Conway: Water, Trails, and Culture

Conway, New Hampshire, offers a variety of recreational activities: boat rentals and designated ramps for boats and canoes, trails, scenic viewpoints, and cultural attractions. Options also include a scenic drive and day trips on the Conway Scenic Railroad. To help with your planning, it’s useful to distinguish locations by their main focus—such as water, walks, scenery, or culture.

Water activities: rentals and launch sites

Saco Bound offers canoes, kayaks, tubes, and SUP boards for rent in Conway. Separate from these rentals are the boat and canoe ramps at individual recreation areas: Conway Beach and Parking Area has a boat ramp on Conway Lake. Smith-Eastman Landing has a canoe ramp and provides access to trails. At the Saco River, Davis Park has both a swimming area and a canoe ramp.

These locations have different focuses. If you’re looking for a boat ramp on Conway Lake, you’ll find one at Conway Beach and Parking Area; Smith-Eastman Landing combines a canoe ramp with trails. Davis Park combines a swimming area on the Saco River with a canoe ramp. Saco Bound’s rental service is a separate offering in Conway and should not be confused with any particular ramp.

Trails and scenic views

Smith-Eastman Landing is one option for combining canoeing with trails. Other trails can be found at Pudding Pond and in the Common Lands. These locations are therefore different from a dedicated scenic viewpoint: at Saco Valley Overlook, the beautiful view is the main attraction. Which option best suits your day depends on whether you’re looking for trails, a view of the valley, or a spot by the water.

Check in advance which route and access point suit your plans, rather than choosing a place by name alone.

Park and White Mountain National Forest

At Echo Lake State Park, a scenic drive leads to Cathedral Ledge. The park also offers swimming. This means you can choose between a scenic drive to a named destination and a water activity within the same park. Check current road conditions before setting out.

About 350 acres of the White Mountain National Forest lie within Conway. The White Mountain National Forest as a whole offers opportunities for biking, hiking, camping, fishing, and skiing. These activities offer different ways to experience the landscape and enjoy recreation—from spending time on trails to activities in the snow.

Culture and excursions

The Salyards Center for the Arts is a community project of the Conway Historical Society. It is located at 110 Main Street in Conway, New Hampshire. The Conway Recreation Center has a playground and is located at 176 Main Street. Both places add a cultural or community dimension to your visit, complementing the outdoor offerings.

The Conway Scenic Railroad offers day trips to various destinations. If you’d like to include a train ride in your plans, check the current schedule. This lets you plan the train ride as a separate excursion, without confusing it with local hiking or water activities.

Explore Conway by interest

When choosing a place to stay in Conway, you can start by deciding what you’d like to focus on during your days: waterfront spots with ramps and swimming areas, trails, scenic views, the scenic drive to Cathedral Ledge, or a train excursion. If you’re interested in winter activities, the White Mountain National Forest also offers skiing. Skiing is one of the activities available in the White Mountain National Forest as a whole; the other recreational options mentioned are for places in Conway. Use this overview to get your bearings in Conway, then choose a hotel based on your own plans.

Discover more destinations: North Conway, Bartlett, Jackson.

Go to the main travel overview: Carroll.