Swimming Holes of Vermont

This post was written & photographed by Gretchen Powers – filmmaker, photographer, and writer with a passion for storytelling and capturing the essence of a person, place or thing.

The short summer season in Vermont is as lush as it is humid and survival in a land locked state like Vermont requires water, and lots of it. Hydrating and cooling off are two main summer essentials and luckily, Vermont has plenty of rivers and streams that offer great swimming or dipping spots to escape the heat. Water shoes - whether you prefer Chacos, Tevas or Bedrocks can be great to wear if your feet are sensitive to little rocks. Pack a picnic, some cold drinks and Seriously Sharp Cheddar Cheese Snacks and you’ll be set for a great Vermont afternoon.

You can find spots all over the state on this map HERE. We’ve highlighted a few in the Chittenden Valley and Central Vermont that we were able to visit.

Huntington River: Richmond/Huntington

Winding through Huntington and Richmond, the Huntington has plenty of spots to stop and cool off. The Audubon Sugarhouse parking lot is a great place to start and trails on both sides of the road will take you down to the river to cool off.

Ranch Brook: Stowe

This hidden gem in Stowe is perfect to hit after hiking Mt. Mansfield or hitting up the mountain bike trails like Cheddar Shredder. Take rt. 108 up towards the mountain before turning left onto Ranch Brook Road. Park right before the Adam’s Camp bridge at the end of the road and hop in the water there or hike up the trails a ways for other river dipping options. Find other Stowe Area swimming holes HERE.

Bartlett Falls: Bristol

Just past downtown Bristol on Rt. 116 the New Haven River has carved out a beautiful and impressive swimming spot underneath some beautiful waterfalls. This centrally located swimming hole is one of the largest swimming spots out of this list in that there is actually a pretty big space to swim around.

The Gorge: East Middlebury

If you are one of those people who likes heights and jumping into water, The Gorge in East Middlebury has a variety of heights you can leap from into the water. Exercise caution here, and definitely do not jump from the bridge. The Middlebury River flows below a bridge at the base of Rt 125 and is a popular spot as the water stays cold all summer long.

Old Mill Park: Jericho

For a dipping spot with a side of geological mystery check out the Old Mill Park trails in Jericho behind the Old Red Mill. Hike up the trail about a 1/4-1/2 mile and you’ll find these rocks that look like dinosaurs might have made them. Try your hand at swimming up current in the Browns River before flipping over and floating back down. Grab a maple creemee from Palmer’s afterwards to complete the adventure.

Rivers are a great place to spend the dog days of summer, beat the heat and humidity and cool off. Just remember to practice Leave No Trace and pack out everything you brought in and be kind and respectful to other folks sharing the streams. Have a favorite spot to share? Leave it in the comments!