WELCOME TO MILL CITY PARK AT FRANKLIN FALLS

Experience the beauty of nature in the heart of Franklin, NH.

At New England's first whitewater park and our land-based park, you are sure to find an an outdoor adventure! Learn more about the range of activities available, our ongoing project, community impact, and get involved today!

Our Story

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Discover MILL CITY PARK

Mill City Park at Franklin Falls is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to connecting the community to the Winnipesaukee River by creating access to outdoor recreation at the first whitewater park in New England and a land-based park. Our land and river park highlights the natural resources available in Franklin, and we encourage the community to explore all of the ways to recreate and enjoy nature on the Winnipesaukee River and on the scenic trails at the land-based park. We are committed to the conservation and stewardship of the land to ensure that the park is preserved for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity.

Master Plan

Strategic Plan

EXPERIENCE THE WHITEWATER PARK

EXPLORE NATURE ON THE TRAILS

GET INVOLVED: BE A PART OF THE PARK

Explore More

STAY IN THE LOOP

I'm not going to lie...

I didn't want to host the 2025 Boat Bash Snow Crash this year. Rewinding to last year, I was defeated by mother nature on a few different...

Extraordinary Times with Extraordinary People

We live in extraordinary times, where technological marvels continue to reshape every aspect of our lives. Over the past four decades,...

Surf's Up!

The title of this blog is a slang phrase that means there are good waves for surfing and it's time to get ready to ride them. It can also...

UPCOMING EVENTS

From big whitewater festivals to chili cook offs to polar plunges to haunted trails to 5K races to yoga in the park... Our events are about bringing the community together!

Want to get involved, volunteer, or sponsor an event? Reach out!

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Boat Bash Snow Crash - March 1 2025

UPCOMING - SAVE THE DATE

Winni River Days - June 13-14 2025

Festival del Taco - September 2025

Haunted River Walk - October 2025

SHARE YOUR ADVENTURES

Share your unforgettable moments at Mill City Park with the world.

Follow and tag us @millcityparkatfranklinfalls to be featured on our social media channels.

The sun is out and we love to see the different ways folks utilize the river, the park, and get outside!!!

Whether you fish, paddle, picnic, meditate, bike, walk, hike, or relax… the river is for everyone to enjoy!

#franklinnh #newhampshire #winniriver #winnipesaukee #millcitypark

It is almost Spring!!! Please consider supporting Mill City Park and the pollinators in your garden with beautiful flowers, seeds, bulbs, herbs, and plant kits shipped directly to your door from a local Franklin business, Three Rivers Wreath and Plant Company.

A portion of your purchase will go directly to Mill City Park to help us with our mission to connect the community to the Winnipesaukee River through an iconic land and river-based park in the heart of Franklin, NH.

Follow the link to the Three Rivers website to shop or use code D9C6EF at check out so that Mill City Park gets credit for your purchase.

Thank you for your support and (almost) Happy Spring! 🌼 🐝

https://threeriversfundraising.com/fundraiser/mcpff-s25/

Wow! What an amazing day we had with @franklinoutingclub at the Boat Bash Snow Crash!!!
Hundreds of you came out to enjoy the sunshine and snow at Veterans Memorial Recreation Area in Franklin, NH.
We had an absolute BLAST watching folks race down the slopes to the finish line.
We are incredibly grateful for all of the volunteers that helped plan this event and make it possible. There were many moving pieces and everyone happily jumped in to help wherever it was needed. We couldn’t be happier with the turn out, and all of the smiling faces remind us why we love to host events to connect the community to each other and the great outdoors. Thank you again to the @franklinoutingclub for being such wonderful partners.

Tag us in your photos and videos from the day so we can continue to smile and laugh about the great time!

The Boat Bash Snow Crash is right around the corner! In collaboration with our friends, @franklinoutingclub, we are bringing back this epic event of whitewater kayak races down the snowy slopes at Veterans Memorial Recreation Area.

Join us on March 1st:
EVENT SCHEDULE
11-12 Registration
11-12:30 Open Sledding
12:30-1:30 RACE: Best Time
1:30 - 2:30 Open Sledding
2:30 - 4:30 RACE: Head to Head

Tickets are on sale now:
TICKETS
FREE Kiddos age 12 and under
$7 Spectators only
$15 Open Sledding (no racing)
$25 Racing

Participants must bring and wear a helmet.
Discounted ski passes will be available for Boat Bash participants at the Vets counter.

All ticket proceeds benefit Mill City Park at Franklin Falls. All food, beverage, and ski pass proceeds benefit the Franklin Outing Club.

