Sculptured Rocks Natural Area

Small State Natural Area Where The Cockermouth River Has Carved A Narrow Granite Gorge Of Potholes And Sculpted Rock; A Popular Summer Swimming Hole West Of Newfound Lake (Confirm). · Groton, New Hampshire

A small state natural area in Groton, a few miles west of a large clear lake, where the Cockermouth River has cut a narrow gorge through granite and left the rock carved into smooth bowls, potholes, chutes and curving walls. The gorge is short, only a few hundred feet long (confirm), but deep and dramatic, with dark green pools between sculpted ledges and a small bridge over the top where visitors look straight down into the water. The potholes were ground out over thousands of years by stones swirled in the current, many of them since the end of the last ice age (confirm the geology). On hot summer days it is one of the best-known swimming holes in central New Hampshire, busy with local families, students and visitors floating in the pools and sunning on the rocks. There are no lifeguards, the water is cold and deep, and people are hurt jumping from the ledges. Parking is a small lot and road shoulder that fill fast on hot weekends, and facilities are minimal at best (confirm). Outside swim season it is a quiet place to see the carved rock and the river in spring flood or under ice.

Sculptured Rocks Road, Groton, New Hampshire, 03241, United States

Generally open daily during daylight; there is no gate or staffed entrance, and posted rules may close the area at dusk (confirm). The swimming season runs from about late June to early September, when the water has warmed enough to bear. Hot summer weekends, especially from about 11 am to 4 pm, bring crowds and a full lot. In spring flood from about April to early June the river is high and dangerous and swimming is unsafe. The small lot and Sculptured Rocks Road are not reliably plowed in winter (confirm), and the ledges ice over from about December to March. There is no staffed toilet; any portable unit is seasonal (confirm).

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