About Us

Walter’s Basin Restaurant is on the shores of Little Squam Lake. The channel you can see from our dining room and bar connects Little Squam Lake to Big Squam. Big Squam is New Hampshire’s second largest lake with 61 miles of shoreline, 6,791 acres and over 30 islands. At some spots, the lake is close to 100 feet deep but has a reputation for being rocky, shallow and challenging to navigate by boat without a chart. Some locals recommend keeping a spare prop in their boat all summer just in case. One thing that makes Big Squam so special is the amount of conserved land in the area. Big Squam has very few businesses that are accessible by boat; no marinas, restaurants, large condominiums or hotels. There is some great hiking in the area and one of the best ways to see Big Squam is to hike Rattlesnake Mountain or Mount Morgan. Chamberlain Reynolds has some great walking trails also. The Squam Lakes Natural Science Center offers guided pontoon boat tours. Boat rentals are available at some marinas here on the lake. Squam Lakes Association manages campsites on Moon and Bowman Island and at Chamberlain Reynolds Forest. Big Squam Lake is home to Chocorua Island better known as Church Island. This island is the site of America’s first boys summer camp in 1881. Today you can visit the island by boat for church services on Sunday mornings. You can also plan your wedding on the island. Rockywold-Deephaven Camps, established in 1887, is a rustic family camp resort with cabins and cottages on Big Squam. Ice from the lake is still harvested in the winter to use in the ice chest in each cottage during the summer. The movie “On Golden Pond” was filmed on Squam in 1981. The movie featured Henry Fonda, Katharine Hepburn and Jane Fonda. Walter was the elusive fish they were trying to catch in the movie. It received ten Academy award nominations. This building was originally a bowling alley called Lakeview Lanes. In 1994 It was known as the Lighthouse Grill. In 1996, it became Walter’s Basin.