New England Swimming Holes on the Appalachian Trail & Long Trail (2026)

A thru-hiker's and section-hiker's guide to swimming holes on or near the Appalachian Trail and Long Trail in New England. It focuses on real swim stops with mileage, access, and honest water conditions for people moving through these sections on foot.

The map at the top covers all twelve stops below. Numbers match the list, and each pin opens a quick preview with a link to the full place page.

1. Clarendon Gorge
2. Grout Pond
3. Salmon Hole (West River)
4. Green River Reservoir Swim Area
5. Franconia Falls
6. Lower Falls (Albany)
7. Beaver Brook Cascades
8. Big Wilson Falls
9. Little Wilson Falls
10. Cooper Brook Falls
11. Gulf Hagas
12. Katahdin Stream Falls

Thru-hikers walk past some of the best swim stops in New England without realizing how close they are. Section hikers tend to know the classics. Day hikers often miss them because the water access is barely mentioned on the trail itself.

The picks below are on the AT, on the LT, or close enough that a short side trail, park path, or road walk gets you to the water. Several are classic shelter-adjacent nights; others are easier as near-trail day dips when you have time and a map pin that matches your resupply plan.

Start with the New England Swimming Holes map. For state-level planning, use Vermont swimming holes, New Hampshire swimming holes, and Maine swimming holes — the three states that carry the AT and LT.

Quick answer

The 12 swims to know

1. Clarendon Gorge — Vermont (AT/LT)

Just south of Route 103 in southern Vermont. The AT/LT crosses on a suspension bridge with a deep pool below. Traditional thru-hiker swim, popular enough that you'll often share it. Open the Clarendon Gorge guide.

2. Grout Pond — Vermont (GMNF, LT band)

Green Mountain National Forest pond with a short walk from the Grout Pond Road parking area. Calmer than Clarendon’s gorge water; treat it as a pond day, not a cliff jump. Open the Grout Pond guide.

3. Salmon Hole (West River) — Jamaica, Vermont

Developed swim beach on the West River inside Jamaica State Park (day-use fees, posted swim zone). Cold moving water after rain; great when you want a managed river stop near the Manchester–Jamaica trail towns. Open the Salmon Hole guide.

4. Green River Reservoir Swim Area — Hyde Park, Vermont

Public reservoir shoreline with a quieter, cooler swim than busy sand beaches—useful when you want space and are already touring north-central Vermont. Open the Green River Reservoir Swim Area guide.

5. Franconia Falls — New Hampshire (near AT)

Off the AT proper, reached via the Lincoln Woods Trail. About 3 miles from Route 112. Pool, cascade, and slide features. Cold White Mountains water even in August. Open the Franconia Falls guide.

6. Lower Falls (Albany) — New Hampshire

The AT crosses the Kancamagus Highway near the Lower Falls Scenic Area on the Swift River. Hikers often detour to these ledge pools for a swim before or after the road crossing. Open the Lower Falls (Albany) guide.

7. Beaver Brook Cascades — New Hampshire (AT)

On the Moosilauke approach from Kinsman Notch. A series of cascades with pools along the climb. Cold, not for long swims. Open the Beaver Brook Cascades guide.

8. Big Wilson Falls — Maine (100-Mile Wilderness corridor)

Big-water falls in the Elliotsville / Wilson Stream country hikers associate with the 100-Mile Wilderness. Treat it as a cold, flow-dependent waterfall visit—confirm conditions on the place page before you wade. Open the Big Wilson Falls guide.

9. Little Wilson Falls — Maine (Greenville area)

Multi-tier falls with dramatic pools; still a waterfall page with real hazard after rain. Open the Little Wilson Falls guide.

10. Cooper Brook Falls — Maine (Piscataquis AT band)

A named drop hikers route near on longer Maine sections. Short approach from typical trailhead-style parking; read posted access before you commit. Open the Cooper Brook Falls guide.

11. Gulf Hagas — Maine (West Branch Pleasant River gorge)

The big gorge side trip: rim trails, cold water, and North Maine Woods access fees. Plan mileage and maps first—this is not a quick dip stop. Open the Gulf Hagas guide.

12. Katahdin Stream Falls — Maine (Baxter / Katahdin approach)

Cold mountain water near the Katahdin approach network. Use it as a planning pin for how serious Maine mountain water feels before a summit window. Open the Katahdin Stream Falls guide.

