Waterfalls and Swimming Holes Near the Mad River Valley and Waterbury
This region runs from Warren and Waitsfield through Waterbury and into the Middlebury river corridor.
Use it when you want Mad River swims, reservoir beaches, and a few gorge or waterfall stops on the same outing. Stowe and Smugglers' Notch have their own separate page, so this list stays focused on the Mad River and Waterbury side of the range.
#1 Warren Falls — Warren
Swim: allowed. Roadside-access waterfall and swimming area on the Mad River in Warren, Vermont (Mad River Valley), with…
- Swim
- Allowed
- Walk
- 5 min
#2 Lareau Swim Hole — Waitsfield
Short roadside approach on the Mad River—plan for cold water, mixed use (waders, floaters, jumpers), and summer crowds.
- Swim
- Allowed
- Walk
- Often a short walk from typical parking to the river edge
#3 Waterbury Reservoir Swim Area — Waterbury Center
Freshwater reservoir swim area with official state-park context and a conservative access pin.
- Swim
- Freshwater swimming
- Walk
- 5 min
#4 Little River State Park Swim Beach — Waterbury
A Waterbury Reservoir swim stop with formal park access.
- Swim
- Sandy / reservoir beach
- Walk
- 2-5 min
#5 Moretown Gorge — Moretown
Moretown Gorge is a Vermont swim-access page in the Mad River Valley with a Mad River Valley gorge-pool page with…
- Swim
- Mixed wading and swimming
- Walk
- 5 min
#6 East Middlebury Gorge — Middlebury
Otter Creek gorge at the VT-125 bridge corridor—informal shoulder context, not a staffed beach; cold water and slick bedrock.
- Swim
- Not recommended
- Walk
- Short river-edge approaches are described regionally
#7 Middlebury Gorge — Middlebury
An Addison County gorge page that stays waterfall-first.
- Swim
- Not recommended
- Walk
- 5-10 min
#8 Dog River Jacuzzi Natural Area — Northfield
Freshwater river swimming hole with official access from Vermont River Conservancy and a conservative parking pin.
- Swim
- Freshwater swimming
- Walk
- 5 min
#9 Punch Bowl Swimming Hole — Waitsfield
A well-known Mad River Valley swim spot with access caveats.
- Swim
- Swimming and sliding in lower flow
- Walk
- 5 min
#10 Mad River Path (West Greenway) — Waitsfield
Meadow Road trailhead near Route 100—walk the West Greenway and pick your own Mad River access points along the corridor.
- Swim
- Allowed
- Walk
- Minutes from the trailhead to first river views; longer if you explore several stops along the path