Bolton Potholes
Conditions
Swim: not recommended. Only enter the water if you accept serious hazard. Conditions for the Joiner Brook / Winooski corridor near Bolton: NWS at the pin and—when configured—USGS trend on the Winooski at Montpelier (proxy only). Foamy water, aeration, and flood flows have killed people—if it looks wrong, stay out.
On this page
Snapshot
Quick read for weather, water, trail, and season.
Weather and river readings may show recent public-service data; other fields stay from the guide for this place.
Weather
Mostly Cloudy, 27°F
National Weather Service forecast, updated Apr 7, 2:07 AM.
Rain read
Rain chance in the next several hours may reach about 65% in that outlook.
Compare with the forecast you use for travel.
River flow
1610 cfs
WINOOSKI RIVER AT MONTPELIER, VT · updated Apr 7, 1:45 AM · USGS
Clarity
Varies
Storm runoff adds color; calm weather often clears surface water.
Crowd & parking
Plan ahead
Hot days stack people and cars—have a backup plan.
Approach
Uneven natural tread
Roots, gravel, and slick stone are normal near the water.
Setting
Bolton
Northern forest and river-edge mix typical of Vermont.
Timing
Earlier often calmer
Midday heat and weekends add use.
Mosquitoes
Seasonal
Repellent evenings.
Ticks
Check after
Brush and grass near banks.
Daily pulse
Match forecast, any live gage, and what you see at the water
Cold water, strong currents possible, and extremely slippery rock; documented fatalities have occurred—never enter foamy/aerated water. Flow changes with rain; there are no lifeguards. Dogs are not allowed at the site per land-manager posting. If anything looks off, choose another day.
Air & rain
| Time | Temp | Precip |
|---|---|---|
| 2:00 AM | 27°F | 10% chance |
| 3:00 AM | 25°F | 16% chance |
| 4:00 AM | 25°F | 22% chance |
| 5:00 AM | 25°F | 28% chance |
| 6:00 AM | 24°F | 37% chance |
| 7:00 AM | 25°F | 46% chance |
| 8:00 AM | 26°F | 55% chance |
| 9:00 AM | 27°F | 65% chance |
| 10:00 AM | 29°F | 63% chance |
| 11:00 AM | 30°F | 62% chance |
| 12:00 PM | 31°F | 52% chance |
| 1:00 PM | 31°F | 41% chance |
Overnight
Chance Snow Showers
~23°F
Tuesday
Snow Showers Likely
~34°F
Tuesday Night
Mostly Clear
~16°F
Wednesday
Sunny
~45°F
Wednesday Night
Mostly Clear
~29°F
Pair regional radar with hourly/daily tables when NWS loads. Live forecast: National Weather Service.
Water
Where the reading comes from
Winooski River at Montpelier, VT (USGS 04286000)
Proxy / same watershed: Joiner Brook at the potholes is a small Winooski tributary. The Montpelier main-stem gage reflects regional runoff trends—not flow inside the pothole formations. Use for storm context only; foamy or high water locally means stay out regardless of the graph.
How to use it
1610 cfs
WINOOSKI RIVER AT MONTPELIER, VT · USGS · updated Apr 7, 1:45 AM
Clarity
Storm-dependent
Heavy rain often adds color and debris.
Flow trend
Watch the live curve when loaded
Pair with color, sound, and debris at the bank.
Rain outlook
Check your forecast
Thunderstorms can change rivers quickly.
Recent rain
Weigh gage + bank
Mud lines and noise are field clues.
People
Parking
See access summary
Vermont River Conservancy and the Town of Bolton document **no legal car parking** at the potholes: access is **foot or bicycle only**; parking is prohibited on Smilie Memorial Elementary grounds, along US-2 per state st
Approach
Varies by access
Multiple entries may exist along a corridor—read each stop.
In the water
No lifeguards
Supervise children within reach in moving water.
Approach
Footing
Natural tread
Closed-toe shoes with grip beat smooth soles.
If the water looks bigger, faster, or colder than you planned for, pause and pick another day.
Vermont River Conservancy and the Town of Bolton document **no legal car parking** at the potholes: access is **foot or bicycle only**; parking is prohibited on Smilie Memorial Elementary grounds, along US-2 per state statute, and on Bolton Valley Access Road for two miles north of US-2 per town ordinance. Mapped coordinates along Bolton Valley Access Road are a **walk-or-bike approach reference only**—not a parking space. Re-read current ordinances before you go.
Closed-toe shoes with real grip for cobble and wet rock.
Nature
Corridor
River-edge Vermont
Give wildlife and anglers space.
- Songbirds
- Ducks
- Shared river use
Timing
Morning calmer
Afternoons add heat and people.
Observation only.
Bugs
Bug watch
Seasonal
Vermont norms.
Mosquitoes
Possible
Breeze helps.
Ticks
Present
Check after.
Sun
UV
Seasonal
Water glare adds exposure.
Midday
Summer arc
Shade shifts.
Feel
Strong mid-summer
Hydrate.
Peak window
Roughly 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Hint only.