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Rattlesnake Island Retreat (Boat Required)

Photo gallery for Rattlesnake Island Retreat (Boat Required)

A view from a deck overlooking a lake with trees and distant mountains.
A wooden staircase leading up to a deck with railings, surrounded by trees.
A compact kitchen with wooden cabinets, a refrigerator, a microwave, a stove, and a sink.
A dock with boats, a wooden staircase leading to a house, and a clear view of the surrounding forest.
A cabin-style room with a wooden desk, a framed photo, a s'mores station, and a view of Lake Winnipeg.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Scenic water view
    Relax and unwind with top-rated water views, offering a scenic experience.
  • Beach equipment
    A rare find — beach equipment ready to go for your days by the sea.
  • By the lake
    Guests love the beautiful lakefront location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Walk to Lake Winnipesaukee

Popular amenities

  • Balcony
  • Gas barbecue
  • Pet-friendly
  • Washing machine
  • Refrigerator
  • Internet

Explore the area

View in a map
Alton, NH
  • Place, Lake Winnipesaukee
    ‪1 min walk‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 2

2 Queen Beds

Bedroom 3

2 Double Beds

Master Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Dining area

Add dates for prices

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About the area

Alton Bay

Located in Alton Bay, this holiday home is in the mountains and on the waterfront. Wolfeboro Abenaki Ski Area and Ellacoya State Park are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Wentworth State Park and Carry Beach. Hampshire Pewter Co. and Libby Museum are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and scuba diving nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with mountain biking and mountain climbing.
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Map
Alton, NH

What's nearby

  • Lake Winnipesaukee - 1 min walk - 0.1 km

Getting around

  • Tilton Station - 57 min drive
  • Laconia, NH (LCI-Laconia Municipal) - 50 min drive

Restaurants

  • Dunkin'
  • The Breeze
  • Wolfetrap
  • ‪Ellacoya Barn & Grille - ‬42 min drive
  • Lucas Roasting Company

Frequently asked questions

Is Rattlesnake Island Retreat (Boat Required) pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 3 total).

What time is check-in at Rattlesnake Island Retreat (Boat Required)?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Rattlesnake Island Retreat (Boat Required)?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Rattlesnake Island Retreat (Boat Required) located?

Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is 1.8 mi (2.9 km) from Carry Beach and within 6 miles (10 km) of Hampshire Pewter Co. and Cate Park. Brewster Beach and Clark House Museum are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 34 out of 37 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 37 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 37 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 37 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 37 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a fantastic stay on Rattlesnake Island. The house, the property, and the location were everything that was listed and more. I recommend this to anyone who is looking for a secluded getaway on a busy lake.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Oct 2025
Thank you Greg! We loved hosting you and your family. What an amazing picture!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lake Stay

Incredible island property. Owner was wonderful and extremely responsive. House exceeded all expectations.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Aug 2024
Thank you for the kind review! It was wonderful hosting you and your family!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Rattlesnake retreat

Wonderful stay on Rattlesnake. Highly recommend this spot. The inside is the perfect size, outside has multiple hangout spots with gorgeous views. Hiking trails are excellent. I was pleasantly surprised to find the sandy bottom swimming area. Kitchen has all the essentials and the owners are super helpful and responsive.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Island living

We've stayed on many different islands over 30 years vacationing on Lake Winnipesaukee and this place is great. Beautiful views, good swimming area and dock. You can see the neighbors but everyone keeps to themselves so you have privacy. The stairs (41 of them) can be challenging if older guests or people with leg problems come to visit. Everything worked properly and there are all the little necessities you will need there. Fire pit and all the ingredients to make smores!! Great place to hike w amazing views of the lake. If you have a boat the launching at (nearby) West Alton Marina is easy and they are very accommodating there as well. GREAT VACATION
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Archival

