Lyman Falls/William Schomburg Memorial Recreation Area
Straddling the upper Connecticut River, Lyman Falls State Park in Bloomfield, Vermont — together with the William Schomburg Memorial Recreational Area on the New Hampshire side — offers a peaceful, riverside escape for paddlers, anglers, campers, and anyone craving quiet time in nature. Vermont River Conservancy+2Connecticut River Paddlers Trail+2
At Lyman Falls State Park you’ll find a 41-acre conserved property with 5,600 feet of river frontage. The spot features cold-water riffles, plunge pools, and rapids that support one of New England’s finest trout fisheries — a draw for anglers seeking a catch-and-release experience in a wild, natural setting. Vermont River Conservancy+1 The area also provides access-only canoe and boat-in campsites for paddlers traveling the Connecticut River water trail, making it a great base for multi-day paddling trips, quiet fishing adventures, or simply to enjoy river swimming and scenic solitude. Vermont River Conservancy+2Connecticut River Paddlers Trail+2
Just across the river on the New Hampshire side, the William Schomburg Memorial Recreational Area serves as a welcoming companion site for river-goers. It features a riverside picnic and access area, a cobble beach with excellent swimming and fishing opportunities, parking, a privy, and — for paddlers — an island campsite (complete with a fire-ring, picnic table, and privy) just upstream of the old breached dam. Connecticut River Paddlers Trail+2Connecticut River Paddlers Trail+2 The campsite was revitalized in 2018 in honor of a longtime local conservationist — offering one of the few public waterside campsites in the region. Connecticut River Paddlers Trail+1
Whether you’re launching a canoe, casting for trout, camping under the stars, or just stretching your legs riverside, Lyman Falls and William Schomburg Memorial Recreational Area provide a rare blend of accessible recreation and unspoiled nature — ideal for anglers, paddlers, campers, or peaceful day-trippers looking to connect with the river and forest.