Want to help out? Share this post, connect with us to volunteer at the event, or bring a friend and join in on the fun!
https://www.millcitypark.com/boatbash2025

There are so many ways to get outside and enjoy our city and the Winnipesaukee River - even in the winter! We have amazing trails that run along the river that are free to everyone to enjoy. Walking (or skiing!) along the @winnirivertrail offers a unique opportunity to be in nature while also observing the historical remnants of the dams and mills that built the City of Franklin. We truly live in such a unique place that has historically revolved around, depended on, and celebrated the river.

Past and present, the river connects us all!

#community #winnipesaukee #newhampshire #franklinnh #franklinfalls #winnirivertrail

The Boat Bash is BACK! In collaboration with our friends, @franklinoutingclub , we are bringing back this epic event of whitewater kayak races down the snowy slopes at Veterans Memorial Recreation Area.

There will be open sledding, intense races, food, and SNOW CRASHES!

Discounted ski passes will be available for Boat Bash participants at the Vets counter. Get some runs in in-between races!
All ticket proceeds benefit Mill City Park at Franklin Falls. All food, beverage, and ski pass proceeds benefit the Franklin Outing Club.

EVENT SCHEDULE
11-12 Registration
11-12:30 Open Sledding
12:30-1:30 RACE: Best Time
1:30 - 2:30 Open Sledding
2:30 - 4:30 RACE: Head to Head
TICKETS
FREE Kiddos age 12 and under
$7 Spectators only
$15 Open Sledding (no racing)
$25 Racing

Get advance tickets here:
https://www.millcitypark.com/boatbash2025

Awesome video footage from 2017 by R. Mooney

Even though we have been a part of the community for almost a decade, it is always a good time to re-introduce ourselves to folks that might not know what Mill City Park at Franklin Falls is or what we do.
MCP is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to connecting the community to the Winnipesaukee River by creating access to outdoor recreation at the first whitewater park in New England and through the stewardship of a land-based park. Our land and river park highlights the natural resources available in Franklin, and we encourage the community to explore all of the ways to recreate along the banks of the Winnipesaukee River and on the scenic trails at the land-based park. We are committed to the stewardship of conservation land to ensure that the park is preserved for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity. We have a blast hosting events that bring the community together to enjoy the unique outdoor recreation activities in our region.

Have you visited Mill City Park? What are some of your favorite outdoor memories with us? We have big things coming this year and we are excited to host more events, finish the whitewater park, and enhance the land based park for everyone to enjoy. We hope you will come visit us, stay a while, see all that Franklin has to offer which is a unique outdoor experience found only here.

Learn more. Get involved. Join us at our next event or volunteer with us in the park:
https://www.millcitypark.com

What connects you to your community?
Our latest blog post is inspired by the unwavering dedication of Timmy Morrill who exemplifies the power of building real connections in the place you call home. Timmy’s lifelong dedication to his community, from his work at Veterans Memorial Ski Area to his involvement with Mill City Park, shows that meaningful impact comes from rolling up your sleeves and engaging with others in real ways. Let’s seek opportunities to be more like Timmy—actively participating in the world around us, fostering real connections, and helping to create communities where everyone has a place.

The limited edition sticker inspired by Timmy’s epic (and now regionally famous) New Year’s Day belly flop into the Winni is a playful reminder that we all have the power to make a splash in our communities. That splash leads to waves which will ripple out the lasting impacts of our dedicated work to improve the lives of those around us.

Read more here or grab a sticker:
https://www.millcitypark.com/post/extraordinary-times-with-extraordinary-people

We are getting increasingly excited about the Boat Bash Snow Crash at Veterans Memorial Recreation Area on March 1st!!! Folks are already scooping up race tickets and some epic head-to-head race rivalries are emerging!

Here is the schedule for March 1st:
11-12 Registration
11-12:30 Open Sledding
12:30-1:30 RACE: Best Time
1:30 - 2:30 Open Sledding
2:30 - 4:30 RACE: Head to Head

Food, beverages, and spectating will be available to enjoy all day long. Want to hit the slopes in a more traditional way at the Boat Bash? The Vets will be offering discounted ski passes for folks that want to get a few runs in that day, too.

Tickets:
FREE Kiddos age 12 and under
$7 Spectators only
$15 Open Sledding (no racing)
$25 Racing

@franklinoutingclub
https://www.millcitypark.com/boatbash2025

⚠️ CAUTION ⚠️
There are ice shelves at the whitewater park which makes the conditions hazardous and unsafe for use. Please use your best judgement and wait for a warmer day when the ice shelves are no longer present. Fluctuating water levels and warmer temperatures will break up the ice, and we will happily update when the conditions improve! Stay safe and warm, everyone!!!