6/10 Okay

3 night getaway

We just came back from a 3 night getaway on Rattlesnake island. We enjoyed the firepit on the deck, swim raft, great dock views, poland springs water dispenser and hiking trails. A few suggestions: - One of the bedrooms could not be accessed without going through another one. That wasn't a problem for us but I think that should be specified in the write-up. -For a rental property, I'd prefer there was a dishwasher to ensure the cleanliness of the dishes washed by the prior tenants. -We were disappointed that there were so many trees that there was no clear view of the lake from the deck. -Directions on any TV channels available and instructions for accessing them would be helpful. - A map of the island and the utility road, hiking trails and viewpoints would be helpful. Overall, the house met our needs for our short stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Mar 2020
I appreciate the comments related to the property, and your stay. It is important in order for me to understand the thoughts and needs of each guest to ensure I consistently strive to provide the best experience possible. I am glad you found the outlined items enjoyable and will continue to highlight these for future stays. Regarding the access to the back bedroom, I have updated the listing to be more clear that this is the set up. The room may also be accessed through it's own sliding glass door to the front deck, without disruption to the middle bedroom. There is currently no dishwasher with this property, but will be considered given future updates. Appropriate care and attention is given between each rental to ensure all dishes and kitchen utensils are clean and orderly. There are a number of trees between the front deck and the lake. While these trees provide privacy, and prevent erosion on the hill leading to the water, it is my goal to limb these up to open a more broad view to the surroundings within the coming weeks. As the deck sits only about 30 feet from the shoreline, many guests still enjoy watching the wildlife, boats, and the Mount Washington cruises go by given the current available views. As outlined in the listing, there is no cable TV access. There are a number of DVDs for your viewing pleasure however, but I do not currently have plans to add cable as there are limited options for the island. I have asked around for available trail maps on the island but it seems one has not been charted to date. This past Sunday I charted just under 3 miles of trail and plan to be able to provide a trail map to future renters that outline the known trails, their distances, and points of interest along the trails. Being an island property, staying is a unique experience. Many of the things the property and island has to offer cannot be duplicated on the main land. While you may not receive some of the common amenities you are used to on the mainland, the privacy, and tranquility make this property what it is. Thank you again for your kind feedback, and I look forward to building on it in the coming weeks.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

The island life is a great life!

I recently took my family on a trip to rattlesnake island. We had an amazing time enjoying everything this property and the island had to offer. We had previously stayed at places on the mainland in years past and thought we would try an island for a change. We found that our stay was a much more private getaway for our family with more room to explore. The place provided easy access to a number of great places around the lake. Within a short ride, there is Wolfeboro, and sandbars. We also enjoyed riding along the shorelines and looking at all the large homes. The property itself was very orderly, clean and had everything we needed for entertainment. The rooms were comfortable and the kids loved the bunk rooms. We enjoyed use of the swim float, the great views from the dock, the games, and gas fire pit. The owners provided fresh drinkable water in a cooler which was much appreciated so we did not have to bring our own. We hiked all over the island and loved the views from the top. I would recommend this place to anyone that wants to enjoy the big lake, without all the noise and traffic of the mainland areas. While it offers a private setting, all the towns are still accessible with free public docking! Great retreat, and we would definitely return!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Mar 2020
I'm glad you and your family enjoyed your stay! Sounds like you took full advantage of the many fun things in the area!
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Beautiful Lake Views & Great Fishing

The check-in instructions provided by the owner were informative. The dock didn't have the house number on it as described in the instructions, but I recognized the house by the pictures in the listing and found it no problem. The aluminum dock fit our 22 ft boat no problem. Accessing the locked house was easy using a passcode. The entry door opens into the kitchen/living room. The kitchen had everything needed. We were disappointed on arrival to find the cleanliness in the kitchen and bathroom wasn't up to standards we've experienced at many other VRBOs. Every room has a slider with a great view of the lake. The sliders lead to a huge gated deck which was great for dogs and kids. This amazing deck has a gas grill and fire pit, outdoor furniture, and 2 dining tables. The water tasted good, and there was always plenty of hot water. The bass fishing during our week at this property was AMAZING! We were catching smallmouth bass one after the other, and all very good size! Instead of the marina recommended by the owner (West Alton), we used Roberts Cove Marina. The fees for launching and parking are much less, and it's family owned/operated. The boat ride is a few minutes longer to that marina, but the cost savings make up for it.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Rattlesnake island

