12 natural swim spots within about 80 miles of New London, Connecticut.
This page lists 12 natural swimming holes near New London, Connecticut, sorted by straight-line distance within about 80 miles — including 5 rivers, 3 creeks, 1 waterfall, and 3 lakes. It is a city day-trip list, not the national GPS finder. Open each listing for directions, fees, and access before you drive.
Near New London, Connecticut, our directory maps 12 natural swimming holes within about 80 miles of the city center — including 5 rivers, 3 creeks, 1 waterfall, and 3 lakes. The closest mapped spot is Salmon River (23 mi straight-line). Distances are not drive time; open each listing for directions, fee notes, access rules, and safety context before you travel.
| Central place | New London, Connecticut |
|---|---|
| Search radius | About 80 miles |
| Mapped spots | 12 |
| Closest listing | Salmon River (23 mi) |
| Water types | River (5), Creek (3), Waterfall (1), Lake (3) |
| Typical fees | 8 free · 2 fee · 2 varies |
12 natural swim spots in Connecticut, sorted by distance from the city center. Statewide inventory counts are on the U.S. swimming holes dataset. For live GPS sorting from your device, use the GPS finder.
Salmon River near Hartford, Connecticut is a river swimming spot on Salmon River and tributary. What people come for: Refreshing cool waters; Rope swing for adventurous swimmers. Access is free, and there are no facilities on site. Best visited in late spring through early fall. Always enter water feet-first.
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MILLER POND is a lake destination on Miller Pond State Park in CT near Middletown, Durham. Fee note: None. Confirm current access and conditions before you go — no lifeguards at informal spots.
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At the heart of it all is Roaring Brook, a freshwater stream that winds through a canopy of oak and hemlock, its water running cool and clear even on the muggiest August afternoons.
View detailsGlobe Hollow Swimming Area at 100 Spring Street in Manchester, Connecticut is a town-operated outdoor swim facility on Globe Hollow Reservoir — lifeguarded in summer, not a wild creek hole. Expect recreation-pass rules and seasonal hours from Manchester Leisure & Recreation.
View detailsChaplin Natchaug River Swimming Spots is a river destination on Natchaug River in CT near Hartford, Willimantic, Chaplin. Fee note: No. Confirm current access and conditions before you go — no lifeguards at informal spots.
View detailsMount Hope Brook near Hartford, Connecticut is a brook swimming spot on Mount Hope Brook. What people come for: Crystal-clear waters; Tranquil woodland setting. Access is free, and there are no facilities on site. Best visited in Summer. Check water depth and current before entering.
View detailsSatans Kingdom near Hartford, Connecticut is a river swimming spot on West Branch Farmington River. What people come for: Refreshing West Branch Farmington River; Tubing and swimming opportunities. Expect a fee of about $18, and you will find restrooms, picnic areas and camping. Best visited in May through September. Wear a properly fitted life jacket or PFD while tubing or swimming.
View detailsA 15-minute hike along uneven woodland trails separates you from the parking area and the outside world, and by the time the water comes into view.
View detailsScantic Rapids near Hazardville, Connecticut is a river swimming spot on Scantic River. What people come for: Dynamic sliding rocks; Seasonal water flow. Access is free, and there are no facilities on site. Best visited in Spring through early summer. Check water levels before visiting.
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Indian Well State Park in Shelton, Connecticut has a Housatonic River beach for swimming plus waterfall and picnic areas. CT-plated vehicles park free; out-of-state parking fees apply (about $10 weekday / $15 weekend) — confirm ctparks.com.
View detailsCentered on a historic iron bridge spanning the Weekeepeemee River, this unofficial, fee-free gathering spot draws swimmers, jumpers, and rope-swing enthusiasts looking for a genuine, unmanicured slice of New England summer.
View detailsFlowing through the towns of Norwalk, Westport, and Weston, the river carves a path through dense green canopy and mossy rock formations before spilling out from the base of a dam into a natural pool that has drawn swimmers for generations.
View detailsBrowse by water type in Connecticut — each link opens the full state directory for that category.