“Franklin woke up to raw, damp weather on the first day of 2025, but the spirit of our community was anything but dreary. Despite the chill in the air, paddlers and community members gathered to celebrate Franklin’s First Day with the annual Polar Plunge - a tradition that reflects the resilience, unity, and passion that defines our city.

The sight of neighbors, families, and adventurers braving the icy waters of the Winnipesauke River wasn’t just a testament to our collective toughness; it was a reminder of how far we’ve come.”

Read more of our recent blog post here: https://www.millcitypark.com/post/a-raw-and-beautiful-beginning-polar-plunge-2025-and-reflections-on-the-year

#polarplunge #2025 #newhampshire #newengland #whitewater #franklinnh #livefree #getoutside #millcitypark

Wow!! 2025 started off with so much laughter, fun, and community. We couldn’t be more thankful for every single person that made Franklin First Day so spectacular!

The polar plunge drew quite the crowd! There were dives, dunks, and even belly flops! The polar plungers raised over $7K collectively to help Mill City Park continue with projects that support our mission to connect the community to the river.

Trestle View Park was packed with folks (and many cute dogs) all day, even in the drizzly rain. @downtowncrepes took home the Chili Cook off trophy!

Folks near and far came out to this celebration and we are thankful for everyone that cooked chili, helped set up, and brought the good vibes and smiles. What a great start to the New Year.

City of Franklin, we love you!!! Let’s keep the good times going!

#newhampshire #2025 #franklinnh #whitewater #winnipesaukee #livefreenh

We are so ready for Franklin First Day and to welcome 2025! Today was a great warm up. We have the tent ready to go (don’t let the predicted rain stop you from having a good time), chilis are simmering for the cook off, the river is running, and we are stoked to make a splash on January 1st!! Come one, come all! The chili cook off kicks off at 10am and goes until 1pm. Polar plungers dive in at noon. Whitewater paddling will be happening all day! See you at Trestle View Park tomorrow!

#whitewater #whitewaterkayak #winnipesaukee #riversurf #newyear #newhampshire

Kick off your New Year with a SPLASH!!!
The tradition of Franklin First Day continues with community fun, whitewater excitement, and more this year! We are adding a Chili Cook Off and continuing with the Polar Plunge and have many amazing community partners joining in on the fun. Come watch the whitewater paddlers run the Winni and play at the wave. There will be children’s activities in the warming tent, too! There is something for everyone.

The festivities kick off at 10AM in Trestle View Park:
🌶️ 10AM Chili Cook Off
🧊 12PM Polar Plunge
🌲 12:30PM Guided River Walk on the @winnirivertrail
🏆 1pm Chili Cook Off winner and highest fundraising Polar Plunger announced!

Want to get involved? Donate to the polar plunge teams, share this post, buy a chili cook off ticket, come help us set up at Trestle View Park on Wednesday morning at 9am, or come to the event and bring a friend!

We cannot wait to welcome 2025 with you!
https://www.millcitypark.com/eventspage

How lucky are we to have fresh fallen snow for the holidays? The quiet and the shimmering landscape of our winter wonderland is so special. We wish everyone a happy, healthy, and joyous holiday season!

#newhampshire #whitewaternh #newengland #snow #winterwonderland #winnipesaukee #franklinnh

Too cold to play in the wave? NO SUCH THING! ❄️

Even when there is snow on the ground and the river is low (260 cfs this day), there is still plenty of whitewater fun with friends to be had in Franklin.

One of the main goals of the whitewater park was to ensure that whitewater recreation in Franklin would be available 365 days of the year. As the Winnipesauke River minimum flow is 250 cfs, the project has met that goal.

Check out our newly updated website for more information on the whitewater park and the lower Winni.
https://www.millcitypark.com/whitewater

The Chili Cook Off is just one of the many fun festivities happening at Franklin First Day on New Year’s Day at Trestle View Park beginning at 10am.

Will you compete for the trophy or will you do the tasting and judging? We are excited to add this component to the First Day festivities and think it’s an awesome way to spice up the day!

Interested in competing? Or want to snag an early bird ticket for tasting? Check out the link to get all of the details.

Chili Cook Off
January 1st 10am-1pm
Trestle View Park
Part of Franklin First Day

https://www.millcitypark.com/event-details/chili-cook-off

🧊 Polar Plunge Update 🧊
The City Manager, The Director of Planning and Zoning, and The Police Chief of the City of Franklin have all volunteered to take the polar plunge and to raise money for Mill City Park at this years Franklin First Day! The catch is we have to raise $3,000 to get these brave community leaders to take the plunge. We are so appreciative of these folks for stepping up and supporting our continued effort to improve the park for the community. Help us reach our goal and get this City of Franklin Team in the icy waters of the Winni on New Years Day!!!

https://www.millcitypark.com/polarplunge2025

Want to take the plunge yourself or create your own team? Check out how to join in on the fun and take the plunge for a good cause. Be a part of the park and help us make this day a success!