This island property was very clean and well maintained. Dock fit my 25' boat with ease , and there was a nice area to swim. Nice and quiet too.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great vacation

House was perfect, weather was great. We will be back next year!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location

Happy to have stayed in the past and look forward to an August stay coming up. Location is great on the lake. Convenient use of West Alton Marina (POC is now Nathan). Rob has / is very helpful with any questions. This year, WiFi was added that kids enjoyed. Love the WiFi authentication passphrase chosen. Hope to continue stay in 2023.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely location with nice family touches

Our family stayed at the Property the last weekend of July. The location was great and the Cabin did not disappoint. The beds were very comfortable and there were plenty of blankets and linens. Despite the lack of A/C the temperature was very manageable with the box fans provided. The dockage was exceptionally easy to get in and out of, even on days with unusually windy weather. We hiked to the top of the summit of the island and saw white tailed deer upon our path. We had a lovely time. I only give the property four stars because the deck could use a good power washing. I would have loved to have been able to use the outdoor furniture more. Unfortunately the furniture was covered in spiders and debris. We made due, but the outdoor area was so amazing that it’s a shame not to be out there all the time! We still loved every minute of our stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful week

The location can’t be beat! We all loved the swimming which included the walk in stairs, the newer metal dock, the floating swim platform, etc. This was the first trip to the lake where we never traveled to a place to go swimming, we always stayed at the house. The house itself was very clean and well appointed. Having a whole house water filtration system made it great, and easy for water usage. Enjoyed the propane table top fire pit for s’mores a couple times and was able to use the propane grill for burgers and steaks. The location, on Rattlesnake Island is great for our family in its proximity to Wolfboro and Alton Bay, two family favorite towns to dock up and visit, especially for ice cream treats. Definitely worked well to arrange our visit with West Alton Marina, in regards to launching, retrieving, and parking the truck and trailer during our stay. Ask for John at the Marina,. Next visit to the island we plan on exploring the trails and hopefully catch a sunset or just the views from the top. The weather worked out well for us during our stay which was a great plus! While there is a fan in each bedroom, the only item that would have improved the stay would have been perhaps a single centralized Air conditioning unit that the fans could then move around as a couple nights were tough given the level of humidity. Rob was very responsive to any initial questions we had and the welcome basket of s’mores ingredients, roasting sticks, etc. we’re great! All that said, the fact we’ve already booked a visit in July and August of 2022 says it’s all, we enjoyed it! Already looking forward to next year! Thanks
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Living Lake Life

We tremendously enjoyed our stay. Everything was as described in the listing. Thank you for the welcome basket! We especially enjoyed the swim raft and even had a little “rafty hour” party on it to watch the magnificent sunsets! Sooo relaxing! We have already booked our return for next summer. Can’t wait!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Quiet Getaway

We had a great time. The property was exactly as described, so there were no surprises. Loved the view from the Huge deck. There are neighbors, but the property is tucked away in a way that makes you feel like you are in your own private retreat. This was our first time on one of the islands, but we loved it. Would love to go back.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing week.

Great spot. Beautiful views. The house was very comfortable and had everything we needed. Would definitely recommend this to others.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay!

We had a wonderful family vacation on Rattlesnake! Rob was an amazing host, and very easy to communicate with. The property was very clean & quiet, and the welcome basket was a great touch! We lucked out with great weather most of the week we were there, and on the one day we couldn’t take the boat out due to wind, we hiked the beautiful trails out behind the property and watched the sunset from the summit. The views from both the house, and the summit, were amazing! I’d recommend this rental to anyone!
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful retreat

My friends and I returned here this summer after our visit last year. We sailed over and moored our boat and rowed our dingy into shore. The weather was perfect. The house has everything you could need, and the owner is always quick to respond with questions. My dog and I loved our daily hikes to the top of the island. We definitely plan to return again!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Best Place on the Lake!!!