AT/LT swim stops by state

Vermont (Long Trail and co-located AT)

Southern Vermont is where the LT and AT share miles. Clarendon Gorge, Grout Pond, Salmon Hole on the West River, and Green River Reservoir are all catalog-backed pages you can pair with a Long Trail section or a town resupply swing—check fees, parking, and cold-water cautions on each place page. Read the Vermont waterfall itinerary for a drive-based companion to the trail.

New Hampshire

The AT crosses some of the most dramatic New England water but direct swim access is limited because of the terrain. Franconia Falls is the best side trip. Beaver Brook Cascades for cold cascades. Lower Falls on the Swift River via Kancamagus access is a quick-detour swim. Read the New Hampshire waterfall hikes for context.

Maine

Maine carries the hardest mountain water on the AT. This site’s Maine picks in this guide are catalog-backed waterfall pages (Big Wilson, Little Wilson, Cooper Brook, Gulf Hagas, Katahdin Stream Falls)—use them for real pins, then read each page’s swim guidance; many rows explicitly do not recommend swimming. Read Maine waterfall hikes.

Southern New England note

The AT crosses Massachusetts and Connecticut, but the swim options on that stretch are thinner. The trail stays on ridgelines and in hardwood forest without many big pool features. The best CT/MA AT-adjacent swim is Upper Goose Pond (MA) near the cabin, a short side trip from the trail.

A simple thru-hike swim planning order

1. Mark shelter-adjacent swim stops on your map.
2. Plan your day ending at one when heat is the issue.
3. Rinse gear and yourself when the opportunity exists. Hiker hygiene saves miles.
4. Don't soap in the water. Rinse on land, several feet from the pond or stream.
5. Skip swims you don't have time to warm up after. Wet hiking in cold conditions kills.

Before you go

• All of this water is LNT-sensitive. No soap or sunscreen rinse in the water.
• Giardia is real. Treat water before drinking, even from pools you swam in.
• Thru-hiker norms apply. Nudity is tolerated at remote spots; check who else is there.
• Cold shock applies even mid-summer in NH and Maine gorges.
• Shelter sites fill in summer. If a swim-and-sleep plan depends on a shelter, plan backup.

Related guides

• Planning Freshwater Trips in New England
• Best Waterfalls for a Hot Summer Day
• Lesser-Known Summer Swimming Holes

FAQ

Are there swimming holes on the Appalachian Trail in New England?

Yes. The AT crosses or passes near dozens of swimming holes, ponds, and stream pools across Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Clarendon Gorge (VT), Salmon Hole on the West River (VT), Franconia Falls (NH), and Gulf Hagas (ME) are among the catalog-backed pages hikers use for planning—always match the pin to your mileage and read swim guidance on each place. Southern New England (CT, MA) has fewer swim-accessible AT sections.

Which Long Trail swimming holes are worth the stop?

Clarendon Gorge is the most photographed Long Trail swim — a suspension bridge crossing with a deep pool below. Grout Pond, Salmon Hole (West River), and Green River Reservoir are strong Vermont picks on this site: forest pond, state-park river beach, and a quieter reservoir swim. Match each to your mileage, fees, and cold-water tolerance.

Can you swim in the 100-Mile Wilderness?

Yes, with caveats. The 100-Mile Wilderness and Baxter-area corridors hold serious water, but many published pins are waterfall pages where swimming is not recommended. Big Wilson Falls, Little Wilson Falls, Cooper Brook Falls, Gulf Hagas, and Katahdin Stream Falls are catalog-backed Maine stops hikers use for cold-water context—read each place page for access, flow, and posted rules before you enter the water.

Is the water cold on the AT in New England?

In Vermont and New Hampshire, yes — most AT-accessible water stays under 65°F through June and 60°F in shaded gorges all summer. Maine AT water warms faster in the interior ponds but stays cold in mountain streams. Plan for bracing rather than warm.

Are dogs allowed to swim at AT swimming holes?

Generally yes at off-trail swim spots in national forest and state forest land. The AT itself allows dogs except in Baxter State Park. Check specific shelter rules; some have dog restrictions for other reasons. Leashes are standard in all forest service areas.

What's the best AT swimming hole in New England?

Most thru-hikers still talk about Clarendon Gorge (VT) for a bridge-and-pool moment, and Gulf Hagas (ME) for a big-water Maine gorge day—both have catalog pages here. Franconia Falls (NH) is the large side trip off the Kanc if you want scale and have the legs for it.

View the next guide

• ← Previous: First Swim of the Year: Cold-Water Spots
• Next: Planning Freshwater Trips in New England →

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Updated April 21, 2026. Trail conditions and shelter status change. Check the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and Green Mountain Club for current info.