See all 6 routes on Saco River
New Hampshire | Mount Washington Valley / Bartlett
Saco RiverFirst Bridge River Access Conservation Area to Smith-Eastman Recreation Area
A longer 11-mile Saco itinerary combining AMC’s First Bridge–Davis Park and Davis Park–Smith-Eastman day reaches, with Davis Park as an intermediate bailout.
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Need to know
Why this call
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.
Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
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 longer 11-mile Saco itinerary combining AMC’s First Bridge–Davis Park and Davis Park–Smith-Eastman day reaches, with Davis Park as an intermediate bailout.
Access map
Put-in
First Bridge River Access Conservation Area, North Conway (water-entry edge)Confirm posted municipal hours, parking and current water entry at both parks.
Take-out
Smith-Eastman Recreation Area, Redstone Village (water-entry edge)Respect private shoreline and never use a closed or unmarked landing.
Road shuttle
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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USGS measurements
More about this gauge
These measurements come from the gauge station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Saco River near Conway, NH. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Gauge detail
Water-level history and forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
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Route gallery
Photos
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Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today’s call.
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.
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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 site | Saco River near Conway, NH |
| Discharge | Checking |
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| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
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| Wind | Checking |
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| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 200 cfs to 1,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 200 cfs |
| High threshold | 2,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wilderness Portal Saco River Bartlett to Cooks Crossing guide |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
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 distanceFirst Bridge River Access Conservation Area to Smith-Eastman Recreation Area; 11 miles
Appalachian Mountain Club documents the named Saco itinerary, one-way distance and difficulty.
- Public water accessFirst Bridge River Access Conservation Area, North Conway (water-entry edge) 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
- Wilderness Portal Saco River Bartlett to Cooks Crossing guide
- New Hampshire Saco-Swift River corridor management plan
- American Whitewater Saco River Bartlett reach
- USGS Conway Saco gauge
- Appalachian Mountain Club Saco River day-paddle guide
- Town of Conway public-use rules for Saco access parks
- NH public-access boating directory
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
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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 routesMore on Saco River
All 6Nearby routes within 75 miles
Quick answers
Saco River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the First Bridge River Access Conservation Area 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 First Bridge River Access Conservation Area to Smith-Eastman Recreation Area route on the Saco River start and end?
This route starts at First Bridge River Access Conservation Area, North Conway (water-entry edge) and ends at Smith-Eastman Recreation Area, Redstone Village (water-entry edge), about 11 river miles on the water.
Is the First Bridge River Access Conservation Area 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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