Lareau Swim Hole
Conditions
Planning frame for a Waitsfield-area Mad River swim: air and rain, a simple river-level check from a gage downstream in the valley, people and parking pressure, and clear limits on what that number can and cannot tell you.
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
Partly Cloudy, 31°F
National Weather Service forecast, updated Apr 6, 10:43 PM.
Rain read
Rain chance in the next several hours may reach about 53% in that outlook.
Compare with the forecast you use for travel.
River flow
538 cfs
MAD RIVER NEAR MORETOWN, VT · updated Apr 6, 10:00 PM · USGS
Clarity
Storm-dependent
Heavy rain often adds color and debris even when air clears.
Crowd & parking
Summer pressure
Fair-weather weekends mean more cars and people at the banks.
Approach footing
Uneven, slick when wet
Short walk still crosses rough ground and slick rock at the edge.
Valley pulse
Typical northern forest
Songbirds and river-edge life are common in season.
Timing
Earlier often calmer
Midday heat and weekends stack people and cars.
Mosquitoes
Seasonal
Moving water helps; repellent still smart in June evenings.
Ticks
Check after
Grass and brush near banks still carry ticks—do a day-end check.
Daily pulse
Match forecast, the live river graph, and what you see at the bank
Cold water is normal. After rain, expect more current and less forgiving footing. The live graph shows how much water is moving through the Mad River lower in the valley (Moretown)—it helps you spot a rising or falling trend, not how deep or safe it is at Lareau.
Air & rain
| Time | Temp | Precip |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 PM | 31°F | 7% chance |
| 10:00 PM | 30°F | 10% chance |
| 11:00 PM | 30°F | 13% chance |
| 12:00 AM | 29°F | 12% chance |
| 1:00 AM | 28°F | 11% chance |
| 2:00 AM | 28°F | 10% chance |
| 3:00 AM | 26°F | 17% chance |
| 4:00 AM | 26°F | 23% chance |
| 5:00 AM | 26°F | 30% chance |
| 6:00 AM | 25°F | 36% chance |
| 7:00 AM | 27°F | 43% chance |
| 8:00 AM | 27°F | 53% chance |
Tonight
Partly Cloudy then Chance Snow Showers
~25°F
Tuesday
Snow Showers Likely
~37°F
Tuesday Night
Mostly Clear
~16°F
Wednesday
Sunny
~46°F
Wednesday Night
Clear
~30°F
Pair regional radar with the on-page hourly/daily table when NWS data loads. Live forecast: National Weather Service.
Water
Where the reading comes from
Mad River near Moretown, VT (USGS 04288000)
The live value is from the Mad River near Moretown, VT (04288000)—downstream of Waitsfield in the same valley. Think of it as a valley-wide volume reading, not a tape measure at Lareau. Higher numbers usually mean more water is moving through the whole river; lower numbers usually mean less. It cannot tell you depth, speed, or whether today is safe—always read the water where you stand before anyone enters.
How to use it
538 cfs
MAD RIVER NEAR MORETOWN, VT · USGS · updated Apr 6, 10:00 PM
Clarity
Clears between storms
Turbidity and debris rise after heavy rain.
Flow trend
Watch the live curve
A steep rise usually means more current all along this stretch, including at Lareau—pair it with color, sound, and debris at the edge.
Rain outlook
Check your forecast
Thunderstorms can spike small streams quickly.
Recent rain
Weigh gage + bank
Mud lines, color, and sound are field clues—use them.
People
Parking
Shoulder pressure possible
Route 100 is a working highway—park only where clearly allowed.
Approach
Short but can crowd
Bank space tightens when many groups share the same ledges.
In the water
Mixed use
Floaters, waders, and people using ledges may overlap—communicate and give space.
Approach
Bank footing
Uneven rock and gravel
Spray and algae keep stone slick—shoes with grip beat smooth soles.
If the river looks louder, browner, or faster than you expected, pause at the bank and reassess before you commit kids or floaters to deeper water.
Cobble, ledge, and mud patches mix along informal paths; wet rock near the edge is easy to misread.
Closed-toe shoes with real grip; loose sandals are a weak match for slick stone.
Nature
River corridor
Forest-lined valley
Typical northern hardwoods and conifers on cooler slopes.
- Songbirds
- Ducks
- Deer (edge)
Timing
Morning calmer
Midday heat stacks people; evenings can bring bugs.
Observation only—do not approach wildlife closely.
Bugs
Bug watch
Seasonal
Black flies and mosquitoes follow Vermont norms.
Mosquitoes
Possible
Breeze helps; cover or repellent still smart.
Ticks
Present
Stay on obvious paths; check socks and waistbands after.
Sun
UV
Seasonal
River glare adds exposure—hat and sunscreen help.
Midday
High summer arc
Spring and fall mean longer shadows earlier.
Feel
Strong mid-summer
Shade from banks and trees shifts through the day.
Peak window
Roughly 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Planning hint only.