Map — Bristol Falls | New England Swimming Holes

Do not block travel lanes, farm gates, or emergency access.

Start here

Coordinates point to the primary access context—match satellite imagery and signage before you unload.

Parking

Primary context is the New Haven River falls/pool along the Lincoln Gap Road (VT-116 → Lincoln Gap Rd) corridor in Bristol: community trip reports describe informal shoulder pull-offs near the gorge—verify current striping, land posting, farm gates, and winter road status before you park. This is natural river-bank access, not a staffed swim facility. If Lincoln Gap is closed for winter, reroute—do not invent new pull-offs on posted land.

Directions

Navigate to Bristol, Vermont. Use the button below for turn-by-turn to the pinned coordinates.

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Explore nearby spots

Other places in the catalog you may want to compare for access, water, and conditions.

Bartlett FallsSwim: not recommended. Informal (unguarded). Risk: high. Roadside waterfall and pool on Lincoln Road near Bristol—cold water, slick rock, strong currents after rain, and jump-related risk; not a managed beach.View guide →
East Middlebury GorgeSwim: not recommended. Road maps show the **Middlebury Gorge** bridge on Vermont Route 125 (East Main Street) over Otter Creek. Regional hiking descriptions reference informal shoulder parking and short river-edge approaches—**verify** current VTrans striping, town posting, neighbor driveways, and safe pull-off space the day you visit. Not a staffed swim beach. Cold mountain-fed water; currents strengthen after rain. Bedrock ledges stay slippery; depth varies by pool. There are no lifeguards—enter only if your group can self-rescue and supervise children within reach in moving water.View guide →
Texas FallsSwim: not possible. Not a swimming destination—entering the gorge for swimming would be extreme—fast water and slippery rock. Short GMNF picnic walk to a rocky gorge on Hancock Branch; viewing from designated paths only.View guide →
Falls of LanaSwim: not recommended. Not appropriate at the main drops; risk is high at main tiers—wading only in calm, shallow pockets you verify. Multi-tier falls on Sucker Brook from the Falls of Lana trailhead (Route 53) near Salisbury—real hike, cold water, slick stone.View guide →
Lareau Swim HoleSwim: allowed. Easy Mad River stop off Vermont Route 100 near Waitsfield: short walk from the pin, cold water, and busy fair-weather weekends. Families wade in some spots while others use ledges for jumping; tubes and floats show up when the river looks gentle. After rain, expect stronger current, more color, and slick rock.View guide →
Mad River Path – West GreenwaySwim: allowed. Waitsfield’s Mad River Path (West Greenway): park at the Meadow Road trailhead near Route 100, take a short flat walk on a multi-access river corridor—not one single swim hole. Pebble and gravel entries, shallow to moderate wading, and gentle current in many reaches when the river is low; cold water, no lifeguards, and footing that changes by stop.View guide →