 160 properties
  • 33 miles of shoreline, including shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, Squam Lake, Newfound Lake, Bearcamp Pond and River, White Oak Pond and Knights Pond
  • 28 summits, including Red Hill, Mount Shaw, Faraway Mountain, Mount Roberts, Mount Webster, Mount Livermore, Copple Crown Mountain, and Sugarloaf Mountain
  • More than 120 miles of trails
  • Land in 23 towns throughout the region

OUR LANDS ARE OPEN!

Although our office is temporarily closed to the public, to protect the health and well-being of our community and staff members, LRCT’s conserved lands are currently open, providing abundant, diverse, and convenient opportunities for spending time in the outdoors, which is so valuable now. We always appreciate knowing that people are enjoying LRCT’s lands and trails.

Staff members are working remotely and can be reached most easily by email at lrct@lrct.org or you can leave a phone message in our general mailbox at (603) 253-3301 and someone will return your call as soon as possible.

To be responsible hikers and members of the community right now, please:
  • Practice physical distancing to protect your own health and safety and that of your family and other members of the community.
  • If you arrive at a trailhead and the parking lot is full, come back later or find a different place to explore. At popular hiking destinations, such as the Castle of the Clouds and Red Hill, consider exploring one of the less used trails.
  • Check for any signs posted at the trailhead for up-to-date information and recommendations.
  • Hike only on the trail. If you need to step aside to practice physical distancing, that’s fine, but then wait for other hikers to pass and return to the trail to continue your hike. Hiking off the trail is likely to create or add to existing erosion problems.

LRCT appreciates your help ensuring a healthy, safe, and pleasant outdoor experience for all. If you observe conditions on any LRCT properties that you think we should know about, please do let us know. And if there’s something particularly interesting or enjoyable that you observe while out on one of our properties, we’d welcome seeing or hearing about that, too!

Welcome

Founded in 1979 to conserve the natural heritage of New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, our conservation and stewardship work preserves community character, conserves critical wildlife habitat and diverse ecosystems, protects natural landmarks and scenic landscapes, and provides outdoor recreation opportunities for people of all ages.

Together with our dedicated community of supporters, we have conserved 160 properties totaling over 28,200 acres.  These conserved lands encompass many of the special places that define this unique and spectacular part of New England, affording everyone abundant opportunities to explore and connect with the natural world and establishing a legacy of conservation for our children and grandchildren to inherit and enjoy.

We encourage you to learn more about LRCT, to visit our conserved lands, and to invest in conserving and stewarding the natural heritage of the Lakes Region. It’s one of the smartest investments we can make.

Our Vision

Our vision is a future where conserved lands support thriving biodiversity, healthy watersheds, and vibrant human communities.

Our Mission

The Lakes Region Conservation Trust (LRCT) is dedicated to the permanent conservation, stewardship, and respectful use of lands that define the character of the Lakes Region and its quality of life.

Our Role

The Lakes Region Conservation Trust is a nonprofit, member-supported land trust and is a leading protector of the Lakes Region’s natural heritage and guarantor of open space in the region. We are unique in having a region-wide focus and in connecting the work of towns, local groups, state-wide organizations, and volunteers to accomplish conservation projects that reflect community priorities and have region-wide importance. Our activities engage a dedicated and growing network of individuals who help make the Lakes Region a place where people embrace conservation and stewardship of our treasured lands. These actions will leave a legacy of conservation benefiting the entire region and its human and non-human inhabitants.

Lakes Region Conservation Trust
PO Box 766, Center Harbor, NH 03226
Phone: 603.253.3301
Email: lrct@lrct.org