About this spot
Wildcat Falls is a series of stepped ledges and rapids on the Souhegan River inside the 87-acre Wildcat Falls Conservation Area, reached by an easy roughly 1-mile walk from the dirt lot off Currier Road (110 Amherst St., Merrimack). It's a well-known local swimming hole with a gravel beach, busiest in summer when flow eases. The conservation area itself is candid about risk: swimming here 'is not restricted, it is dangerous and not encouraged' — submerged rocks, uneven ledges, and shifting current make jumps unpredictable, and it should be avoided for days after rain when flow spikes. Free, open year-round, no permit; supervise children closely and skip jumps into water you haven't checked.
Safety first. Cliff jumping is inherently dangerous and can cause serious injury or death. Conditions — water depth, submerged hazards, and access — change constantly. CliffScout is community-sourced reference information, not a guarantee a spot is safe. Always assess the conditions yourself before jumping, and never jump where you're unsure. You assume all risk.