Lesser-Known Massachusetts Swimming Holes
“Lesser-known” here means quieter timing and smaller crowds, not unposted trespass lines or guesswork.
Several rows are waterfall pages with real wading or pool context. Read the access notes carefully, then pivot if the lot is full or the water feels off.
Rank 1: Whirley Baths — Charlemont area
Deerfield River pothole swim off Route 2 in Charlemont. Shallow 'baths' in bedrock and a deeper pool below.
- Can you swim?
- Swimming allowed when posted rules and staffing say it is open
- Walk
- 3 min
Rank 2: Trap Falls — Ashby
Viewing only, not a swim stop
Small rocky cascade on Trapfall Brook, off Route 119 in Willard Brook State Forest. Short walk from the DCR lot.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 5 min
Rank 3: Goldmine Brook Potholes — Huntington area
Rock-sculpted potholes on Goldmine Brook in Chester-Blandford State Forest. Not a designated swim; viewing and wading (Chester, Massachusetts).
- Walk
- 5 min
Rank 4: Glendale Falls — Pittsfield area
Viewing only, not a swim stop
~160-ft multi-tier cascade on Glendale Brook in Middlefield. Trustees reservation, ~7-car lot on Clark Wright Road (Middlefield, Massachusetts).
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 15 min
Rank 5: Sanderson Brook Falls — Chester
Viewing only, not a swim stop
~80-foot tiered falls in Chester-Blandford State Forest. ~1-mile walk in on the gated Sanderson Brook Road off Route 20.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 25 min
Rank 6: Royalston Falls Pool — Royalston
Viewing only, not a swim stop
Plunge pool at the base of the 45-ft Royalston Falls gorge on Falls Brook. Steep, slippery descent from the Tully Trail;…
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 10 min
Rank 7: Sages Ravine (Lower Falls) — Mount Washington
Viewing only, not a swim stop
Shaded MA/CT border gorge on Sages Ravine Brook, crossed by the AT. Lower cascades below the crossing; access via Northwest…
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 60 min
Rank 8: Tannery Falls — Savoy
Viewing only, not a swim stop
~50-foot ribbon drop on Ross Brook in Savoy Mountain State Forest. Short steep trail from Tannery Road; paired with Parker….
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 25 min
Rank 9: Bash Bish Falls upstream pools — Mount Washington
Upstream pools on Bash Bish Brook above the main falls in Mount Washington. DCR posts no swimming on the entire brook.
- Walk
- 20 min
Rank 10: Race Brook Falls (Lower Falls) — Sheffield
Viewing only, not a swim stop
Lower tier of Race Brook Falls, ~0.5 mi from the Route 41 trailhead in Mount Everett State Reservation, Sheffield.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 20 min