Waterfalls and Swimming Holes Near Shelburne Falls & the Pioneer Valley
The Pioneer Valley is where Berkshire waterfall country meets river swims and a few calm lake beaches, which makes it one of the easiest western Massachusetts regions to turn into a full summer day.
Use the map to judge drive order, then open each page for short-walk access, parking, and posted swim rules. For a denser Berkshire waterfall stack, see waterfalls in the Berkshires.
Rank 1: Gardner Falls — Shelburne Falls
Viewing only, not a swim stop
Hydroelectric dam on the Deerfield River at Shelburne Falls. Viewing from river-bank vantage; paddler portage required.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 3 min
Rank 2: 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 3: Bear's Den Falls — New Salem
Trustees of Reservations gorge on the Middle Branch of the Swift River in New Salem. Short walk to an overlook; no swimming.
- Walk
- 15 min
Rank 4: Chapel Falls (Chapel Brook Reservation) — Ashfield
Viewing only, not a swim stop
Short Trustees trail in Ashfield to a tiered hemlock-shaded cascade. Half-mile round trip; no swim.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 10 min
Rank 5: 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 6: 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 7: Mohawk Trail State Forest Beach — Charlemont
DCR swim area on the Deerfield River inside Mohawk Trail State Forest, Charlemont. Watch for dam-release flow and variable…
- Can you swim?
- Swimming allowed when posted rules and staffing say it is open
- Walk
- 5 min
Rank 8: 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 9: Deerfield River near Deerfield Academy — Deerfield
Informal Deerfield River access near Old Deerfield / the Academy. No lifeguard; dam-release flow.
- Walk
- 3 min
Rank 10: Wendell State Forest — Ruggles Pond — Wendell
Small DCR beach pond inside Wendell State Forest, Franklin County. Sand beach, seasonal lifeguards, quiet hilltown feel.
- Can you swim?
- Swimming allowed when posted rules and staffing say it is open
- Walk
- 2 min