Favorite Swimming Spots

[thetrailboss]

OK, summer will eventually be here... :roll: ...and so will the heat. After reading an article about swimming holes in the Summer Vermont Life edition, I thought I'd start a thread about where to go swimming during those hot times. So here are some of my favorite spots:

1. Bristol Falls: Bristol, Vermont. With a view up towards the Bristol Cliffs, some friendly locals, great twenty foot falls, a small grotto/cave, and some nice, cool, fresh water from the New Haven River, this swimming spot is tops in my list! Located off of the Lincoln Road just after its intersection with Route 116 in Rockydale. Many of us Middlebury students frequented this hole...great spot! :beer:

2. Middlebury Falls: East Middlebury, VT. Not quite as remote (literally underneath the Route 125 underpass just east of the village), this hole is also a cool place to swim. I would recommend that one NOT jump off the bridge though. The Middlebury River cascades down from Breadloaf and to the Champlain Valley, channeling through this narrow gorge that the overpass spans. Park just after the bridge in the pulloff and BE CAREFUL hiking down the embankment to the small gorge. The granite rock makes a nice bench on either side and the water can be mighty COLD at times :x

3. The Mad River: south of Warren, VT. iN 2000, I visited this hole as well just off of Route 100 on an old woods road. I believe that the land may now be posted...but I went with some friends and we found some cool rapids and pools in the green schiests Cool place to swim...one may also find some other good spots further downstream (but UP Route 100 :wink: ) toward Moretown.

And there are some cool lakes to swim in as well :wink:

Crystal Lake: Barton, VT is often overlooked...the CCC park on the north end is real nice. When it's hot in southern Vermont, a cool breeze is blowing off of the lake. The BBQ grills are a nice touch and the facilities are REAL clean :beer:

Lake Dunmore: Dunmore, Vermont is another spot where us Middkids hung out...cool place and nice beach. Good state park.

I'd also suggest a visit to Lake Willoughby in Westmore, Vermont, which features the public north beach and the infamous nude beach on the south end, but the water is frickin' freezing! :x

So what are your favorite spots?

Oh...and be sure to check out the The Vermont River Conservancy's Website. They are trying to buy some of the other swimming holes and preserve them for public use. :idea:

 

[Joshua B]

Wow, this topic is HUGE! Perfect timing too. After they shut out jumpers out from the quarries in Quincy, MA and then built a golf course there, I haven't been to a good spot to jump. I notice you've posted specifics to each location...kind of unlike the mentality of "secret ski stashes" that usually pervades ski forums. Anywhere in central/eastern MA, say near 495/290?

 

[thetrailboss]

Anywhere in central/eastern MA, say near 495/290?

That's what I'm looking for until we move back north. Any input?

 

[blacknblue]

I know a couple good ones in the Pemi, but, like a good powder cache on a ski hill, I'll only tell by going with you . My favorite spot is one where I've never seen any other person--a good find, unlike Franconia Falls which has been overrun.
There are a few good ones around White River Jct., my hometown. In the White River, under the West Hartford bridge is a good spot. Closer to White River Jct., park across from T & R Auto and there are a few good holes around there. In the Ottauquechee River, you can go down under the covered bridge by Simon Pearce. Be careful of the strong rapids, but the cliff jumping is great! Also, behind the Quechee Green, across from the 9th(?) hole of the golf course is a great place; it's where we would jump in after soccer games on the green.
And yes, Lake Willoughby is friggin cold! It's better for hiking and ice fishing than swimming!

 

[thetrailboss]

I know a couple good ones in the Pemi, but, like a good powder cache on a ski hill, I'll only tell by going with you . My favorite spot is one where I've never seen any other person--a good find, unlike Franconia Falls which has been overrun.
There are a few good ones around White River Jct., my hometown. In the White River, under the West Hartford bridge is a good spot. Closer to White River Jct., park across from T & R Auto and there are a few good holes around there. In the Ottauquechee River, you can go down under the covered bridge by Simon Pearce. Be careful of the strong rapids, but the cliff jumping is great! Also, behind the Quechee Green, across from the 9th(?) hole of the golf course is a great place; it's where we would jump in after soccer games on the green.
And yes, Lake Willoughby is friggin cold! It's better for hiking and ice fishing than swimming!

Looks like I'm going to have to PM you when we move up to the Upper Valley :wink:

 

[Vortex]

Sorry TB. The Secret tree runs and Swimming holes are all secrets. :wink: Like others have stated ..you can join me. I know many on the Pemi and some even closer to me. Private spots. Bob the buzz kill.
EDIT
Did not read thread carefully. I have posted further down some spots I like.

