Hermit Lake Winter Retreat: Ski, Skate & Game Room

❄️ Escape to your ideal winter retreat in New Hampshire! Our cozy, modern lakefront cabin sits directly on Hermit Lake, offering ice skating, ice fishing, and snowshoeing just steps from the door, plus easy access to nearby ski mountains ⛷️. Warm up by the fireplace, enjoy the game room, or relax with stunning lake and mountain views—a perfect snowy getaway for families, friends, and nature lovers. 🏔️

Access through the front door smart lock.

❄️ Cozy Hermit Lakefront Winter Retreat – Ski, Skate & Relax ❄️
Welcome to your private lakefront escape on quiet Hermit Lake in Sanbornton, New Hampshire. This cozy, rustic-modern home sits directly on the water, with its own beach, dock, and yard, which becomes a peaceful winter basecamp for skiing, ice skating, ice fishing, and snowshoeing. Hermit Lake is an off-the-beaten-path lake in the Lakes Region, known for its calm feel and scenic shoreline, so you get the best of New Hampshire winter without the crowds.

🏔️ Central Ski Base – Close to Multiple Mountains
Use the house as your hub for ski days and snow adventures. Gunstock Mountain is about 30 minutes away, Ragged Mountain is about 35 minutes away, and both Loon Mountain and Waterville Valley are roughly 40 minutes away. Bretton Woods, in the heart of the White Mountains, is about an hour’s drive and makes a great day trip. Gunstock in particular is a family-friendly resort in the Lakes Region with views over Lake Winnipesaukee and a broad mix of terrain, so there are options for beginners and experienced skiers alike.

🏡 The Home & Layout
Step inside a classic New Hampshire log cabin with modern finishes: warm pine flooring, a cathedral ceiling, and exposed wooden beams that add character and charm. The main level is open-concept, with the kitchen, dining area, and living room flowing together so everyone can cook, eat, and relax in the same space. Large windows frame the lake and hill views and fill the home with natural light, even on snowy days.

The kitchen features custom cabinets, an electric cooktop, plenty of counter space, and a beautiful view of the lake while you cook winter comfort food. The living room centers around a heated electric fireplace, perfect for curling up with a drink after a day on the slopes or out on the ice. Just off the main living area are a large deck and a screened-in porch/sunroom, giving you extra space to enjoy crisp winter air and sunrise or sunset over the lake with a blanket.

🔥 Comfort, Heat & Entertainment
The home has central heat and A/C for year-round comfort, but in winter, guests especially appreciate the steady heat plus the ambience of the fireplace. A large finished basement adds a second living and hangout area, ideal for families or groups that want room to spread out. Downstairs, you’ll find a dedicated game room with shuffleboard, Pac-Man arcade, and foosball, so storm days and evenings are easy to fill without ever leaving the house.

🛏️ Bedrooms & Bathrooms
On the main level, there is a spacious bedroom with pine clapboard walls, located next to a full bathroom for easy access. Upstairs, the large primary bedroom feels private and quiet, with a premium mattress and furnishings designed for real rest between ski days. Also on this level is a second full bathroom with a custom wooden vanity and a loft area that can be used as an office nook, reading space, or additional sleeping area for kids or extra guests.

🌲 Lakefront Yard & Outdoor Space
The backyard is a lakefront setting: in warmer months, you have a private beach area, a swim dock, a large grassy yard, and a private dock on Hermit Lake. The house comes with four kayaks, a canoe, and a paddleboat for guest use in the non-winter season. In winter, the shoreline and yard turn into a snowy playground. You can step right out to enjoy ice skating, ice fishing, or snowshoeing on and around the frozen lake, then gather around the firepit in the evening to stargaze and warm up. Snowshoes are provided for adults and children, as well as everything you need for the fire pit, wood, firestarter, and matches.

❄️ Winter Activities & Nearby Attractions
Beyond skiing and riding at Gunstock, Ragged, Loon, Waterville Valley, Bretton Woods, and Pats Peak, you’re surrounded by classic New Hampshire winter experiences. The famous Ice Castles in North Woodstock are about 40 minutes away and make an amazing night out for families or couples. Tanger Outlets are roughly 15 minutes away if you need extra layers, gear, or just a shopping break.

If you love winter hiking and snowshoeing, there are plenty of nearby options: local Sanbornton conservation trails and easy loops like the “This Is My Song / Virginia Hutton” trail, quiet wooded paths and lake views at Ahern State Park near Lake Winnisquam, and bigger mountain snowshoe routes in the Belknap Range around Gunstock and Belknap Mountain—with beautiful overlooks of the Lakes Region when the skies are clear.

For something different, Castle in the Clouds (about 50 minutes away) offers scenic grounds that are popular for snowshoeing with panoramic winter views, and Muddy Paw Dog Sledding lets you experience a real dog sled ride for a true New England winter adventure.

✨ Why Guests Love This Place
Guests choose this home because it combines true private lakefront living with easy access to multiple ski areas and winter attractions. You get more space and privacy than a typical ski condo, plus a game room, multiple living spaces, and a warm, character-filled interior that makes staying in just as appealing as going out. Whether you’re planning a family ski week, a long winter weekend with friends, or a quiet, nature-focused retreat, this Hermit Lake house is set up to be your comfortable and memorable home base.

For the security of our guests and the safety of our home, we have external security cameras. These cameras are unmonitored and only for liability protection.

There is a 10 Horsepower (HP) limit for all motorized vehicles on Hermit Lake. Jet skis are not allowed.