Live Free and Float On: 5 Places to Swim in New Hampshire

Sometimes the best summer day plans involve little more than a dry towel, a brown bag lunch, and a pool of cool water. We know that Vermont is home to its fair share of summer watering holes, but New Hampshire has its own collection to bring to the picnic table. If you’re venturing through the Granite State in search of places to swim, take a dip in one of these five favorite swimming spots.

Five Places to Swim on a Hot New Hampshire Day

Jackson Falls in Jackson, N.H.

The most sweltering summer afternoons call for a dip in rapidly flowing water — a feature that Jackson Falls can always deliver. Fed by the Wildcat River, this series of small falls is surrounded by picturesque pines and distant mountain views (a New Hampshire sight staple). A collection of flat rocks above provides a relaxing place to sit with your toes in the water, while visitors in need of a more direct cool-down can visit the lower rocks and stand directly in waterfall runoff. Directions: Jackson Falls is just a short drive from Stonehurst Manor,  a quick walk from the Christmas Farm Inn & Spa, and right down the road from The Wentworth. By car, pass through Jackson's Covered Bridge and turn right across from the Jackson Community Church on to Carter Notch Road. Parking is just at the top of the hill with a short walk to the falls.

Little Squam Lake in Ashland, N.H.

Hepburn and Fonda fans have more than one motive when it comes to seeking picturesque places to swim in the Lakes Region — Squam Lake doubles as a visit to the set of the 1981 Academy Award-winning film On Golden Pond. The movie-making views alone are worth the drive, but folks looking to take the plunge can find the perfect spot off of Little Squam Lake at the Ashland Town Beach. Didn’t plan for a beach day? Little Squam Lake is just a short stroll away from The Glynn House Inn, whose guests have access to beach towels, umbrellas, and lawn chairs to soak up the summer scene in style. Directions: From The Glynn House Inn, take NH Route 3 South. The beach is located just off the road and adjacent to a charming covered bridge on Leavitt Rd.

Crystal Lake in Eaton, N.H.

Crystal Lake earns a spot on New Hampshire’s summer swim list, but its beauty exceeds any one season in particular. Guests of Snowvillage Inn double as special guests of the town, with access to the private Eaton Beach (just bring your room key along!). In addition to swimming, the clean and clear water is a favorite place for paddling in a kayak or canoe, or casting out a line to nab the catch of the day. Don’t be alarmed if you hear a haunting call echoing across the lake — it’s just the resident loons that also call the waterfront home. Directions: From Snowvillage Inn, head down the road to the corner of Brownfield and rural Route 153.

Echo Lake in North Conway, N.H.

Reconnect with nature on this two-part Echo Lake expedition that combines a short jaunt through the forest with the reward of emerald waters and a beautiful beach. Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy by this natural spring-fed lake — or pass the time floating in it! Guests of The White Mountain Hotel & Resort with young swimmers in tow can even grab a swim noodle on their way out the door. Directions: Guests of The White Mountain Hotel & Resort can follow a marked path at the bottom of the driveway for half a mile to Echo Lake. Just a 7-minute drive by car from the Cranmore Inn B&B, head west on Kearsarge Rd and turn right on US-302 W through downtown North Conway. Take another left and follow River Rd. for 1 mile, then turn left onto West Side Rd. by Schartner Farms. In .4 miles, turn right onto Echo Lake Rd. and follow it to the Echo Lake State Park entrance.

Diana’s Baths in Bartlett, N.H.

Sit back and relax to the tranquil sound of Diana’s Baths, a scenic series of cascading falls surrounded by rock ledges. Measuring at about 75 feet in total height, a day spent by the Baths is sure to be filled with scrambling over the rocks to find your picture-perfect viewpoint or a cool pool of flowing water to splash in. Bring a towel and picnic lunch from the Red Jacket Mountain View Resort if you plan on spending the day. Directions: From the Red Jacket Mountain View Resort, turn right onto Route 16 and take a left onto River Road (which eventually becomes Westside Road). The parking lot features a sign for Diana’s Baths alongside a short half-mile path to the waterfalls. Whether you visit one of these five places to swim or you opt for another of the nearly 900 lakes that freckle the state, there’s no shortage of natural pools to play in on a sunny summer day. Plan a New Hampshire getaway at one of our inns and resorts to get the insider’s scoop on the best nearby swimming spots.

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