Outdoors
Best Hikes & Swimming Holes Near Stow, Maine
Everything within a short drive of the loft, in the order we send our own guests.
Stow sits right up against the Maine–New Hampshire border, tucked between the White Mountain National Forest and the lakes region — which means some of the best swimming holes in New England are closer than the nearest grocery store. If you only have time for one stop on your trip, make it the Emerald Pool.
Emerald Pool & Rattlesnake Pool
Both sit along Evans Brook off Route 113, a few minutes from the house, and both are genuinely worth the short walk in. The Emerald Pool is the easier of the two — a short, flat path to a deep, glass-clear pool ringed by granite ledges that make natural diving platforms. Rattlesnake Pool is a bit further down the road: an easy out-and-back of a little over two miles, gaining almost no elevation, ending at a small waterfall pouring into a swimming hole so green it looks lit from underneath. Parking is limited at both, and the trail and pool sit on private land, so please stay on the marked path and pack out what you bring in.
Kezar Lake
A short drive north into Lovell, Kezar Lake is the kind of clear, quiet New England lake most people only see in postcards. Public boat access is on the street behind the lake marina — bring a kayak or paddleboard if you have one, or just find a spot on the shore for the afternoon.
The Saco River
If you'd rather float than swim, the Saco River has sandy beaches and slow, easy current for most of its length through this stretch of Maine and New Hampshire. It's our own favorite way to spend a warm afternoon — grab a tube in North Conway and let the current do the work.
A note on trail etiquette
Several of these spots, including Rattlesnake Pool, cross private property on the way in. They stay open to the public because landowners and visitors have kept things respectful — pack out your trash, stay on the marked trail, and be mindful of noise if you're near a home. It's a small ask for access to water this clear.
Bring bug spray
Western Maine summers are gorgeous and, near still water, buggy. We keep a Thermacell running on the deck for exactly this reason — worth tossing a small one in your bag for the trailhead too.