UPDATE- according to this website swimming is now prohibited here and strictly enforced https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whitemountain/recarea/?recid=74967 This is a beautiful area, but should now be considered a “See” location.
Park in the Otter Rocks lot with the White Mountain National Forest Sign, and then walk down to the river. There is a small cascade with a few little pools that children could play in, as they are very shallow. This leads into a bigger pool which is maybe 4 ft. deep. There are large flat […]
This is a very popular rest stop swimming area, and it will likely be crowded, so it is a good idea to arrive early. We were here at 1pm on a Monday and cars were lining the road. There is a large parking area and a sign for “Lower Falls,” and we thought it was […]
Look for the “White Mountain State Forest” sign for “Hancock Campground,” and park in the lot. Walk to site #47 and follow the small sign that says “River.” Follow the trail for about 2 min. to a small embankment with a very short, steep hop down to the river. There is a beautiful fall flowing […]
There are TWO Echo Lakes in this area, which can be confusing, but this one is a beach and RV camping spot. There are bathrooms and showers, paddle boat rentals, and a store on the lake. There are really lovely views, as the lake is surrounded by mountains. The swimming area is large, as is the […]
Park in the official parking lot for Glen Ellis Falls, and then walk under the highway through a little stone tunnel at the edge of the lot. This will lead you to a well maintained path with guide rails (part of the Appalachian Trail), which follows the water downstream. You’ll see a small pool above […]
Echo Lake features stunning views of Cathedral Ledge, jade green water, and a large sand beach. The contrast between the water and the sheer cliff face is striking, and there is something very special about this place. There are buoys marking the swimming area, but lots of people were free swimming outside of them, even […]
This is a gorgeous waterfall that the park service allows people to swim and enjoy freely. For this reason, it is immensely popular, and it is one of the most crowded falls we’ve seen. There a multiple levels, and dozens of small waterfalls and pools to explore. There are some short slides at the top […]
Next to the camping area there is a small pond with swimming, and a bridge that they let you jump from (we were told this by an employee). The bridge has ladders and a jumping platform. The water is dark brown, with leaf debris at the bottom. The pond is by a small stream, and the […]
This is a town beach with white sand and beautiful views. The parking lot is small, and it seems to be a fairly popular place, so you might have trouble getting in. Dogs are prohibited from 9am-5pm during the summer.