Get Nearer
to Nature
Spend a day among Black Bear, Mountain Lions, River Otters, Bobcats, and more. Take a self-guided tour of the Live Animal Exhibit Trail or discover our hiking trails. Connect with nature and loved ones while exploring in the heart of New Hampshire’s scenic Lakes Region.
Live Animal Trail
Step onto our Live Animal Exhibit Trail for an up‑close look at New Hampshire wildlife in naturalistic habitats woven through open meadows, mature forests, and marsh boardwalks.
Make a Difference
Squam Lakes Natural Science Center thrives because of people and organizations like you, who care about wildlife, environmental education, conservation in the Lakes Region and Granite State and preserving the unique character and memories formed here.
Experience Wild New Hampshire
Upcoming Events
- Summer Lecture Series
Summer Lecture: Bryophytes: The Hidden Engineers of Mountain Streams
Bryophytes: The Hidden Engineers of Mountain Streams by Heili Lowman, Watershed Ecologist and Aquatic Biogeochemist, Duke University Postdoctoral Scientist Have you heard of aquatic bryophytes? The group includes mosses, liverworts, […]
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Events
List of events in Photo View
- On the Trail
Up Close to Animals – 11am
Live Animal Exhibit Trail open daily May 1 – Nov. 1 from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, last admission at 3:30 pm. Parking lot gates close at 5:30 pm.Learn More
- On the Trail
Up Close to Animals – 1pm
Live Animal Exhibit Trail open daily May 1 – Nov. 1 from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, last admission at 3:30 pm. Parking lot gates close at 5:30 pm.Learn More
- On the Trail
Up Close to Animals – 3pm
Live Animal Exhibit Trail open daily May 1 – Nov. 1 from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, last admission at 3:30 pm. Parking lot gates close at 5:30 pm.Learn More
- Butterfly Series
Monarch Monitoring Mondays
Join the caterpillar count! As part of the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project, this national citizen science initiative, will meet every Monday morning through the end of August to count all […]Learn More
- Guided Discoveries Camps
Insect Adventure
- • 9:30am - 12:30pmAges 5-6Back by popular demand! Join us for a week where campers will transform into young entomologists, as we learn some bug basics and about the importance of insects. We’ll search […]Learn More
- Guided Discoveries Camps
Junior Animal Keepers I
- • 9:30am - 3:30pmAges 10-13Do you love animals? Do you wonder what the Science Center’s animals eat for dinner? What do you think it takes to keep a bear busy? Join us this week […]Learn More
Experience Wild New Hampshire
Experience Squam Lakes Natural Science Center
Spend the day walking through our Live Animal Exhibit Trail, admiring the natural beauty of Kirkwood Gardens, enjoying the splendor of Squam Lakes on one of our Cruises, or selecting a program to learn about New Hampshire nature and wildlife.
Make a Difference
Get Involved
Want to know more?
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to purchase tickets before arriving?
Tickets for the Live Animal Exhibit Trail do not need to be purchased in advance, except on special event days (such as New Hampshire Day). Tickets for Squam Lake Cruises should be purchased in advance, as space is limited.
Is the Live Animal Exhibit Trail wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The trail is wheelchair accessible and is designed to meet an ADA Recreati>Accessibility page.
What Animals do you have?
On the Live Animal Exhibit Trail, you can see native New Hampshire wildlife including Coyote, Fisher, Foxes, Bobcats, Mountain Lions, White‑tailed Deer, River Otters, Black Bear, a variety of raptors and other birds as well as lake fish, frogs and turtles. Up Close to Animals presentations vary and can include Porcupine, Turtles, Skunk, Woodchuck, Crayfish and a variety of raptors.