Wildcat Conservation Area parking
Parking lot
4.2 (17)
441 Daniel Webster Hwy, Merrimack, NH 03054
Swimming SpotNH
Merrimack River
By Hidden Swimming Holes Team · Record updated
Background: generated illustration, not a photograph of this location.
Explore Merrimack River scenery near Concord with Sewalls Falls trail references, local park rules and reviewed photos. A permitted swimming entry is unverified.
Swimming permission unconfirmed
Confirm permission with the manager of the actual access. This review establishes neither a designated swimming entry nor a river-wide swimming ban.
Official sources checked:
Water type
Swimming Spot
Swimming status
Swimming unconfirmed
Fee
Check the named access's current parking and use terms; no river-wide free-entry claim established.
Best season
Choose daylight for an authorized land-based visit and check site hours. Summer dates do not establish safe current or water quality
Nearby towns
Concord, Manchester, Franklin
Water body
Merrimack River
Status summarizes our reviewed record, not today's opening or safety. Check current rules, swimming boundaries and notices before visiting.
Location
Map & Directions
Nearby towns
Concord, Manchester, Franklin
Access location not verified
43.246523, -71.561947
Recorded coordinates have not been source-checked. Confirm the entrance and legal access before using directions.
A closer look
Photos of Merrimack River
Photos show past visits, not current water levels or swimming conditions. Select a photo to view it larger.
Sources & checks
This is a desk-researched listing. A record update or map check does not confirm current swimming permission or water conditions.
- Swimming rules
- Official sources checked . Swimming permission remains unconfirmed.
- Access location not verified
- The recorded location has no completed source check. Confirm the entrance, legal access, and parking before travelling.
- Record updated
- · This is a data update, not a field visit.
Found an error? Send a correction with the location and a source. How we research listings.
Merrimack River: identify the access before planning a swim
This broad river listing is useful for Concord-area scenery and access research, but it does not identify a verified permitted swimming entry. The old description's gentle-current and family-friendly promises were not supported by a local condition assessment.
Start with a named land-based destination
The city lists Sewalls Falls Park Trails as a walking destination. Its route information is not a swimming itinerary. The trail inventory notes that ownership and maintenance vary. Choose the actual trailhead and check the appropriate manager before arriving.
Keep local rules within their jurisdiction
Concord's park rules prohibit camping and overnight park parking and require dogs to be leashed. Do not apply those rules automatically to every state or private access on the Merrimack. Likewise, a public boat landing does not by itself establish swimming permission.
Check water information without assuming clearance
An NHDES program explanation notes that not every beach is sampled and that sampling is not daily. Its archived advisory list is not today's condition report. No local clearance was obtained for this entry. An absence of a posted result, or a calm-looking photograph, is not proof that water is safe.
Use the gallery as river context
The saved record names the Merrimack near Sewalls Falls bridge, not an independently surveyed camera or swimming-entry location. Reviewed scenes help illustrate the wooded corridor, exposed rocks and riverbanks. They cannot establish permission, depth, flow or the condition of the retained historical pin.
Getting There
Choose a named public access and its manager's current map before driving. Sewalls Falls Park Trails is a Concord planning reference, not precise swimming navigation. The historical pin is unverified. Retire the old advice to search broadly for boat ramps or follow any public-landing sign as a swim route.
Quick Navigation
Access Notes
Concord's trail inventory notes mixed ownership and maintenance. Confirm which manager controls your chosen bank, trail and parking lot; city rules should not be extended to every state or private property along the Merrimack.
Plan Your Visit
Parking & Access
Confirm the entrance, parking arrangements, and legal access with the land manager. A map pin does not establish a public right of access. Follow posted routes and never block gates or driveways.
Regulations & Fees
Confirm permission with the manager of the actual access. This review establishes neither a designated swimming entry nor a river-wide swimming ban. Public park access does not necessarily include permission to swim. Respect private property and posted restrictions.
Seasonality & Flow
Water conditions can change quickly. This listing does not provide a current safety or water-quality assessment. Check official alerts and avoid entering water when conditions or permission are uncertain.
Nearby Facilities
Nearby places from saved public map data, not necessarily facilities at the swimming spot. Confirm access, hours, fees, and amenities with the operator before you drive.
Map data retrieved 2026-06-15
Guest parking
Parking lot
1 Spartan Way, Merrimack, NH 03054
Spartan garage
Parking garage
1 Spartan Way, Merrimack, NH 03054
Gateway Trail
Hiking area
4.6 (114)
Gateway Trail, Merrimack, NH 03054
Horse Hill Nature Preserve
Park
4.7 (350)
184 Amherst Rd, Merrimack, NH 03054
Over 560 acres of elevated terrain & wetlands with trails for hiking, biking & horseback riding.