My husband and I have been vacationing on Lake Winnipesaukee for 20+ years and this is the best place we have stayed in. The house is very clean and very well supplied with everything you need for your stay. The house is cozy and beautifully decorated with Lake themes in every room. The deck is huge and amazing!! We loved the fire pit and enjoyed making s’mores. My son and I took an adventure on the hiking trails on Rattlesnake right outside the back door. The view from the house and the dock were perfect. There’s not a better place on the lake. We didn’t even feel the need to venture out in our boat because this home and location has everything you need! If you’re looking for a place to stay on the lake that has it all, this is the place! Thank you to Rob and Melissa for being great hosts and sharing your home. We’ll be back next year!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

AMAZING!

If you are looking to escape the world with all the comforts of home this is a fantastic choice! Booking and check in was a breeze, Rob is very informative, honest, and accommodating! Myself, husband, and our 4 children ages 23, 9, and 6 were looking to enjoy our Annual Winni Vacation with a bit more adventure than years past! We wanted to give island life a try, It did not disappoint we all enjoyed every minute! Boating, swimming, board games, family meals at the giant table on the deck, sunset, Super Mario Brothers on the old school Nintendo, relaxing in front of the fire, loons, watching the boats go by, sunrise, and sunset.... there was something for everyone! The home is very clean, well stocked, and offers charm with pride of ownership throughout! Rob is such a wonderful host! We can’t wait to return next year!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Aug 2020
Thank you for the kind review Leslie, I'm thrilled you guys enjoyed your stay. We look forward to having you back next year!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect family vacation + dog

We loved every minute of our trip! We rented a panting boat from Faye’s Boatyard. 20 minute boat ride to the property. Awesome float in the lake perfect for swimming and relaxing. The lake water is crystal clear. Tons of fishing, boating and swimming. Sally’s gut is amazing. The property is clean and comfortable with everything you need. Beautiful hiking right out our back door. Spent as much time as we could on the expansive and comfortable deck. Rob is gracious and available. A great host. Highly recommend!!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

First time on an island on the broads. Great views great accommodations

Would definitely come back. We had a great time and the weather was all New England from 51’ one dat to 94’ the next.
Response from VrboOwner on 20 Jul 2020
Glad you had a great time! Welcome back any time. Thank you for staying, and your kind review.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Short vacation

My wife and I had a great time relaxing this property looking at the lake on for swims walks in I do a lot of birdwatching and had good numbers of species. Just a really great experience crystal clear water great spot
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Another Great Stay!

Rob actually did some great upgrades to the property since last year. They again go out of their way to try and make vacationing at their home seem like your home away from home. Did have some rain time and they have games and some movies to keep us entertained. For us it is perfect! Ages 14-59 ALL had a great time and would absolutely come back. Rattlesnake offers a great hike and amazing lake views from highest point on the lake. Thank you!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Jul 2020
Thank you very much for your kind review Kendra! And thank you for leaving the place in such great shape! I'm happy you and your family enjoyed another year at the property and liked the updates. I hope you ruled in your Monopoly tournament! Hope to have you guys back again next year.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Island living

Great relaxing spot with all the touches of home. Island location is close to Wolfeboro for trips into town for food and groceries. We can’t wait to come back!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Island Home!

House is setup with everything to make you feel at home, perfect! sound system, towels (beach and bath) great full kitchen, waterfront, hiking trails. Ages 13 to 67 all enjoyed! We had many in and out during our stay and with beds, couches it suited us all. Used Libby Museum launch and parking for free. Owners are great communicators and friendly. THANK YOU! Looking to book next year and it will be like going home.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2019
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