Bennett's Bridge Beach

Northwood, New Hampshire · on Sherburne Brook

Verified · 3 independent sources

WATER: lake
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: Free
SEASON: Memorial Day through Labor Day (official operating season); hours 1/2 hour after sunrise to 1/2 hour before sunset.

About Bennett's Bridge Beach

Bennett's Bridge Beach is a small, resident-only town beach on Bow Lake in Northwood, New Hampshire, operated by the Northwood Recreation Department. It sits at Bennett Bridge Road at the edge of the lake and is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, a modest local swimming hole that gives residents an easy lake to swim in.

The beach is a small lakeside access point on Bow Lake at Bennett Bridge Road, adjacent to the bridge itself, in the rural town of Northwood, NH.

Swimming at Bennett's Bridge Beach

Swimming is in Bow Lake, a freshwater lake, at a designated town swim area with swim lines marking the area; there are no lifeguards on duty, so swimmers are on their own, and swimming alone is prohibited by town rule. Jumping or diving from Bennett Bridge itself is explicitly prohibited as dangerous.

How to get to this swimming hole

Parking: The official town page notes that Recreation staff monitor parking compliance at the beach, implying a limited on-site parking area, but no capacity or details were specified by official sources.

The walk in

No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up town beach at 61 Bennett Bridge Rd, right at the edge of Bow Lake next to Bennett Bridge; no trail or hike is needed to reach the water.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

OK with supervision

It's a shallow lake-edge town beach with marked swim lines, but there are no lifeguards on duty ('swim at your own risk'), swimming alone is prohibited, children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult 18+, and jumping/diving from the adjacent bridge is explicitly banned as dangerous.

Parking

Free

Access requires a free resident/property-owner beach pass (transfer station sticker); no separate parking fee. Town Recreation staff monitor parking compliance at the site, implying limited on-site parking, but no lot size or layout was specified by official sources.

Restrooms

Yes

Porta potties on site at the beach (per official Town of Northwood facility rules).

Hours

Official town rule: 1/2 hour after sunrise to 1/2 hour before sunset, seasonally Memorial Day through Labor Day. Note: the town's RecDesk facility-booking page separately lists '8:00 AM - 5:00 PM' daily, which conflicts with the sunrise/sunset rule and may reflect staffed/admin hours rather than the actual swim-access window; the official town rules page is treated as authoritative for public hours.

On the water

Bennett's Bridge Beach is a swimming beach with marked swim lines, not a boat launch; official town rules for the beach make no mention of kayaks/canoes/paddleboards being launched from it. Bow Lake overall (1,149 acres per Wikipedia) is described generally as 'a popular place to swim, boat and fish' with a town dock referenced in Strafford, NH, but no horsepower limits, no-wake zones, or other motor restrictions specific to Bow Lake could be verified in this search, so left null rather than guessed.

Bennett's Bridge Beach: FAQ

Does Bennett's Bridge Beach charge a fee?

No fees; access requires a free beach pass/transfer station sticker issued to Northwood residents and property owners/renters only.

Is Bennett's Bridge Beach kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Bennett's Bridge Beach?

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

Where do I park for Bennett's Bridge Beach?

When is the best time to visit Bennett's Bridge Beach?

Memorial Day through Labor Day (official operating season); hours 1/2 hour after sunrise to 1/2 hour before sunset.

What are the rules at Bennett's Bridge Beach?

Northwood residents (and property owners/renters) only, verified by town-issued beach pass. No pets, glass containers, alcohol, or smoking. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older. Swimming alone is prohibited. Diving or jumping from Bennett Bridge is prohibited. No lifeguards on duty.

What water body is Bennett's Bridge Beach on?

Bennett's Bridge Beach is on Sherburne Brook, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.