18 natural swim spots within about 80 miles of North Conway, New Hampshire.
This page lists 18 natural swimming holes near North Conway, New Hampshire, sorted by straight-line distance within about 80 miles — including 5 rivers, 1 creek, 6 waterfalls, and 6 others. It is a city day-trip list, not the national GPS finder. Open each listing for directions, fees, and access before you drive.
Near North Conway, New Hampshire, our directory maps 18 natural swimming holes within about 80 miles of the city center — including 5 rivers, 1 creek, 6 waterfalls, and 6 others. The closest mapped spot is North Conway Swimming Holes In White Mountain National Forest (1.1 mi straight-line). Distances are not drive time; open each listing for directions, fee notes, access rules, and safety context before you travel.
| Central place | North Conway, New Hampshire |
|---|---|
| Search radius | About 80 miles |
| Mapped spots | 18 |
| Closest listing | North Conway Swimming Holes In White Mountain National Forest (1.1 mi) |
| Water types | River (5), Creek (1), Waterfall (6), Other (6) |
| Typical fees | 12 free · 4 fee · 2 varies |
18 natural swim spots in New Hampshire, sorted by distance from the city center. Statewide inventory counts are on the U.S. swimming holes dataset. For live GPS sorting from your device, use the GPS finder.
North Conway swimming holes in White Mountain National Forest include clear creek pools and rock slides near New Hampshire’s Mount Washington Valley. A WMNF parking pass is typically required at forest trailheads.
View detailsConway White Mountains Swimming Holes is a various swimming spot on Various near Conway, New Hampshire. What people come for: Crystal-clear waters; Diverse swimming spots. Access is free, and you will find restrooms. Best visited in June to August. Always assess water conditions for depth, current, and submerged obstacles before entering.
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Jackson Falls on Wildcat Brook in Jackson, New Hampshire — free multi-tier cascade pools a few minutes from North Conway and Pinkham Notch. Informal roadside / neighborhood parking; slick granite and cold water; pack out trash.
View detailsGlen Ellis Falls in Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire — a 64-foot White Mountain National Forest waterfall with a short paved/stairs path from the Route 16 scenic parking. Primarily a viewing hike; swimming at the falls is typically discouraged — use nearby Wildcat Brook / Jackson Falls for swimming.
View detailsPinkham Notch Swimming Spots in New Hampshire is a natural swimming spot near Jackson, New Hampshire. What people come for: Crystal-clear mountain waters; Family-friendly Jackson Falls. Access is free, and you will find restrooms. Best visited in June-August. Never swim alone and always supervise children closely near moving water.
View detailsCrawford Notch Region Swimming Holes lies in New Hampshire, where Varies, See Below moves through a wooded corridor. Threading along Route 302 through a dramatic glacial valley hemmed in by granite walls and old-growth forest, this corridor offers everything from a quick roadside dip to a full.
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Gorham White Mountains Swimming Spots is a river swimming spot near Gorham, New Hampshire. What people come for: Cool freshwater swimming; Surrounded by White Mountain views. Access is free. Best visited in June to August. Always test water depth and current strength before entering.
View detailsKancamagus Scenic Byway Swimming Holes near Conway, New Hampshire is a various swimming spot on Various. What people come for: Crystal-clear natural pools; Thrilling rock slides. Expect a fee of about $5.00, and you will find picnic areas and parking. Best visited in June through August. Always scout the water entry and exit points before getting in.
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Falling Waters lies in New Hampshire, where Dry Brook moves through a wooded corridor. A corridor of granite ridges, boreal forest, and crystalline mountain water that draws visitors in every season for good reason.
View detailsLincoln Region Swimming Holes is a natural swimming spot near Lincoln, New Hampshire. What people come for: Family-friendly swimming at Crystal Cascade; Secluded natural pools at Georgiana Falls. Access is free. Best visited in Fall. Always assess water depth and current before entering.
View detailsLivermore Falls on the Pemigewasset River near Campton and Plymouth, New Hampshire — free river swimming above and below the cascades in Livermore Falls State Forest. Short walk from Livermore Road parking; stay well clear of the strong mid-channel current.
View detailsCampton Region Swimming Spots lies in New Hampshire, where Varies-See Below moves through a wooded corridor. Spread across state and national forest lands near the towns of Plymouth and Campton, three distinct destinations.
View detailsSwiftwater Bridge swimming is a free Wild Ammonoosuc River hole in Swiftwater / Bath, New Hampshire beside a historic covered bridge. Clear river water, no lifeguards — check current after rain.
View detailsSculptured Rocks near Hebron, New Hampshire is a falls swimming spot on Cockermouth River. What people come for: Intricate rock formations sculpted by nature; Crystal-clear swimming pools. Access is free, and there are no facilities on site. Best visited in Late spring through early fall. Test water depth before jumping.
View detailsThis is the kind of place locals have known about for generations, passed along by word of mouth rather than glossy tourism brochures. The Merrimack River here moves with the quiet authority of a waterway that has shaped this region for centuries.