 

[thetrailboss]

Sorry TB. The Secret tree runs and Swimming holes are all secrets. :wink: Like others have stated ..you can join me. I know many on the Pemi and some even closer to me. Private spots. Bob the buzz kill.

OK :roll:

Didn't realize these were so well guarded either...my apologies.

I'll PM you as well...

 

[Vortex]

No secret, but I enjoy Stinson lake in Rumney. I also like.. even though sometimes its crowded wiers beach. I like the walk along the boardwalk after and people watch.

 

[thetrailboss]

OK...changing the title of this to favorite swimming spots...mind you this wasn't meant to be "SECRET swimming spots." :wink:

 

[Vortex]

I have no idea what you mean. :wink: Note to self read the post before I post a response. :dunce:

 

[dmc]

We got tons of swimming spots in the Catskills..

Lots on Rt23A on the way to Hunter... You'll see cars on the side of the road where people swim..

The really good spots I can devulge... Sorry..
Like BobR said - they're like secret runs...
Cant tell you but I'll show you...

 

[awf170]

i love the gorge near the cog railway, its going up towards jefferson notch, very fun but very cold water and crowded... Also i have only been there once but one in the dacks near giant mt... the one in stowe is also good if you want to die, very scary there are about 5 plack sorta things mourning all the poeople who died there

 

[ChileMass]

Sawyer Pond is a great swimming spot in the Whites and easy to get to. It's only about 1.5 miles up Sawyer Pond trail (no surprise) right off the access road off US 302 west of Bartlett Center, NH.

There are big boulders and mossy stretches to jump in from and the view of Mt. Tremont is terrific. We brought in a bunch of kids a few years ago and had a great time. Not so sure the folks at the campsite there were as into it as us, what with 10 kids making all sorts of noise, but what the heck....

Also - there's a well-known swimming hole at the 90* bend of the Saco on 302 just before the Sawyer Pond access road, too. This has a great view of Hart Ledge, and lots of rocks for the kids to play on.

 

[blacknblue]

There's such thing as www.swimmingholes.org , believe it or not. Not comprehensive, but a good checklist for those bored with 4000'er checklists. :wink:

 

[ALLSKIING]

Well..Mine would have to be the Great Piconic Bay. :wink:

 

[BeanoNYC]

Well..Mine would have to be the Great Piconic Bay. :wink:

Funny you should mention that. I was just wondering if you've ever got down the peconic to that little waterfall swimming hole with the rope in the tree. I know it right next to some road. We rent canoes from the Peconic Paddler every once in a while.

 

[SkiDog]

TRAILBOSS,

it seems you have a bead on VT swimming holes...I used to go to Green Mountain College way back in 1989 and we used to swim in this quarry. Its somewhere near poultney near the main campus..it was a short drive as I remember it, but I can't seem to find it anymore when I go look for it...must be the..ummm...forget it . I remember it having varied "jumps" and there was no choice but to jump (no "beach" type entry). the drops ranged, i'd say, from about 15ft all the way up to about a 65footer that you couldnt even see the water from run and jump thing...there was also a small rope swing there a short swim from the jump..Oh yeah and I remember it being "ledge" like...

If you have any idea where it is or how to get to it I would appreciate it MUCH..

M

 

[thetrailboss]

TRAILBOSS,

it seems you have a bead on VT swimming holes...I used to go to Green Mountain College way back in 1989 and we used to swim in this quarry. Its somewhere near poultney near the main campus..it was a short drive as I remember it, but I can't seem to find it anymore when I go look for it...must be the..ummm...forget it . I remember it having varied "jumps" and there was no choice but to jump (no "beach" type entry). the drops ranged, i'd say, from about 15ft all the way up to about a 65footer that you couldnt even see the water from run and jump thing...there was also a small rope swing there a short swim from the jump..Oh yeah and I remember it being "ledge" like...

If you have any idea where it is or how to get to it I would appreciate it MUCH..

M

Sorry...I really don't know where that one is.

 

[SkiDog]

Thanks for gettin back...maybe one day ill find it or maybe its gone....who knows....didnt look like there was really any developable land there at the time I was there last.

M

 

[thetrailboss]

Well, there are dozens of abandoned quarries out in that area. There are many more scattered across the state. Truth is that quarries are VERY dangerous to swim in...most often the depths are not consistent across, so that is one hazard (i.e. jagged bottom). Another big hazard is that when quarries were abandoned, the equipment, cables, and other items were simply dumped in them, so now one has lots of unseen items lurking somewhere down beneath the surface. To add insult to injury, these holes are often VERY deep and VERY remote making any needed rescue quite difficult! My advice...stay away.