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New Hampshire | Mount Washington Valley / Bartlett

Saco RiverDavis Park and Beach to Smith-Eastman Recreation Area

A short 2.5-mile Class II Saco River reach linking Conway’s Davis Park and Smith-Eastman canoe launch.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 2.5 river miles
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAllow 1.5–3 hours with rapid scouting
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Saco River runs through the White Mountains near Bartlett, New Hampshire.
River contextSaco River near Bartlett; same-river context, not an endpoint or current-conditions photograph river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by EgorovaSvetlana via Wilderness Portal / Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 2.5 river milesDavis Park and Beach to Smith-Eastman Recreation Area
DifficultymoderateAMC describes Davis Park to Smith-Eastman as a short Class II reach with Conway Rips and Powerline Rapid. Take out before Powerline unless the group is comfortable with whitewater.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at the named Conway public access, then drive to the upstream launch.
PermitsNone notedNo permit is listed for this day reach; confirm local parking and access rules before unloading.
CampingDay tripNo overnight camping is included; use established campgrounds and never camp on private banks or at an access landing.
SeasonMay-OctThe natural, rain-fed Saco responds quickly to mountain storms and drops through midsummer. Recheck the Conway gauge, trend and weather before departure.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A short 2.5-mile Class II Saco River reach linking Conway’s Davis Park and Smith-Eastman canoe launch.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Davis Park public access, Conway (access-area anchor)
Open mapDirections to put-in

Confirm posted municipal hours, parking and current water entry at both parks.

Finish

Take-out

Smith-Eastman Recreation Area, Redstone Village (water-entry edge)
Open mapDirections to take-out

Respect private shoreline and never use a closed or unmarked landing.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Confirm posted municipal hours, parking and current water entry at both parks.
  • Respect private shoreline and never use a closed or unmarked landing.
  • Recheck the Conway gauge, rainfall trend and weather before departure.

Watch for

  • USGS 01064500 trend and rain-driven rises
  • Conway Rips and Powerline Rapid
  • Cold water, swimmers and crowded access

Plan this paddle

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

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Gauge

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Route gallery

Photos

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The Saco River runs through the White Mountains near Bartlett, New Hampshire.
Saco River near Bartlett; same-river context, not an endpoint or current-conditions photograph river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by EgorovaSvetlana via Wilderness Portal / Wikimedia Commons
CC BY-SA 4.0

Score & sources

Why this score

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Data status
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Why this scoreData reliability: checking

This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.

Why
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times

These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.

Gauge siteSaco River near Conway, NH
DischargeChecking
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24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
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Preferred range200 cfs to 1,000 cfs
Low threshold200 cfs
High threshold2,000 cfs
Evidence strength behind the rangeLocal route guidance
Gauge observedChecking
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Main source behind this scoreWilderness Portal Saco River Bartlett to Cooks Crossing guide
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NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Named reach and distanceDavis Park and Beach to Smith-Eastman Recreation Area; 2.5 miles

    Appalachian Mountain Club documents the named Saco itinerary, one-way distance and difficulty.

    Source

  • Public water accessDavis Park public access, Conway (access-area anchor) to Smith-Eastman Recreation Area, Redstone Village (water-entry edge)

    The Town of Conway lists both parks as public-use properties; the NH access directory supplies canoe-access and coordinate details for the municipal sites.

    Source

  • Gauge and planning bandUSGS 01064500; 200–1,000 cfs float band with 2,000 cfs upper reference

    The direct Conway gauge and the existing Saco reach guide provide a conservative planning cue; verify live telemetry and trend before travel.

    Source

  • Safety and campingClass II with Conway Rips and Powerline Rapid; day-use only

    Follow AMC’s rapid and crowding guidance, wear PFDs, and use established campgrounds rather than private banks or access landings.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

More in New Hampshire

All 46 routes
New Hampshire route guideBrowse every tracked New Hampshire route.Mount Washington Valley / BartlettJump to routes in this region.

More on Saco River

All 6
Bartlett River Street access to Davis ParkMount Washington Valley / BartlettEasy · About 12.5 river milesBartlett River Street access to First Bridge River Access Conservation AreaMount Washington Valley / BartlettEasy · About 9 river milesBartlett River Street access to Smith-Eastman Recreation AreaMount Washington Valley / BartlettModerate · About 14.5 river milesFirst Bridge River Access Conservation Area to Davis ParkMount Washington Valley / BartlettEasy · About 8.5 river miles

Nearby routes within 75 miles

Saco RiverSwan’s Falls managed launch area, Fryeburg (confirm below-dam entry) to Brownfield Bridge DACF carry-in / managed access · about 8 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 18 river miles from Council reference markers; actual launch and channel distance variesSaco RiverCanal Bridge managed access area, Fryeburg to Brownfield Bridge DACF carry-in / managed access · about 10 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 15 river miles from Council reference markers; actual launch and channel distance variesPemigewasset RiverLivermore Falls Walk-in Access to Plymouth Cartop Facility · about 31 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 4 river milesPemigewasset RiverLivermore Falls Walk-in Access to Coolidge Woods Cartop Facility · about 31 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 19 river miles

Quick answers

Saco River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Davis Park and Beach to Smith-Eastman Recreation Area route on the Saco River?

Paddle Today watches Saco River near Conway, NH and treats 200 cfs to 1,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does the Davis Park and Beach to Smith-Eastman Recreation Area route on the Saco River start and end?

This route starts at Davis Park public access, Conway (access-area anchor) and ends at Smith-Eastman Recreation Area, Redstone Village (water-entry edge), about 2.5 river miles on the water.

Is the Davis Park and Beach to Smith-Eastman Recreation Area route on the Saco River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.

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