Best Massachusetts Swimming Holes to Visit
This page groups places by region instead of using your exact location. The order is for planning, not a safety score.
Western picks anchor the Berkshires and Pioneer Valley, then the list widens toward Boston-area lake beaches and south-coast freshwater so you can compare realistic drive times from your base.
#1 Umpachene Falls — New Marlborough
Umpachene Falls is a waterfall stop in New Marlborough with separate arrival and falls pins.
- Swim
- Waterfall first
- Walk
- 10 min
#2 Wahconah Falls — Dalton
Wahconah Falls is a waterfall stop in Dalton with separate arrival and falls pins.
- Swim
- Waterfall first
- Walk
- 10 min
#3 Chapel Falls (Chapel Brook Reservation) — Ashfield
Chapel Falls Trail (Chapel Brook Reservation) is a waterfall stop in Ashfield with separate arrival and falls pins.
- Swim
- Waterfall first
- Walk
- 10 min
#4 Tannery Falls — Savoy
Tannery Falls is a waterfall stop in Savoy with separate arrival and falls pins.
- Swim
- Waterfall first
- Walk
- 5-45 min
#5 Trap Falls — Ashby
Trap Falls is a waterfall stop in Ashby with separate arrival and falls pins.
- Swim
- Waterfall first
- Walk
- 10 min
#6 Mystic Lakes / Shannon Beach — Winchester
Mystic Lakes / Shannon Beach is a public lake beach in Winchester with separate parking and shoreline pins.
- Swim
- Allowed
- Walk
- 5 min
#7 Walden Pond — Concord
Walden Pond is a freshwater swim spot in Concord with separate parking and water pins.
- Swim
- Allowed
- Walk
- 5 min
#8 Mashpee-Wakeby Pond — Mashpee
Mashpee-Wakeby Pond is a freshwater swim spot in Mashpee with separate parking and water pins.
- Swim
- Possible depending on conditions
- Walk
- 5 min
#9 Great Herring Pond — Plymouth
Great Herring Pond is a freshwater pond access point in Plymouth with separate parking and shoreline pins.
- Swim
- Allowed
- Walk
- 5 min
#10 Deerfield River at Sunburn Beach — Deerfield area
Deerfield River at Sunburn Beach is a freshwater swim beach in MA with separate parking and water pins (MA, Massachusetts).
- Swim
- Not recommended
- Walk
- 5 min