Waterfalls and Swimming Holes Near Franconia & Lincoln
Franconia Notch and Lincoln pack short river walks, paid gorge access, and cold-water swim pockets into a tight north–south band.
Use this page when you are staying near Lincoln, heading through Franconia Notch, or building a west-side White Mountains day. It overlaps less with North Conway and keeps the focus on the Pemigewasset side of the range.
Rank 1: The Basin — Lincoln
Viewing only, not a swim stop
A glacially carved granite pothole on the Pemigewasset River in Franconia Notch. Not a swim spot.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 10 min
Rank 2: Franconia Falls — Lincoln
A ~6.5 mi RT Pemi Wilderness hike to a natural granite-slide-and-pool system from Lincoln Woods on the Kancamagus.
- Can you swim?
- Conditional swim or wade access. Check flow and signage
- Walk
- 2 hr
Rank 3: Flume Gorge — Lincoln
Viewing only, not a swim stop
An iconic ticketed ~2-mile boardwalk loop through Franconia Notch's 800-ft granite gorge, climaxing at Avalanche Falls.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 2 hr
Rank 4: Georgiana Falls — Lincoln
Viewing only, not a swim stop
A stepped cascade on Hanson Brook in Lincoln, from a pull-off near I-93 Exit 33.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 1 hr 30 min
Rank 5: Profile Falls — Hill
A 40-ft curtain drop on the Smith River in Bristol — short flat trail to a USACE recreation area (Bristol, New Hampshire).
- Can you swim?
- Conditional swim or wade access. Check flow and signage
- Walk
- 15 min
Rank 6: Beaver Brook Cascades — Benton
Viewing only, not a swim stop
A long rugged chain of cascades climbing Mt Moosilauke from Kinsman Notch on Route 112 (Woodstock, New Hampshire).
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 2-3 hr
Rank 7: Lady's Bathtub — Lincoln
A small informal brook pool near Lincoln referenced in older White Mountains guides.
- Can you swim?
- Swimming allowed when posted rules and staffing say it is open
- Walk
- 10 min
Rank 8: Otter Rocks — Lincoln
A Swift River ledge stop on the Kancamagus Highway in Lincoln — polished granite and cold pockets off a WMNF pull-off.
- Can you swim?
- Swimming allowed when posted rules and staffing say it is open
- Walk
- 10-15 min one way
Rank 9: Echo Lake Beach (Franconia Notch) — Franconia
Franconia Notch State Park's swim beach on Echo Lake at the foot of Cannon Mountain.
- Can you swim?
- Swimming allowed when posted rules and staffing say it is open
- Walk
- 5-10 min one way
Rank 10: Thirteen Falls — Lincoln
A remote cascade complex on Franconia Brook deep in the Pemigewasset Wilderness.
- Can you swim?
- Conditional swim or wade access. Check flow and signage
- Walk
- 5 hr
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Follow the reading order, compare nearby options, or jump to a guide that matches the kind of day you want.
More guides in New Hampshire
- Swimming Holes Near Lake Winnipesaukee Lakes Region
- Waterfalls And Swimming Holes Near Dartmouth Western Nh
- Best Swimming Holes From North Conway
- Waterfalls Swimming Holes Along The Kancamagus Highway
- Waterfalls Swimming Holes From Lincoln And Woodstock
- Waterfalls Swimming Holes From Crawford Notch And Bretton Woods
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