Wares Grove Beach

Spofford, New Hampshire · on Spofford Lake

Verified · 2 independent sources

WATER: lake
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: $5
SEASON: Open seasonally Memorial Day through Labor Day, daily 9am to dusk (half hour before sunset); snack shack operates 9am-6pm in season, weather permitting.

About Wares Grove Beach

Ware's Grove Beach is a town-operated public swimming beach on Spofford Lake in Chesterfield (Spofford), New Hampshire, located along NH Route 9A. It is one of two municipal beaches on the lake, but unlike the resident-only North Shore Beach, Ware's Grove charges an entrance fee and is open to the general public, making it the swimming hole of choice for anyone looking for a lake to swim in here.

The beach sits on the southwest end of Spofford Lake, a 732-acre, up to 66-foot-deep lake in Cheshire County that has long served as a summer resort area, with a state-maintained boat ramp nearby providing access to Pierces Island.

Swimming at Wares Grove Beach

Open-water lake swimming within a marked area bounded by buoy lines; the town explicitly states swimming is 'at own risk' with no lifeguard indicated, and swimmers are prohibited from going beyond the buoys. Suited to casual, family lake swimming rather than a wilderness or adventure swim.

How to get to this swimming hole

Located at 11 Ware's Grove Beach, Route 9A, Spofford, NH 03462, on NH Route 9A near the southwest end of Spofford Lake.

The walk in

No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Drive-up town beach directly off NH Route 9A on the southwest shore of Spofford Lake; no trail or hike is needed to reach the water.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

OK with supervision

Town-run beach with a sandy swim area bounded by buoy lines; the official facility page states lifeguards "clear and close all swimming and beach areas" ahead of storms (implying lifeguard coverage during open hours) while also posting "SWIM AT OWN RISK" signage. Town rules require children under 15 to be accompanied by an adult at all times. No independent source was found describing bottom composition or entry depth, so families should confirm gradual/shallow entry on arrival.

Parking

Paid, $5 (resident daily/non-resident senior-child) to $8 (non-resident adult); season passes $100 (resident family)/$200 (non-resident family)

The town charges a per-visit admission fee to enter the beach at 11 Ware's Grove Beach Rd off NH Route 9A, which is presumed to cover parking as a drive-up facility, but the official page does not itself describe lot size, surface, or capacity.

Water clarity

Clear

The NH Fish and Game Department named Spofford Lake 'the cleanest lake in southwestern New Hampshire' in a 2005 assessment, noting this despite considerable motorboat traffic on the lake (per Wikipedia's Spofford Lake article). No independent visitor accounts of on-the-ground clarity at Ware's Grove specifically were located.

Hours

Open seasonally Memorial Day through Labor Day, daily 9am to dusk (about half hour before sunset); snack shack operates 9am-6pm in season, weather permitting.

On the water

Restrictions: Launching is prohibited at the beach itself: Chesterfield's beach rules and the Spofford Lake Association both state kayaks, paddleboards, and any vessel may not be put in from Ware's Grove (or North Shore) Beach, the only public paddlecraft launch on the lake is the state-maintained boat ramp near Pierces Island. Lake-wide rules (not specific to this beach) require a Safe Boater Education Certificate for operating vessels over 25 hp, cap speeds at 40 mph by day / 20 mph overnight, mandate headway-only speed within 150 ft of shore/swimmers/docks, enforce no-wake buoys near Pierce Island, and require sunrise-to-sunset-only skiing/tubing/wakeboarding with a spotter.

Visitors wanting to paddle should plan to use the public boat ramp rather than this swim beach; motorized boating and waterskiing occur elsewhere on the lake under the above rules.

Backstory

Spofford Lake more broadly is historically notable as one of the region's oldest resort lakes; comedian George Carlin summered at nearby Camp Notre Dame on the lake as a child and, after his 2008 death, part of his ashes were scattered in the lake. The lake was also the site of a notable 1882 double drowning of two touring musicians.

Wares Grove Beach: FAQ

Does Wares Grove Beach charge a fee?

Resident daily pass $5 (adult, proof of residency required); resident seniors and children free; resident family season pass $100. Non-resident daily pass $5 (senior/child) to $8 (adult); non-resident family season pass $200. Children 12 and under qualify for child pricing.

Is Wares Grove Beach kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Wares Grove Beach?

No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.

Where do I park for Wares Grove Beach?

When is the best time to visit Wares Grove Beach?

Open seasonally Memorial Day through Labor Day, daily 9am to dusk (half hour before sunset); snack shack operates 9am-6pm in season, weather permitting.

What are the rules at Wares Grove Beach?

No alcohol, smoking, vaping, glass containers, or pets (except certified service animals). Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Swimming beyond the buoy lines is forbidden. Profanity is not tolerated. Violators may be evicted and fined up to $200. Strict lightning protocol: water and beach must be cleared for 30 minutes after thunder/lightning is observed.

What water body is Wares Grove Beach on?

Wares Grove Beach is on Spofford Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.