Connecticut Lakes

thumb|right|upright=1.5|View across a section of First Connecticut Lake

The Connecticut Lakes are a group of lakes in Coos County, northern New Hampshire, United States, situated along the headwaters of the Connecticut River. They are accessed via the northernmost segment of U.S. Route 3, between the village of Pittsburg and the Canada port of entry south of Chartierville, Quebec. The lakes are located within the boundaries of Pittsburg, but are far from the town center. Connecticut Lakes State Forest adjoins them.

There are four lakes: First, Second, Third and Fourth Connecticut Lake, numerically running south to north. The lakes decrease in size and increase in elevation, sequentially from first to fourth. The fourth lake is the source of the Connecticut River. The first three lakes can be viewed and accessed from U.S. Route 3, while the only access to the fourth lake is via the Fourth Connecticut Lake Trail, which goes in and out of Canada. All lakes are north of the 45th parallel.

Lake Francis lies to the south of the four Connecticut Lakes. It is a man-made reservoir and the last of the major lakes along the Connecticut River in northern New Hampshire.

The lakes

First Connecticut Lake

First Connecticut Lake is located in the town of Pittsburg, northeast of the village center. it is the eighth-largest lake located entirely in New Hampshire. It is the lowest in elevation and largest in surface area of the four Connecticut Lakes.

Fish species include landlocked salmon and lake trout. The lake has average and maximum depths of and , respectively. There are three public boat launch locations, Outflow of the lake into the Connecticut River is controlled via the First Lake Dam, is a There is one public boat launch location, Outflow of the lake into the Connecticut River is controlled via the Second Lake Dam, and sits higher in elevation than the second lake.

Fish species include rainbow trout and lake trout.

Fourth Connecticut Lake

Fourth Connecticut Lake is the northernmost and most remote of the Connecticut Lakes; it is also the smallest, at . It is the source of the Connecticut River, and is situated in the town of Pittsburg, upstream from and higher than Third Connecticut Lake. The fourth lake is immediately to the northwest of the third lake. The Fourth Connecticut Lake Trail leads hikers to the lake.

Fourth Connecticut Lake Trail

The Fourth Connecticut Lake Trail is a public trail maintained by The Nature Conservancy that criss-crosses the international border between New Hampshire and Quebec for ending with a loop around the Fourth Connecticut Lake. It is one of the few international trails in North America. The land surrounding the lake is owned by The Nature Conservancy.

left|thumb|upright=.8|Trail sign

The parking area for hikers is at the American facility of the Pittsburg–Chartierville Border Crossing, located north of the Pittsburg town center via U.S. Route 3. The trail begins about to the right of the American building, with a small kiosk at the trailhead.

The trail has no cell phone coverage, requires some non-technical climbing, and starts at a good elevation—hikers should be prepared, even in summer. Pets are not allowed on the trail, and no camping, hunting, or fishing is allowed.