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New Hampshire · Fishing
Albany sits in the heart of the White Mountain National Forest, and the fishing here is tied closely to the Swift River corridor that runs through town.
4 spotsUpdated dailyFree to access
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Albany sits in the heart of the White Mountain National Forest, and the fishing here is tied closely to the Swift River corridor that runs through town. Three of the four fishing spots in Albany — Radeke Cabin, White Ledge Campground, and the Covered Bridge — are river fishing access points along this stretch, giving you multiple entry points to the same moving water depending on where you're camping or how far you want to walk. Falls Pond rounds out the options as a quieter lake fishing spot, a good alternative when the river is running high and fast after rain. The Swift River is a cold, clear freestone stream that holds wild brook trout and stocked fish depending on the season and section, so what you're targeting will shape where you set up. Access is generally straightforward — most of these spots are reachable from Route 112 (the Kancamagus Highway) without a long hike — but parking fills up fast on summer weekends. If you're planning a multi-day trip, White Ledge Campground puts you right on the water with a place to sleep, which makes early morning fishing before the day-trippers arrive genuinely easy to pull off.
The river fishing spots — Radeke Cabin, White Ledge Campground, and the Covered Bridge — are on the Swift River, which holds brook trout and is stocked by New Hampshire Fish and Game during the season. Falls Pond offers lake fishing with a different mix of species typical of White Mountain ponds. Check the NH Fish and Game stocking reports before your trip to know what's been recently put in and where.
Yes. Anyone 16 or older needs a valid New Hampshire freshwater fishing license to fish any of these spots. Licenses are available online through NH Fish and Game or at local sporting goods stores. If you're fishing within the White Mountain National Forest boundary, no additional federal permit is required just for fishing.
Covered Bridge
~4 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NH.
Russell-Colbath Barn
~6 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NH.
Waterville Campground
~21 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NH.
Swift River - Kancamagus Highway
~6 min drive
Easy
Ellis River - Jackson Village
~21 min drive
Moderate
White Ledge Campground
~7 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NH.
Omni Mount Washington Resort, Bretton Woods
~36 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NH.
Saco River - Conway Access
~13 min drive
Easy
Radeke Cabin
~8 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NH.
Falls Pond
~2 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NH.
Ossipee Lake
~32 min drive
Easy
Sugarloaf 2 Campground
~37 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NH.
The traditional trout season opens in late April and runs through October, with spring and early fall being the most productive windows on the Swift River. Summer fishing is still viable but the Kancamagus Highway brings heavy recreational traffic, so water pressure increases and fish get more wary. Early mornings on weekdays are noticeably quieter and more productive than weekend afternoons.
The Covered Bridge access point tends to offer calmer, more accessible stretches of river that are easier to wade and fish without advanced skills. Falls Pond is also a good call for beginners since still water is generally more forgiving than reading a moving river. White Ledge Campground is convenient if you're staying overnight and want to fish at your own pace without driving anywhere.
A light to ultralight spinning setup or a 3- to 5-weight fly rod covers most situations on the Swift River. Wading sandals or rubber-soled wading boots are worth having since the riverbed is rocky. Bring a New Hampshire regulation booklet or check the current rules online before you go, as some sections of the Swift River have special regulations on gear type and catch limits.
