Is the Ice Safe?

According to the New Hampshire Fish & Game Department, a minimum of 4 to 6 inches of solid, bluish-black ice should be present before individual foot travel across a frozen body of water is considered safe, and 8 to 10 inches of solid, bluish-black ice is recommended for snowmobile or ATV travel. And all ice is not created equal: Ice that has thawed and refrozen multiple times may be weaker than its thickness suggests. That can happen anywhere, but it’s most common in areas with moving water.

For additional winter-recreation safety tips, visit: wildlife.state.nh.us and lakeice.squarespace.com