Amherst Town Beach

Amherst, New Hampshire · on Baboosic Lake

Verified · 3 independent sources

WATER: lake
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: $2
SEASON: Varies by conditions

About Amherst Town Beach

Amherst Town Beach is a municipally operated public swimming beach on Baboosic Lake in Amherst, New Hampshire, run by the town's Parks & Recreation Department. It is a staffed, fee-based facility with lifeguards, which makes this swimming hole a straightforward official lake to swim in rather than an informal natural spot.

Baboosic Lake is a 228.5-acre warm-water lake straddling Amherst and Merrimack, NH, about 1.4 miles long and 0.4 miles wide, with average depth around 10 feet and a maximum of 26 feet. The town beach sits at 25 Broadway on the Amherst side of the lake, with a private summer camp (Camp Young Judaea) also on its shores.

Swimming at Amherst Town Beach

A designated, lifeguarded swim area in a warm-water lake, suitable for families and casual swimmers rather than open-water or adventure swimming. Only Coast Guard-approved flotation devices are permitted in the swim area, and boats must stay at least 30 feet from shore, keeping the immediate swimming zone clear of watercraft.

How to get to this swimming hole

The beach is located at 25 Broadway, Amherst, NH; no further turn-by-turn directions were found in sourced material.

The walk in

No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up municipal beach at a street address (25 Broadway, Amherst, NH) with lifeguards and a fee gate; no hike or trail is involved in reaching the swim area.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

Good for kids

Staffed, lifeguarded municipal beach with a designated roped swim area during posted hours (9am-7pm daily); children under 13 renting boats must have an adult within 50 feet per the town's own rules. Specific shallow-entry depth at the swim area itself was not documented in any source found (only whole-lake average depth of ~10 ft is published), but the presence of daily lifeguards, a snack shack, and an organized youth swim team all point to a family-oriented, closely supervised setup.

Hours

9 AM - 7 PM, 7 days a week; Amherst residents may visit all days including holidays, non-residents Monday-Friday only (excluding holidays); last boat rental one hour before closing.

On the water

KayaksCanoesPaddleboards

Restrictions: Non-motorized, carry-in watercraft only, the beach explicitly has no public boat launch, so motorboats and trailered craft are not an option here. Only Coast Guard-approved flotation devices are allowed in the designated swim area, and boaters are required to stay close to shore (within roughly 30 feet) rather than crossing the open swim zone. Children under 13 operating a rented boat must have an adult within 50 feet.

Personal non-motorized watercraft can be launched for free; the town also runs its own paid rental concession (see rentals).

Rentals nearby

Amherst Parks & Recreation Department (Baboosic Lake Town Beach rental window)

Single kayaks, double kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards, rented by the hour directly at the beach

Prices: $7 per hour, per boat

On-site at Amherst Town Beach, 25 Broadway, Amherst, NH · Same as beach hours, 9 AM-7 PM daily; last rental issued one hour before closing

Backstory

The lake historically attracted vacationers via the Boston & Maine Railroad's Manchester & Milford branch; Camp Young Judaea, a Jewish summer camp for ages 8-15, still operates on the lake's shores today.

Amherst Town Beach: FAQ

Does Amherst Town Beach charge a fee?

Amherst residents: $2 (ages 2-11), $5 (ages 12-64), free (65+). Non-residents: $5 (ages 2-11), $10 (ages 12-64), free (65+). Season passes: $115 (resident), $220 (non-resident). Kayak/paddleboard rental $7/hour per boat; free launch for personal non-motorized watercraft.

Is Amherst Town Beach kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Amherst Town Beach?

No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.

Where do I park for Amherst Town Beach?

No parking details (lot location, size, or cost) are published on the town's official beach or recreation department pages, and search engines could not be queried further this session (search budget exhausted) or were blocked on direct fetch. The beach's official address is 25 Broadway, Amherst, NH.

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Amherst Town Beach?

Personal non-motorized watercraft can be launched for free; the town also runs its own paid rental concession (see rentals).

What are the rules at Amherst Town Beach?

Amherst residents may visit all 7 days including holidays; non-residents permitted only Monday-Friday (excluding holidays). Dogs prohibited. Only Coast Guard-approved flotation devices allowed in the swim area. Boaters must stay within 30 feet of shore.

What water body is Amherst Town Beach on?

Amherst Town Beach is on Baboosic Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.