HOLDERNESS OTHER FIELD GUIDE
One Night on Squam: Island Campsites and Quiet Water Sleeps in Holderness
Rent a campsite on Moon Island, Bowman Island, or the Wister sites in Chamberlain Reynolds Memorial Forest — reachable by boat or a scenic hike — and use this guide to plan the short, 23‑hour escape.
One Night on Squam: Island Campsites and Quiet Water Sleeps in Holderness.
The Squam Lakes Association maintains a trio of small, well‑placed campsites—Moon Island, Bowman Island and the Chamberlain Reynolds Memorial Forest Wister sites—each set into the lake or forest shoreline and reachable either by boat or, for the Wister sites, by a scenic hike. For a single night, campers can trade the noise of roads for the steady, slow rhythm of water and woods and, if desired, rent a canoe or kayak to move between them and explore the lake.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Moon Island, Bowman Island and Wister campsites
Three distinct sites—two island camps and the Wister sites within Chamberlain Reynolds Memorial Forest—offer compact, overnight experiences that emphasize place: shoreline campfires, wooded clearings and the hush of Squam’s protected waters.
Paddling access to your overnight
Most access to the campsites is by boat; the association also offers canoe and kayak rentals so paddlers can approach their site from the water and use the lake as both access and afternoon playground.
A tight, restorative overnight
Configured for a single overnight, these rentals are built around a brief, focused rhythm—arrive, settle, paddle or hike, sleep under the stars and depart the next day refreshed.
What the day feels like
What the one‑night rental feels like
The experience is compact and elemental: arrive by water or on foot, stake a small patch of shore, and spend a day and evening immersed in lake and forest. With campsites on Moon Island, Bowman Island and the Wister sites in Chamberlain Reynolds Memorial Forest, the SLA’s program concentrates the pleasure of paddling and simple camping into a single, manageable outing.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this one‑night campsite rental is right for.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The rental is for a single 23‑hour stay.
Canoes and kayaks are available for rent from the Squam Lakes Association if you do not bring your own paddlecraft.
Meet at the Squam Lakes Association location: 534 US Route 3, Holderness, NH 03245 for check‑in or rental pickup.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
Who can rent a campsite?
The program is open to all ages.
What are the check‑in and check‑out times?
Check‑in is at 12:30 PM and check‑out is at 11:30 AM.
How long is the campsite rental?
The rental covers a 23‑hour period.
Where do I meet or pick up rentals?
The meeting location is 534 US Route 3, Holderness, NH 03245.
Are boats available?
Canoes and kayaks are available for rent from the Squam Lakes Association.
How much does a one‑night campsite cost?
Pricing starts from $50 and goes up to $125.