Riverland Beach
Canterbury, New Hampshire · on Merrimack River
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- river
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- May
About Riverland Beach
Riverland Beach is the Town of Canterbury, New Hampshire's official public beach on the Merrimack River, sitting on a 68.7-acre town-owned parcel within the Riverland Conservation Area near the Concord-Canterbury line. Reached by a short path from a town parking lot off Oxbow Pond Road/Lois Lane, it serves locals as a low-key swimming hole for wading and river swimming, though the town has posted extreme-caution safety signage due to underwater drop-offs.
The beach sits on Merrimack River frontage within the Riverland Conservation Area, a town-owned conservation parcel on the Concord-Canterbury town line reached by roughly a quarter-mile footpath crossing adjacent conservation-easement land before reaching the town-owned river's edge. A Concord Monitor reporter described the setting as looking 'idyllic' and deceptively 'beautiful,' masking underwater hazards.
Swimming at Riverland Beach
People wade and cool off in the Merrimack River here, as documented during a June 2024 heat wave when a Penacook family waded with children and a dog. The town's 2020 safety-signage program warns that the river has strong currents and sudden drop-offs of 4 to 12+ feet just a few feet from shore, so it suits confident/cautious waders more than young children swimming unsupervised.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Oxbow Pond Road in Canterbury, NH, a 50-foot right-of-way leads to a Town of Canterbury parking lot at the end of Lois Lane; from there a roughly quarter-mile footpath crosses conservation-easement land to reach the town-owned beach on the Merrimack River.
Parking: Town-owned parking lot at the end of Lois Lane, open May 15-Oct 31 during operating hours (vehicles left after hours or parked on Oxbow Pond Road during this period are towed); from Nov 1-May 14 the lot is closed and parking is permitted along a designated stretch of Oxbow Pond Road across from the gate.
The hike in
Unnamed public footpath through the Riverland Conservation Area (crosses a conservation easement on land adjoining Riverland on the Merrimack, formerly a B&B)
- To the water
- about 0.25 mile one-way
- Time on foot
- 5-10 minutes one-way
Difficulty: easy, flat walk on a maintained footpath
Trailhead: Starts at the Town of Canterbury parking lot at the end of Lois Lane, reached via a 50-foot right-of-way off Oxbow Pond Road in Canterbury, NH
The entire access route is the footpath itself (roughly a quarter mile) - there is no longer trail beyond it; the path runs directly from the parking lot to the Merrimack River frontage.
No river crossings or scrambles; the path crosses conservation-easement land before reaching the town-owned river's edge.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Wadeable and used by local families to cool off, but the Town of Canterbury posted river-hazard signage after nearby drownings warning of sudden underwater drop-offs of 4-12+ feet just a few feet from shore and strong currents; town regulations require children under 12 be supervised by an adult at all times. Best for shallow wading right at the water's edge rather than open swimming.
Parking
Free
Town-owned lot at the end of Lois Lane (off Oxbow Pond Road), open during posted hours May 15-Oct 31; cars parked in the lot after hours or on Oxbow Pond Road during that season are towed. Nov 1-May 14 the lot is closed and parking shifts to a designated stretch of Oxbow Pond Road across from the gate. No fee is stated in the town regulations.
Hours
Beach and parking lot open 7:00am-8:00pm daily, May 15 through November 1; the surrounding conservation area is open year-round for pedestrian use even when the lot/beach are officially closed.
On the water
Restrictions: No boat launch or watercraft facilities are documented at Riverland Beach itself; the only stated vehicle rule is a ban on motorized vehicles on the beach (aimed at ATVs/cars, not boats). Access is via a quarter-mile footpath, which is impractical for carrying kayaks/canoes, so this is not established as a paddling put-in.
Kayaking/canoeing does happen on this stretch of the Merrimack River, but via outfitters based a short drive south in Concord rather than launching from Riverland Beach itself.
Rentals nearby
Canoe, kayak, and stand-up paddleboard rentals (Old Town, Perception, Native Watercraft, Wilderness Systems brands), plus a 9-mile river shuttle service, for trips on the Merrimack (and Contoocook) River
Prices: Canoes from $40; kayaks from $50; SUPs from $50 (per listed starting rates)
9 Horse Hill Road, Concord, NH 03303 - on the Merrimack River, a few miles south (upstream) of Riverland Beach; the company also has a second location at 35 Edgewater Drive, Hooksett, NH (Fri-Sun 9am-4pm) · Concord location: daily 9am-5pm
What regulars say
Local news coverage documents the spot being used casually by Penacook-area families wading with kids and a dog during a June 2024 heat wave, framing it as a low-key, unofficial cooling-off spot rather than a swimming destination. The same coverage stresses the water looks calm and 'idyllic' but hides steep drop-offs close to shore, so visitor reports lean toward 'wade near the edge, don't assume it's shallow further out.'
Backstory
The beach and surrounding land form the Riverland Conservation Area, land conserved and owned by the Town of Canterbury and overseen by its Conservation Commission; the neighboring Riverland on the Merrimack bed-and-breakfast (on adjacent private land) closed in 2026.
Riverland Beach: FAQ
Is Riverland Beach kid friendly?
Wadeable and used by local families to cool off, but the Town of Canterbury posted river-hazard signage after nearby drownings warning of sudden underwater drop-offs of 4-12+ feet just a few feet from shore and strong currents; town regulations require children under 12 be supervised by an adult at all times. Best for shallow wading right at the water's edge rather than open swimming.
How hard is the hike to Riverland Beach?
A hike is required, about about 0.25 mile one-way to the water (5-10 minutes one-way). Wear real shoes, since approaches to natural swim spots are often rocky or rooty.
Where do I park for Riverland Beach?
Town-owned lot at the end of Lois Lane (off Oxbow Pond Road), open during posted hours May 15-Oct 31; cars parked in the lot after hours or on Oxbow Pond Road during that season are towed. Nov 1-May 14 the lot is closed and parking shifts to a designated stretch of Oxbow Pond Road across from the gate. No fee is stated in the town regulations.
When is the best time to visit Riverland Beach?
May 15 through November 1, per the town's posted operating season for the beach and parking lot.
What are the rules at Riverland Beach?
Governed by Town of Canterbury 'Riverland Beach Access Regulations' (effective 6/17/2024): beach and parking open 7am-8pm daily May 15-Nov 1 (conservation area open year-round for pedestrians); no motorized vehicles on the beach; children under 12 must be supervised by an adult at all times; no fires without a permit from the Fire Department and Board of Selectmen; no camping without prior written permission; violations enforced by Canterbury Police with fines of $100/$250/$500 for first/second/third offenses.
What water body is Riverland Beach on?
Riverland Beach is on Merrimack River, a natural river verified in USGS hydrography data.
