US lakes & pondsUS lakes & pondsWhitefield · Dalton, New Hampshire — NH Fish & Game Region 1 (North Country).
Source: NH Fish & Game NH Freshwater Fishing Guide layer (2026; depth/area/trophic from NHDES). Depth map: NHFG bathymetry map (PDF).
The red circle marks Forest Lake.
Towns and counties: NHFG, NHDES and U.S. Census town boundaries (shore towns found by overlaying the lake outline).
As of 2026-10-10. Check the official source before you go.
Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.
Shoreline: NHDES Lake Information Mapper lake outline (NH hydrography data). State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: NH Access Sites to Public Waters (NH OPD / NHFG) and NHDES beach program. Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.
Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (44.3470, -71.6721). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Forest Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.
Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in ET (America/New_York), and accurate to within a few minutes.
NHDES keeps an ice-in / ice-out record for Forest Lake. See the NHDES ice-out dates for Forest Lake.
We link to the record instead of copying it here; check the NHDES page for this year's date.
Species list from NHFG Fishing Guide codes: SMB, LMB, ECP, BBH, RB, YP (names decoded by us; NHFG does not publish the legend with the layer). NHFG fishery type: Warmwater.
Statewide general rules Forest Lake is not listed as a Lake Trout/Salmon Lake or Trout Pond in the 2026 Digest, so New Hampshire's general lake & pond rules apply to the species found here.
| Species | Season & limits (general rules) |
|---|---|
| Black bass | Jan 1–May 14: 2/day · May 15–Jun 15: catch-and-release, artificial lures & flies only · Jun 16–Dec 31: 5/day |
| Chain pickerel | no closed season, 10/day |
| Perch, crappie, sunfish & horned pout | no closed season, 25/day each, 50 total |
| Rock bass | no closed season, no limit |
2026 NH Freshwater Fishing Digest: Lakes & Ponds General Rules · Lakes & Ponds with Special Rules
Summary only. Check the current Digest before you fish. As of Oct 10, 2026.
2 public access sites listed, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.
| Site | Town | Owner | Type | Parking | Fee | Uses | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boat Landing | Whitefield | State - DES (RTPW) | Trailer/Ramp · Gravel ramp | Gravel | No fee | Fishing, Boating Ski craft prohiibited; Access: Limited | 44.3458, -71.6657 |
| Forest Lake State Park | Dalton | State - DNCR | Beach/Picnic | Gravel | Fee | Fishing, Swimming, Picnic, Restrooms Access: Partial | 44.3524, -71.6734 |
NH Access Sites to Public Waters (NH OPD / NHFG)
Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.
NH State Police Marine Patrol, Restricted Bodies of Water
These are the restrictions listed for this water. Statewide boating laws (RSA 270, Saf-C 400) also apply. As of Oct 10, 2026.
None documented NHDES lists no known invasive species in Forest Lake.
NHDES Lake Information Mapper · RSA 487:16-d · RSA 487:16-c
As of Oct 10, 2026.
1 beach is in the NHDES Public Beach Inspection Program, which tests for E. coli bacteria in summer.
| Beach | Status | Last sample | E. coli (cts/100 mL) | Advisories this season | Annual report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Lake State Park Beach | Monitoring Season Completed | Aug 24, 2026 | left: 3.0, center: 1.0, right: 4.1 | None listed | Report |
NHDES Healthy Swimming Mapper · NHDES Public Beach Program
As of Oct 10, 2026.
Check before you swim: the NHDES Healthy Swimming Mapper is updated daily. NHDES history: cyanobacteria notices for Forest Lake. If you see a bloom, stay out of the water, keep pets out, and report it to NHDES.
| Trophic class | Mesotrophic (moderate nutrients) |
| Water quality class | Class B (NH surface water classification) |
| NHDES lake surveys | 1979, 1990, 2005 |
| Volunteer monitoring | Part of the NHDES Volunteer Lake Assessment Program (VLAP) |
| Fish consumption | NHDES mercury report for Forest Lake |
Straight-line distance between lake centers. All New Hampshire lakes & ponds · All waters in Whitefield