Chosen By: Stacie Haines, Membership Director
Location: Byron, Oxford County
Description: Coos Canyon is a roadside park carved out of the Swift River. Erosion has chiseled steep cliffs on both sides of the river. There are pools to swim in, flat rocks to sit on while you sift for gold, 15-foot cliffs to jump from, smooth rocks to slide down.
Activities: Swimming, cliff-jumping, gold-panning, photography, meandering along the shore
Favorite Season(s) to Visit: Summer—the mountain run-off is too cold most of the year!
Why It’s Special: “Swimming in the sparkling water surrounded by beautiful rock formations is a real treasure. My children love sliding down the smooth rocks and landing in the water, my partner loves to try his hand at panning for gold, and I love drifting in the gentle current surrounded by this striking beauty.”
Tips: Once you are in Byron, Coos Canyon is easy to find, near a sign marking the rest stop. However, meandering even farther along the Swift River will reveal many more hidden gems that are worth the extra effort to discover.
More info and directions: http://www.newenglandwaterfalls.com/waterfall.php?name=Coos+Canyon