Summer Hours
The Rattlesnake Island Preserve is CLOSED for the 2026 season
The Rattlesnake Island Preserve is LRCT’s only property where LRCT personnel must be present, and LRCT membership is required. Please view our other properties you can visit year-round!
If you’re interested in becoming an Island Host in 2027, please contact us at lrct@lrct.org.
Know Before You Go
- Rattlesnake Island Preserve is only open to 12 LRCT members (and their guests) at a time. Public access to our property is restricted by a Deed Restriction (that was established with the conservation of the LRCT property) that limits access to LRCT members (and their guests) and to only 12 people at any one time.
- Current LRCT membership decals are required and must be displayed on your boat.
- Access is only allowed when the dock is staffed with an LRCT Island Host. Access updates are posted on this page.
- There is no swimming allowed
- Please keep all dogs on a leash
- Camping and fires are not allowed
Rattlesnake Island is the fifth-largest island on Lake Winnipesaukee (368 acres) and forms part of a large arc that is the outer rim of the Belknap Mountain ring dike. LRCT acquired the 102-acre preserve in the middle of the island in 1982.
LRCT’s property features a 2-mile out-and-back trail that takes you from the LRCT dock to the summit of the island, presenting a grand view of Lake Winnipesaukee and the surrounding landscape, making this a desirable hiking destination for lake-goers. The hike is rocky and steep in certain sections and is rated as moderate/strenuous. Sturdy footwear is recommended. The trail is marked with blue blazes.
Trail Map
Paddle Map
LRCT has created a waterproof paddle map that features Rattlesnake Island, along with four other island properties.
Island Access
Rattlesnake Island is located in Alton on Lake Winnipesaukee. The entire shore frontage of the island is private property. Access to the LRCT property is gained through a Right of Way (ROW) that connects the Preserve to our dock on the southeast tip of the island. Our dock is marked with an open/closed sign (green/red) to help distinguish it from the surrounding private docks. If the dock is open, an LRCT Island Host will be there to greet you!
Island Hosts
LRCT’s Island Hosts open and close the dock, welcome visitors, check for valid membership decals, confirm reservations, enforce the 3-hour docking limit, and ensure all Rattlesnake Island Preserve policies are being followed.
If you’re interested in becoming an Island Host in 2027, please contact us!
Make a Reservation
RESERVATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THE 2026 SEASON
Your feedback will shape how we refine reservations moving forward. Please email us at lrct@lrct.org. We look forward to hearing from you!
LRCT members can reserve one boat slip between 9 AM and noon on days the dock is open, up to two weeks in advance of their visit. After noon, the slip will become first-come, first-served. Our second boat slip will remain first-come, first-served throughout the day. We encourage visitors to be mindful of when making a reservation to allow others the opportunity to enjoy the Preserve. (See “Introducing: Reservation System” below for more details)
Island Access Updates
June 12, 2026
Dear Friends,
Like you, LRCT is looking forward to summertime in the Lakes Region, and we’re excited to share news about our Rattlesnake Island Preserve.
Since updating our visitor guidelines in 2022 (see “Updates to Accessing LRCT’s Rattlesnake Island Preserve” below), we have continued to devote time and effort to exploring options that make visiting the Preserve easier while continuing to care for this special place and respect our island neighbors. This summer, we’re piloting a boat slip reservation system, and we hope it makes planning your visit a little smoother.
Starting this season, LRCT members can reserve one boat slip between the hours of 9 AM and noon up to two weeks in advance of their visit. After noon, the slip will become first-come, first-served. Our second boat slip will remain first-come, first-served throughout the day. We encourage visitors to be mindful of when making a reservation to allow others the opportunity to enjoy the Preserve.
This is a pilot, and your feedback will shape how we refine it going forward. Thank you, as always, for your patience and your love for the Preserve. We hope to see you on this island this summer!
You can make a reservation by following this link or clicking on the button in the above section.
June 21, 2022
Dear Friends – The decision to modify visitation rules for LRCT’s Rattlesnake Island property has been an extremely difficult one for LRCT.
Unfortunately, in recent years, particularly the last two, we’ve experienced a significant increase in misuse of LRCT’s shorefront and interior property on Rattlesnake Island. The problems have included use by non-LRCT members contrary to existing requirements, overnight camping, fires, trespassing onto non-LRCT property, people monopolizing the dock for long time periods, large groups with partying and other noisy activity, and disrespectful and threatening communications with Island residents.
Undoubtedly these problems have been caused by a small number of “bad apples.” Nonetheless, we concluded, reluctantly, that we had to make changes to ensure that the LRCT property is being used responsibly and to address the valid concerns of Rattlesnake Island residents who, collectively, were calling for LRCT to cease all public access to LRCT’s property from off of the Island.
One of LRCT’s highest priorities is acquiring and protecting lands that provide opportunities for public access, recreation, and enjoyment free of charge – such as the Castle in the Clouds, Red Hill, Copple Crown, Knights Pond, Sewall Woods, Center Harbor Woods, and Stonedam, Five Mile, Ragged, and Blanchard Islands, as well as many other LRCT properties around the Lakes Region. Therefore, it has been very important to us to attempt to figure out a way to address the problems at Rattlesnake to ensure that we could continue to provide LRCT members and their guests with the benefit of access to this resource.
We’ve devoted a great deal of time and effort to exploring and considering options for addressing the problems at Rattlesnake. While these new measures will create new burdens and expense for LRCT, we are hopeful that they will remedy the problems. We’ve also met with Marine Patrol and the Alton Police Department to review the new procedures and to enlist their assistance, within the scope off their respective responsibilities. In addition, we hope to offer a number of scheduled hikes with LRCT guides to provide opportunities for additional LRCT members and guests to visit the Island.
We hope LRCT members will understand that we are doing our best to responsibly steward this special property and be a respectful/responsible neighbor to the other Island landowners while working on behalf of our membership to provide the benefit of access to LRCT’s Rattlesnake Island property.
Don Berry
LRCT President