
The Power Station
Its name tells the story: this informal . There are no signs pointing you here, no lifeguards on duty, and no manicured amenities.
View details24 natural swim spots within about 100 miles of Rutland, Vermont.
This page lists 24 natural swimming holes near Rutland, Vermont, sorted by straight-line distance within about 100 miles — including 11 rivers, 4 creeks, 1 waterfall, and 4 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 Rutland, Vermont, our directory maps 24 natural swimming holes within about 100 miles of the city center — including 11 rivers, 4 creeks, 1 waterfall, and 4 lakes. The closest mapped spot is The Power Station (1.8 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 | Rutland, Vermont |
|---|---|
| Search radius | About 100 miles |
| Mapped spots | 24 |
| Closest listing | The Power Station (1.8 mi) |
| Water types | River (11), Creek (4), Waterfall (1), Lake (4), Quarry (2), Other (2) |
| Typical fees | 14 free · 10 varies |
24 natural swim spots in Vermont, 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.

Its name tells the story: this informal . There are no signs pointing you here, no lifeguards on duty, and no manicured amenities.
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This is not a developed beach with snack bars and crowds. It's the kind of place you discover, return to, and tell only your closest friends about.
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Marble Street Quarry near Vermont is a flooded quarry swimming hole with clear deep water. Access rules vary — confirm it is open to the public before entering; never trespass.
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Clarendon Gorge Swimming Spots, Vermont lies in Vermont, where Mill River moves through a wooded corridor. The Mill River has spent millennia carving its way through the bedrock here, leaving behind a dramatic channel of sculpted stone, deep cold pools, and sheer rock faces that seem almost too.
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This is not a beach with a parking lot and a snack bar. It's the kind of place you find by following a wooded trail, navigating around boulders, and suddenly arriving somewhere that feels entirely your own.
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Buttermilk Falls near Rutland, Vermont is a falls swimming spot on Branch Brook. What people come for: Exciting swimming and jumping activities; Picturesque cascades and lush surroundings. Access is free, and there are no facilities on site. Best visited in Summer. Always check water depth before jumping.
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Poultney River Swimming Holes lies in Vermont. Accessible from pull-outs along Route 140 east of East Poultney, these unofficial .
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Rochester is a river swimming spot on Branch of White River near Rutland, Vermont. What people come for: Cool, clear water ideal for swimming and tubing; Accessible location near Rochester, VT. Best visited in September-October. Always scout the river current and depth before entering.
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Stockbridge Vermont River Swimming Holes near Rutland, Vermont is a river swimming spot on White River, Tweed River. What people come for: Crystal-clear waters of White and Tweed Rivers; Natural rock slides for adventurous fun. Access is free, and there are no facilities on site. Best visited in spring. Always check water conditions and depth before entering.
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QUECHEE GORGE is a river destination on Ottauquechee River in VT near White River, Woodstock, Quechee. Fee note: None. Confirm current access and conditions before you go — no lifeguards at informal spots.
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Carved over millennia by the Black River, this dramatic gorge cuts through ancient rock with a quiet authority, offering one of the most visually striking natural .
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Tolles Hill Dam is a dam swimming spot on Black River near Ludlow, Vermont. What people come for: Cool and refreshing Black River waters; Scenic forested surroundings. Best visited in Summer. Exercise extreme caution around the dam structure.
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Felchville Vermont Swimming Holes lies in Vermont, where North Branch Black River moves through a wooded corridor. These are places you stumble upon and remember for years.
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Fed by the cold, clear waters of Sucker Brook, this unofficial . There are no signs directing you to a snack bar, no lifeguard whistles, no manicured lawns.
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Fed by glacial history and framed by dense, cathedral-like stands of northern hardwoods and conifers, this clear-water pond offers the kind of .
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It's the oldest marble quarry in the United States, carved out of the earth centuries ago and now filled with water so clear and still that the white marble walls shimmer beneath the surface like something out of a dream.
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Nestled in the heart of Vermont's Addison County, the Middlebury area is one of New England's most rewarding destinations for natural swimming.
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This is not a developed recreation area with signage, parking lots, or crowds. It's a simple, roadside pause along Osgood Brook, where the water gathers into a small, inviting pool beside a rustic culvert, framed by the unhurried rhythms of central Vermont's countryside.
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Unofficial and unimproved, this natural gem rewards those willing to navigate tricky backroads and arrive self-sufficient. No signage, no parking lot, no concession stand.
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East Middlebury Gorge is a clear Middlebury River swimming hole in Vermont with rock ledges and cold mountain water near Middlebury and East Middlebury. Free informal access — check depth before any jump.
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Middlebury and Burlington-area Vermont swimming holes include Dog Team Falls and other clear creek pools within day-trip range of Lake Champlain towns. Free informal access — cold mountain water.
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Brockways Mills Gorge is a river swimming spot on Williams River near Brattleboro, Vermont. What people come for: Crystal-clear waters; Dramatic rock formations. Access is free, and there are no facilities on site. Best visited in June to August. Water conditions can change rapidly.
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Floating Bridge lies in Vermont, where Sunset Lake moves through a wooded corridor. The Floating Bridge on Sunset Lake in Brookfield, Vermont is unmistakably the latter.
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Jamaica Vermont Swimming Holes lies in Vermont, where Varies moves through a wooded corridor. Salmon Hole at Jamaica State Park and Pikes Falls.
View detailsBrowse by water type in Vermont — 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.

