Aerial imagery: USGS National Map (public domain)
Saco Lake — Lakes 33.3 Miles WSW of Chapman Inn
Coos County, New Hampshire · USGS Crawford Notch Quadrangle · GNIS 872606
Within Coos County, New Hampshire, on the USGS Crawford Notch quadrangle, the lake known as Saco Lake sits 33.3 miles west-southwest of Chapman Inn.
Landmark Profile
Classification & USGS reference
Within Coos County, New Hampshire, the U.S. Geological Survey lists Saco Lake as a lake on the Crawford Notch topographic quadrangle (FIPS 33/007), under Feature ID 872606. Last revised by the Board on Geographic Names on 08/30/2018.
Coordinates & physical setting
Saco Lake sits at 44.21741° N, 71.40933° W (DMS 44°13′03″ N, 71°24′34″ W).
Other lakes in Coos County, New Hampshire
Coos County, NH contains 99 lakes catalogued in the USGS Geographic Names Information System, counting Saco Lake itself. The ones closest to Saco Lake:
| Feature | USGS Quadrangle | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Ammonoosuc Lake | Crawford Notch | 0.5 mi |
| Desolation Pond | Stairs Mountain | 4.1 mi |
| Lakes of the Clouds | Mount Washington | 5.4 mi |
| Hermit Lake | Mount Washington | 6.7 mi |
| Spaulding Lake | Mount Washington | 6.7 mi |
| Lost Pond | Stairs Mountain | 8.2 mi |
| Star Lake | Mount Washington | 9.7 mi |
| Emerald Pool | Carter Dome | 9.8 mi |
| Garnet Pool | Carter Dome | 11 mi |
| Richardson Pond | Twin Mountain | 11.2 mi |
Features on the USGS Crawford Notch Quadrangle
The Crawford Notch 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle holds 41 catalogued natural features alongside Saco Lake. A sampling nearest to this location:
| Feature | Type | County | Offset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elephant Head Brook | Streams | Coos County, NH | 0.1 mi |
| Gibbs Brook | Streams | Coos County, NH | 0.4 mi |
| Elephant Head | Pillars | Carroll County, NH | 0.5 mi |
| Ammonoosuc Lake | Lakes | Coos County, NH | 0.5 mi |
| Flume Cascade | Streams | Carroll County, NH | 0.7 mi |
| Silver Cascade | Streams | Coos County, NH | 0.8 mi |
| Mount Willard | Summits | Carroll County, NH | 0.9 mi |
| Mount Avalon | Summits | Grafton County, NH | 1.2 mi |
| Willey Brook | Streams | Grafton County, NH | 1.4 mi |
| Rosebrook Mountains | Ridges | Grafton County, NH | 1.8 mi |
Visiting from Chapman Inn
Distance, bearing & drive time
Follow the compass bearing WSW out of Bethel for 33.3 miles (west-southwest) and you reach Saco Lake; at typical rural speeds the trip runs roughly 57 minutes.
Best time to visit
June through September for paddling and swimming; January through March for ice fishing. Being this far north (lat 44.217°), first snows typically arrive by mid-October and linger into early May — narrow the window accordingly. At 33.3 miles from the Inn, block the full day — sunrise start, late return, packed meals. Conditions at Saco Lake track the nearby Elephant Head Brook stream (essentially adjacent) closely — if that is runnable, so is this.
Nearest features to Saco Lake
| Feature | Type | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elephant Head Brook | Streams | Coos County, NH | 0.1 mi |
| Gibbs Brook | Streams | Coos County, NH | 0.4 mi |
| Elephant Head | Pillars | Carroll County, NH | 0.5 mi |
| Ammonoosuc Lake | Lakes | Coos County, NH | 0.5 mi |
| Flume Cascade | Streams | Carroll County, NH | 0.7 mi |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Saco Lake located?
Saco Lake is in Coos County, New Hampshire, approximately 33.3 miles west-southwest of Chapman Inn in Bethel, Maine. It appears on the USGS Crawford Notch topographic quadrangle.
How far is Saco Lake from Chapman Inn?
The drive runs about 57 minutes, 33.3 miles west-southwest (bearing WSW) of the Inn.
What type of natural feature is Saco Lake?
The U.S. Geological Survey classifies Saco Lake as a lake, catalogued under GNIS Feature ID 872606 on the Crawford Notch quadrangle.
When is the best time to visit Saco Lake?
June through September for paddling and swimming; January through March for ice fishing.
How many other lakes are in Coos County, New Hampshire?
GNIS lists 98 other lakes in Coos County, New Hampshire.