We’ve had a busy week at Mill City Park!
Before the snow started, we had a walk with @lakesregionconservationtrust through the 18 acres of conservation land that MCP stewards. We discussed ways to minimize erosion, our continued removal of invasive species, and continued trail development.

We then had a snowier walk through the park with the Franklin Fire Department! We discussed safety, upcoming projects, and the history of the former structures.

It is a great privilege to steward this land and we are thankful to our community partners and supporters!

#franklinnh #explorenh #newhampshire #getoutside #conservation

A winter wonderland❄️
We love how each season gives us a new perspective and a new way to experience the outdoors!

#franklinnh #explorenh #snowday #winter #snow #newhampshire #franklinfalls

Franklin First Day is right around the corner! In addition to the traditional running of the river, we are excited to bring back the Polar Plunge and add a Chili Cook Off competition!!! So much fun for everyone!

👀 Spectating is always free and open to the public!

Want to take the polar plunge? Want to see someone else take the plunge???
There are a few ways you can get involved:
🧊 As an individual - fundraise money (don’t your friends want to see you freeze for a good cause?) or pay for a ticket up front. We will get you started with everything you need to fundraise!
🧊 Start a team! Get your coworkers, friends, and family involved. We will set you up with a fundraising page to make it easy.
🧊 Don’t want to take the plunge but want to support? Donate to the Mill City Park team fundraiser. If we hit our fundraising goal, the WHOLE board of directors are going in!!!!

🌶️ Want to enter the chili cook off and see if your famous chili recipe has was it takes to compete? All of the details are on our event page. We’d love to have you join in on the festivities!
🌶️ Want to sample and judge the chilis? Presale tickets are available now!

We are so excited for all of the First Day festivities and kicking off the New Year with our community!

https://www.millcitypark.com/event-details/2025-franklin-first-day-polar-plunge

#franklinfirstday #choosefranklin #franklinnh

We’ve been working on a project to better tell the story of how Mill City Park at Franklin Falls developed from a big idea to a reality. Sifting through many newspaper and magazine articles has been a reminder of how far the projects have come and all of the amazing people that dedicated time to make it all happen along the way. We came across some of these photos - take a peak at the various events, people, paddling, and local sights captured in 2021!

Tell us, what are some of your favorite memories of Mill City Park over the years?

#newhampshire #franklinfalls #franklinnh #millcitypark #getoutside #whitewater

It’s officially stick season, but cooler temps won’t stop the fun! We love to see folks outside recreating at the one and only whitewater park in New England. This is just one of the many unique attributes of our amazing region and what makes living in Franklin so special 🌊

Come paddle, bike, hike, fish, walk, run, and enjoy the great outdoors!

#stickseason #whitewater #explorenh #newhampshire #newengland #franklinfalls @franklinfallsnh

Get in the holiday spirit with fresh, beautifully decorated balsam wreaths, winter bulbs, and plant kits. Support Mill City Park by purchasing a wreath for yourself or your neighbors through a local Franklin company, Three Rivers Wreath & Plant Co.
These holiday goodies ship anywhere.
Use the link in our bio or code 03C4D4 to support Mill City Park at check out.
https://threeriversfundraising.com/fundraiser/millcity-w24/

Thank you for your support of Mill City Park!

3 years ago ➡️ Now
Taking a trip down memory lane to the beginning of construction for the wave feature and amphitheater.
Immeasurable work, dedication, grit, and planning went into the first phase of the whitewater project. We are so incredibly grateful for all of the people that supported, sponsored, donated, volunteered, believed in the vision, and helped us bring this dream into reality.

Watching the community make memories at the wave is why we continue to advocate for outdoor recreation in Franklin. We love to see the community come together and enjoy the Winnipesauke River.
It’s exciting to see how far we have come. It is only possible together and with your continued support! The fun, events, and community connection will continue to grow once the next two wave features are built.

We would love to hear from you about your favorite memories involving the wave, Trestle View Park, and the Winni River! Share in the comments and let’s keep the good times rolling. 🌊

We are so thankful for all of the folks that had a part project, especially: The City of Franklin, @rep.whitewaterparks @vhbnow @franklinsavingsbanknh @senatorshaheen @nhstateparks AJ Coleman Construction, US EDA, CRCD, NH CDFA, USDA

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