Looking for quarry swimming near you? Quarry swimming holes are deep, clear pools in former extraction sites. Depth can change suddenly — never dive without checking, respect posted access rules, and prefer documented public sites over fenced pits.

Mixed or unique water types that do not fit a single category — review each listing for access and conditions.
People search for this in a dozen different ways. Here is what each one means around Rutland, with the counts from our directory.
Highlights and safety notes from our listings — not third-party reviews. Report outdated info or share a tip.
Rutland is a practical launch point for day trips to natural swimming holes in Vermont. Within about 100 miles you will find 24 mapped destinations in our directory, starting with The Power Station about 1.8 mi from the city center.
The mix spans river, creek, waterfall, lake, quarry, other — 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 Vermont with map coordinates. We measure straight-line distance from the Rutland 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 Rutland 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 Rutland 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 Rutland, Vermont, our directory lists 24 natural swimming holes within about 100 miles — mainly 11 rivers, 4 creeks, 1 waterfall, and 4 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 24 mapped natural swim spots within about 100 miles of Rutland. The full Vermont directory may list additional holes farther out or awaiting coordinates. Counts update as we verify new listings.
The closest open mapped spot to Rutland is The Power Station (1.8 mi straight-line). Open that listing for driving directions, access notes, and current fee information — unofficial holes can change without notice.
14 listings note free or no-fee access; 10 have variable or unverified fees. Open each spot page for current fee details.
Near Rutland, documented water types include rivers, creeks, waterfall, lakes, quarrys, others. A swimming hole is a natural outdoor pool in moving or spring-fed water — not a chlorinated pool. Filter by type on the Vermont state page or open each card for water-body details.
Late spring through early fall is the usual swim season near Rutland, 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 Rutland 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 100 miles of Rutland we map 4 creek swimming holes. The closest is The Power Station, about 1.8 mi out. Also searched as: swimming creeks near me, water streams near me.
Within about 100 miles of Rutland we map 11 river swimming holes. The closest is Clarendon Gorge Swimming Spots, Vermont, about 6.5 mi out. Also searched as: rivers you can swim in near me.
Within about 100 miles of Rutland we map 4 swimming lakes. The closest is Glen Lake, about 3.7 mi out. Also searched as: lakes to swim near me, swimmable lakes near me.
Within about 100 miles of Rutland we map 2 quarry swimming holes. The closest is Marble Street Quarry, about 4.5 mi out. Also searched as: quarry lake near me.
Listing data last updated across spots on this page.
Guides: Vermont swimming holes guide · Swimming holes near Burlington · Swimming holes near St. Johnsbury · Swimming holes near Wilmington