Tuftonboro's Quiet Retreat

Mirror Lake

Mirror Lake is a serene, spring-fed gem tucked into the hills between Tuftonboro and Wolfeboro. At around 300 acres with crystal-clear water and undeveloped shores, it's one of the region's most peaceful lakes, perfect for…

~300 acres
Surface Area
Serene & secluded
Character
Tuftonboro
Towns
10 min to Wolfeboro
Nearby
About the Lake

Why Mirror Lake?

Mirror Lake is a serene, spring-fed gem tucked into the hills between Tuftonboro and Wolfeboro. At around 300 acres with crystal-clear water and undeveloped shores, it's one of the region's most peaceful lakes, perfect for families who want quiet mornings, loon calls, and a true escape.

The lake is ideal for kayaking, canoeing, and swimming; motorboat traffic is minimal. The surrounding woods offer hiking trails and a sense of seclusion that's hard to find on the larger lakes. Downtown Wolfeboro is just a 10-minute drive for dining, shopping, and provisions.

Yankee Pedlar is expanding our rental collection to include Mirror Lake properties. Contact us for availability or to list your waterfront home.

A Little History

The Story of Mirror Lake

Mirror Lake's history is quiet even by Tuftonboro standards, and Tuftonboro is a town that never wanted a railroad. The lake sits in the only New Hampshire town ever granted to a single owner, John Tufton Mason, in 1750, and gave its name to one of the town's three village and post office districts, alongside Melvin Village and Center Tuftonboro. The name appears to be simply descriptive: on a still morning the water really does mirror the hills.

Like every basin in the Lakes Region, Mirror Lake is a glacier's leftover, connected to Winnipesaukee's Winter Harbor by a short outlet stream. Its shoreline story is the story of the smaller lakes generally: farms first, then modest summer camps and cottages, never hotels. The grandest neighbor arrived in 1912, when Dr. Henry Forrest Libby opened his natural history museum on Route 109 overlooking Winter Harbor, a short ride from the lake and still worth the trip.

Honestly, not much has ever happened at Mirror Lake, and the people who love it would like to keep it that way.

Through the Years

  1. 1750
    Tuftonboro granted to John Tufton Mason, sole owner
  2. 1795
    Town of Tuftonboro incorporated
  3. 1912
    Libby Museum opens nearby on Winter Harbor
Explore

Mirror Lake Map

Vacation Rentals

Browse our Lakes Region rentals

Yankee Pedlar manages the largest collection of waterfront rentals in the region. Browse the full portfolio or contact us for help finding the right fit near Mirror Lake.

Fishing

Fishing on Mirror Lake

Warmwater fishery · Open water fishing: mid-April through October.

Mirror Lake fishes like a well-kept secret: a small warmwater lake where the bass and panfish see very little pressure and a kayak covers all the water that matters. With motorized traffic minimal, calm evenings here belong to the fly rod, and the sunfish bite along the shoreline makes it an easy first fishery for kids.

Warmwater Species

Illustration of a smallmouth bass
Smallmouth Bass
Illustration of a largemouth bass
Largemouth Bass
Illustration of a pickerel
Pickerel
Illustration of a yellow perch
Yellow Perch
SunfishGreat for kids, shore fishing
Illustration of a hornpout
Hornpout

Fish illustrations by Duane Raver and Timothy Knepp, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Access & Regulations

Mirror Lake swimming area. Best enjoyed from canoe/kayak or shore.

A New Hampshire freshwater fishing license is required for anglers 16 and older, available online from NH Fish and Game.

NH Fish & Game Regulations

Local Tips

Peaceful, minimal motorboat traffic, ideal for fly fishing and kayak fishing
Shoreline panfish perfect for young anglers
Bird Watching

Loons, herons, kingfishers, and more call Mirror Lake home. See our Lakes Region birding guide for who to watch for and where.

Birding guide
Own Property on Mirror Lake?

List your waterfront home with Yankee Pedlar. We manage the largest rental portfolio in the Lakes Region and can help maximize your property's income.

List Your Property