Boat Launches & Paddling in the Monadnock Region

A day on the water starts with choosing the right access point for your boat. Around Peterborough, Edward MacDowell Lake has both a reservoir ramp and a cartop launch near its swim beach, while Greenfield State Park offers canoe and kayak rentals.

Finding a Public Launch

New Hampshire Fish and Game’s boating and access page lists more than 400 public federal and state-owned launch sites statewide, alongside town-owned ramps. It links to an interactive access map, lake depth maps and river maps, giving you a starting point for finding a ramp or carry-in access.

The Statewide Public Boat Access Program was established in 1993. A ramp for a trailered motorboat and a place to carry a canoe down to shore serve different outings; town-owned access has its own rules.

Edward MacDowell Lake

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Edward MacDowell Lake information identifies a boat ramp on the north end of the reservoir and a cartop canoe and kayak launch near the swim beach. Motorized craft are permitted, but the Corps recommends electric or low-horsepower motors because the lake is shallow and unsuitable for large motorboats.

The Corps publishes park hours of 8 a.m.–8 p.m. year-round. Peterborough’s trails information lists MacDowell Dam as a day-use facility with free admission. Carry out trash and keep pets leashed; the swimming beach has no lifeguards. Beyond the launches, the park’s overlooks take in the dam, Nubanusit Brook and the Skatutakee range.

Checking Town-Pond Access

Peterborough’s recreation facilities information restricts access at Cunningham Pond’s Marshall-Thomas Recreation Area to Peterborough residents and their guests; since 2018, the town has also sold a limited number of non-resident parking stickers. Swim at your own risk, pack in and pack out, and bring drinking water: none is available at the pond. Flotation devices other than Type III Coast Guard-approved life jackets are prohibited. Dogs may swim only in the boat launch area. Fishing is prohibited at the boat launch and near swimming areas.

Paddling Without Your Own Boat

Greenfield State Park lists canoe and kayak rentals in a 400-acre landscape of ponds, bogs and forest extending to Otter Lake. For a trip without your own boat, rentals make paddling part of a day in the park.

The park says day-use parking is limited and walk-in spaces are first come, first served. Its published guidance allows advance day-use reservations up to 30 days before arrival. If you are combining paddling with an overnight trip, the regional camping overview can help with the rest of your stay.

Seeing the Contoocook from Shore

You can also spend time beside the river without launching. The town’s trails and open-spaces information describes the 6.5-mile Common Pathway following the Contoocook corridor north from the Noone Falls area. It also describes the Rail Trail along the former B&M rail bed into Hancock.

Before You Launch

Fish and Game’s rules require one wearable life preserver per person aboard; children 12 and under must wear an approved vest or jacket. Boats operating between sunset and sunrise must display lights. The Marine Patrol boating education page says operators aged 16 and older need a boating education certificate for motorboats over 25 horsepower on New Hampshire waters; it also explains accepted certificates.

In a 2023 aquatic-invasive-species release, NHDES explains Clean, Drain, Dry: remove plants and other material, drain equipment away from the water, and dry gear. The release sets out a ban on transporting aquatic plants, a requirement to drain equipment and leave boat drains open during trailering, and a decal requirement for vessels registered out of state. Before you go, check the managing agency’s current access, hours and rental guidance and the state’s boating requirements. Pair time on the water with the wider outdoor recreation options.