View detailsPackers Falls is a falls swimming spot on Lamprey River near Durham, New Hampshire. What people come for: Calm waters of the Lamprey River; Seasonal wildlife sightings. Access is free, and there are no facilities on site. Best visited in Summer. There are no lifeguards.
View detailsWeare lies in New Hampshire, where Piscataquog River moves through a wooded corridor. This is not a groomed beach with a parking attendant and a snack bar.
View detailsMerrimack River is a river swimming spot in New Hampshire. What people come for: Cool, clear waters perfect for swimming; Rich industrial and Indigenous history. You will find restrooms, picnic areas and parking. Best visited in Spring. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket when on or near the water.
View detailsBrowse by water type in New Hampshire — each link opens the full state directory for that category.
Looking for rivers near you to swim? A river swimming hole is moving water deep enough to swim or wade — often a bend, pool, or slack-water pocket. Browse river spots below, or start with GPS near-me sorting, then confirm access and flow the day you go.
Looking for swimming creeks near you? Creek swimming holes are smaller stream and brook pools — usually cooler, shallower, and tucked into forests or hollows. Use the list below (or near-me GPS), then confirm water level after rain.
Waterfall swimming holes are plunge pools and cascades fed by falls. Flow is often seasonal; check depth, cold water, and slippery rock before you enter.
Mixed or unique water types that do not fit a single category — review each listing for access and conditions.
People search for this in a dozen different ways. Here is what each one means around North Conway, with the counts from our directory.
Highlights and safety notes from our listings — not third-party reviews. Report outdated info or share a tip.
North Conway is a practical launch point for day trips to natural swimming holes in New Hampshire. Within about 80 miles you will find 18 mapped destinations in our directory, starting with North Conway Swimming Holes In White Mountain National Forest about 1.1 mi from the city center.
The mix spans river, creek, waterfall, other — related terms searchers use include creek swimming, river swimming holes, spring-fed pools, and wild swimming.
Every card on this page is a verified directory entry in New Hampshire with map coordinates. We measure straight-line distance from the North Conway city center — not driving time. A creek swimming hole 12 miles away on forest roads can take longer than a river access point 20 miles away on a highway.
Wild swimming near North Conway includes informal river bends, spring-fed pools, waterfall plunge pools, and developed park swim areas. Rules, fees, and seasonal access differ by land manager. Never assume swimming is allowed without checking the listing and posted signs the day you visit.
Natural water near North Conway changes after rain, snowmelt, and summer heat. Cold shock, currents, submerged rocks, and bacteria are real risks at creek and river swimming holes — most sites have no lifeguard. Check weather and local advisories before you enter the water.
We publish original planning copy, safety tips, and last-updated dates on each listing. See our editorial policy for sourcing standards, or contact us if access or conditions have changed.
Near North Conway, New Hampshire, our directory lists 18 natural swimming holes within about 80 miles — mainly 5 rivers, 1 creek, 6 waterfalls, and 6 others. Each listing links to directions, fee notes, and safety context. Use near me on your phone for live distance sorting from your location.
This page shows 18 mapped natural swim spots within about 80 miles of North Conway. The full New Hampshire directory may list additional holes farther out or awaiting coordinates. Counts update as we verify new listings.
The closest open mapped spot to North Conway is North Conway Swimming Holes In White Mountain National Forest (1.1 mi straight-line). Open that listing for driving directions, access notes, and current fee information — unofficial holes can change without notice.
12 listings note free or no-fee access; 4 require a fee or park admission; 2 have variable or unverified fees. Open each spot page for current fee details.
Near North Conway, documented water types include rivers, creek, waterfalls, others. A swimming hole is a natural outdoor pool in moving or spring-fed water — not a chlorinated pool. Filter by type on the New Hampshire state page or open each card for water-body details.
Late spring through early fall is the usual swim season near North Conway, but snowmelt, drought, and weekend crowds change conditions week to week. Check each listing before you drive — high water after storms can make creeks and rivers unsafe.
Wild swimming near North Conway carries real risks: cold water, currents, rocks, and no lifeguards at most unofficial sites. Check weather, water level, and posted warnings the day you visit. Read our river safety guide and each listing's safety section before entering the water.
Within about 80 miles of North Conway we map 1 creek swimming hole. The closest is Falling Waters, about 28 mi out. Also searched as: swimming creeks near me, water streams near me.
Within about 80 miles of North Conway we map 5 river swimming holes. The closest is Gorham White Mountains Swimming Spots, about 23 mi out. Also searched as: rivers you can swim in near me.
Within about 80 miles of North Conway we map 6 waterfall plunge pools. The closest is Jackson Falls, about 7.2 mi out. Also searched as: waterfalls to swim in near me.
"Water hole" and "swim spot" are the same search as swimming hole — natural outdoor water deep enough to swim or wade. We map 18 of them within about 80 miles of North Conway, across 4 water types.
Listing data last updated across spots on this page.