Winter Sports

While there is excellent skiing available only a few miles away at Gunstock, most visitors to Weirs Beach during the winter are here for one reason only, and that is to go snowmobiling. Belknap Snowmobilers publishes a trail map (available at the office of the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce) showing several trails in Weirs Beach. One trail follows the railroad tracks. Another trail diverges to the West of the tracks in Paugus Bay, passing through the Paugus State Forest and alongside Hilliard Road before splitting in two, with the Northern branch of this trail continuing to Pickerel Pond and the Southern branch heading to the shores of Lake Winnisquam.

During the winter, Lake Winnipesaukee freezes solid enough that people do drive heavy vehicles across the ice. The practice can be dangerous, and extreme caution should be used, as almost every winter, vehicles do fall into the lake, sometimes with tragic consequences. Many snowmobilers like to ride the frozen ice of Lake Winnipesaukee, but there is no legal access to the Lake in the area of Weirs Beach, as the public beach is now fenced off in the winter, precisely to prevent such access. This is a matter of public safety, as the ice in the vicinity of the beach is very thin, due to the turbulence of the nearby Weirs Channel, the outlet from the Lake.

Snowmobilers need to keep on the State Snowmobile Trail (the railroad tracks) as they pass through the boardwalk area of Weirs Beach. The Weirs Beach boardwalk is fenced off in the winter, for its protection. Lakeside Avenue is also off-limits. The City of Laconia has not authorized snowmobiles to operate on any of its sidewalks or roads.