Best New Hampshire Swimming Holes
These are some of the best swimming holes in New Hampshire from across the state, including river pools, gorge dips, and classic cold-water summer stops.
Open each guide for parking, access, hazards, and local swim context before you go. This page works best when you want to compare a few different types of swim stops before choosing one.
#1 Diana's Baths — Conway
Family-friendly cascade complex with short access and big summer demand.
- Swim
- Popular wading and shallow dipping
- Walk
- 10 min
#2 Lower Falls (Swift River) — Albany
Flagship Kancamagus swim stop with easy access and heavy summer use.
- Swim
- Popular swimming and wading in season
- Walk
- 5 min
#3 Franconia Falls — Lincoln
Franconia Falls is a Lincoln adventure swim destination known for natural slides, broad river ledge, and high-engagement…
- Swim
- Popular swimming and sliding in season
- Walk
- 2 hr
#4 Jackson Falls — Jackson
Town-adjacent multi-pool cascade with easy family-friendly access.
- Swim
- Popular wading and swimming in season
- Walk
- 5 min
#5 Rocky Gorge Pools — Albany
Rocky Gorge Pools is a Kanc swim-hole listing using the main public parking area and a separate downstream pool pin instead…
- Swim
- Swimming varies by flow and season; verify conditions on arrival
- Walk
- 10 min
#6 Emerald Pool — Chatham
Short-trail emerald pool with strong visual branding and jump cautions.
- Swim
- Popular swimming and jumping with caution
- Walk
- 10 min
#7 Champney Falls — Albany
Champney Falls is a popular Chocorua-side waterfall reached on a steady forest climb with multiple cascade viewpoints.
- Swim
- Limited shallow pockets only
- Walk
- 2 hr
#8 Arethusa Falls (base) — Hart's Location
Tall flagship waterfall with a true hike and strong photo payoff.
- Swim
- Not recommended
- Walk
- 2 hr
#9 Beaver Brook pools — Colebrook
Beaver Brook Falls in the Colebrook area is a Great North Woods waterfall page using the mapped falls coordinate and a…
- Swim
- Not recommended near the falls
- Walk
- 10 min
#10 Swift River — Albany
Jigger Johnson is a Swift River roadside swim-and-wade corridor with broad granite ledges and strong family-road-trip appeal…
- Swim
- Popular swimming and wading at lower flow
- Walk
- 5 min