Looking for rivers near you to swim? A river swimming hole is moving water deep enough to swim or wade — often a bend, pool, or slack-water pocket. Browse river spots below, or start with GPS near-me sorting, then confirm access and flow the day you go.
Looking for swimming creeks near you? Creek swimming holes are smaller stream and brook pools — usually cooler, shallower, and tucked into forests or hollows. Use the list below (or near-me GPS), then confirm water level after rain.
Waterfall swimming holes are plunge pools and cascades fed by falls. Flow is often seasonal; check depth, cold water, and slippery rock before you enter.
Looking for swimming lakes near you? Only swim where it is allowed — many reservoirs and drinking-water lakes ban body contact. This catalog is lakes, ponds, and reservoirs with documented public swim access: beaches, fees, and no-swim warnings on each listing.
People search for this in a dozen different ways. Here is what each one means around New London, with the counts from our directory.
Highlights and safety notes from our listings — not third-party reviews. Report outdated info or share a tip.
New London is a practical launch point for day trips to natural swimming holes in Connecticut. Within about 80 miles you will find 12 mapped destinations in our directory, starting with Salmon River about 23 mi from the city center.
The mix spans river, creek, waterfall, lake — related terms searchers use include creek swimming, river swimming holes, spring-fed pools, and wild swimming.
Every card on this page is a verified directory entry in Connecticut with map coordinates. We measure straight-line distance from the New London city center — not driving time. A creek swimming hole 12 miles away on forest roads can take longer than a river access point 20 miles away on a highway.
Wild swimming near New London includes informal river bends, spring-fed pools, waterfall plunge pools, and developed park swim areas. Rules, fees, and seasonal access differ by land manager. Never assume swimming is allowed without checking the listing and posted signs the day you visit.
Natural water near New London changes after rain, snowmelt, and summer heat. Cold shock, currents, submerged rocks, and bacteria are real risks at creek and river swimming holes — most sites have no lifeguard. Check weather and local advisories before you enter the water.
We publish original planning copy, safety tips, and last-updated dates on each listing. See our editorial policy for sourcing standards, or contact us if access or conditions have changed.
Near New London, Connecticut, our directory lists 12 natural swimming holes within about 80 miles — mainly 5 rivers, 3 creeks, 1 waterfall, and 3 lakes. Each listing links to directions, fee notes, and safety context. Use near me on your phone for live distance sorting from your location.
This page shows 12 mapped natural swim spots within about 80 miles of New London. The full Connecticut directory may list additional holes farther out or awaiting coordinates. Counts update as we verify new listings.
The closest open mapped spot to New London is Salmon River (23 mi straight-line). Open that listing for driving directions, access notes, and current fee information — unofficial holes can change without notice.
8 listings note free or no-fee access; 2 require a fee or park admission; 2 have variable or unverified fees. Open each spot page for current fee details.
Near New London, documented water types include rivers, creeks, waterfall, lakes. A swimming hole is a natural outdoor pool in moving or spring-fed water — not a chlorinated pool. Filter by type on the Connecticut state page or open each card for water-body details.
Late spring through early fall is the usual swim season near New London, but snowmelt, drought, and weekend crowds change conditions week to week. Check each listing before you drive — high water after storms can make creeks and rivers unsafe.
Wild swimming near New London carries real risks: cold water, currents, rocks, and no lifeguards at most unofficial sites. Check weather, water level, and posted warnings the day you visit. Read our river safety guide and each listing's safety section before entering the water.
Within about 80 miles of New London we map 3 creek swimming holes. The closest is Cotton Hollow, about 34 mi out. Also searched as: swimming creeks near me, water streams near me.
Within about 80 miles of New London we map 5 river swimming holes. The closest is Salmon River, about 23 mi out. Also searched as: rivers you can swim in near me.
Within about 80 miles of New London we map 3 swimming lakes. The closest is Miller Pond, about 30 mi out. Also searched as: lakes to swim near me, swimmable lakes near me.
Within about 80 miles of New London we map 1 waterfall plunge pool. The closest is Indian Well State Park, about 57 mi out. Also searched as: waterfalls to swim in near me.
Listing data last updated across spots on this page.
Guides: Connecticut swimming holes guide · Swimming holes near Hartford