Lake Umbagog, N.H.

Rest the paddle on the deck and watch the wildlife at work and play in Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge: winter wrens and purple finches, great blue herons and black ducks, northern leopard frogs and salamanders, loons and eagles. Best to be off the lake by midafternoon. ‘‘Because Lake Umbagog is relatively shallow and you get these summer winds,’’ said Bob Tagliaferri, of Northern Waters, a local outfitter. ‘‘The lake gets a wicked chop to it.’’

Northern Waters, Route 16, Errol, N.H., 603-447-2177 (winter), 603-482-3817 (summer).