Wildcat Conservation Area
Hiking area
4.7 (570)
35 Currier Rd, Merrimack, NH 03054
Suncook River Campground
Campground
4.9 (129)
2 Fanny Dr, Suncook, NH 03275
Crawford Notch Campground
Campground
4.4 (782)
1138 US-302, Hart's Location, NH 03812
Frequently Asked Questions About Merrimack River
Is a swimming entry verified for this listing?
No. The reviewed city pages establish trail and park context, not a designated swimming entry. Ask the manager of the specific access before planning to enter the water.
Does a public boat ramp mean swimming is allowed?
No. Launch access and swimming permission are separate, and boats and current can create additional hazards.
Can I camp at Concord's river parks?
Concord prohibits camping on City lands and trails and overnight parking in its parks. Confirm the manager and rules for any different destination.
Does no water advisory mean the river is safe?
No. NHDES explains that not every beach is sampled and none is sampled daily. This review did not obtain a current local water-quality clearance.
Do the photos show the exact swimming pin?
No. They are historical river-context photographs from a saved named record, not verified entry coordinates or current conditions.
Highlights
Wooded Merrimack riverbanks
Concord trail-planning references
Reviewed historical river scenes
Location & Area Map
Safety Information
Important Safety Tips
- Do not rely on the old gentle-current, generally-clear or family-friendly claims
- Avoid diving, bridge jumping, boat channels and strong flow
- No current depth, lifeguard service or local water-quality clearance was verified
Cultural & Historical Context
Historical Background
This broad Merrimack River record is not the town of Merrimack's beach listing or proof of access along the river's entire length.
Photography Guide
Photo Opportunities
Four historical river-context photos show exposed rocks and moving water, a wooded bank with a small bridge, shoreline plants and an autumn river bend. They do not identify today's permitted entry or establish safe depth.
Conservation & Ethics
Protect This Place
Stay on marked authorized routes, respect adjoining private property and carry out litter. On Concord City lands, follow the published restrictions on fires and camping.
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At a Glance
Best Time to Visit
Choose daylight for an authorized land-based visit and check site hours. Summer dates do not establish safe current or water quality.
Difficulty Level
No swimming approach verified. The city's approximately three-mile Sewalls Falls trail description is a walking-route reference, not the distance to a safe water entry.
Fee
Check the named access's current parking and use terms; no river-wide free-entry claim established.
Facilities
Bring drinking water and confirm facilities at the actual destination. Do not borrow amenities from another river landing or city park.
Activities
Authorized trail use and river scenery; swimming entry unverified. Plan paddling separately using a confirmed launch and route.
Phone
603-225-8690 (Concord Parks and Recreation, for city park questions)
Safety & Access Notice
This information is for general planning only and may be incomplete, outdated, or inaccurate. Access rules, closures, water levels, currents, hazards, and legal restrictions can change at any time. Always verify current rules with the land manager or official source before visiting.
You are responsible for your own safety and for following all posted signs, laws, and local regulations. Read the full disclaimer.
Camping Information
Concord prohibits camping on City lands and trails, and overnight parking in its parks. These are city-jurisdiction rules, not a ban on every campsite along the river.
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Safety & Access Notice
This information is for general planning only and may be incomplete, outdated, or inaccurate. Access rules, closures, water levels, currents, hazards, and legal restrictions can change at any time. Always verify current rules with the land manager or official source before visiting.
- Do not swim where swimming is prohibited, unsafe, or not clearly allowed.
- Follow posted signs, local regulations, closures, and private-property boundaries.
- Assess conditions on site. Water flow, depth, temperature, and underwater hazards change quickly.
- Never jump or dive without personally confirming depth and underwater obstacles.
- Swim with a buddy and consider flotation for weak or non-swimmers.
- Pack out all trash; respect wildlife and fragile environments.
You are responsible for your own safety and for following all posted signs, laws, and local regulations. Read the full disclaimer.
J
Joshua Havens
Founder & Editor, Hidden Swimming Holes
Joshua Havens created Hidden Swimming Holes to make it easier for people to find — and safely visit — natural freshwater swimming destinations across the United States. He researches access conditions, water quality resources, and land management rules so you don't have to start from scratch. He holds a strong belief that good outdoor recreation information should be accurate, honest about its limitations, and freely available.
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