15 Vermont Swimming Holes And River Walks To Explore With Your Dog
Vermont hides its best water in plain sight: granite ledges tucked behind covered bridges, mountain brooks pooling under maple shade, and lake coves where the water runs clear to the pebbles. Some spots welcome paddling pups right onto the sand.
Others ask you to walk a few hundred feet past the roped beach to find your own private plunge. Knowing which is which makes all the difference.
Here are 15 places worth loading the towels for.
1. Buttermilk Falls, Ludlow
Three waterfalls stacked along Branch Brook mean three chances for your dog to make a splash. Buttermilk Falls sits off Buttermilk Falls Road in Ludlow, inside Okemo State Forest.
The pools below the middle and upper drops run deep enough for real swimming, not just wading. Dogs are allowed leashed or under solid voice control.
A short trail leads from the road to the falls, making this an accessible stop for many hikers.
2. Warren Falls on the Mad River
Ancient boulders sculpted by the Mad River make Warren Falls look almost designed. Find it along VT-100 in Warren, about 3919 on the highway.
Water depth shifts from ankle-deep to roughly ten feet, so there is a comfort zone for every swimmer.
Leashes are required here at all times, no exceptions. Best part?
The walk in from the lot runs only a few hundred feet.
3. Moss Glen Falls Trail, Stowe
A dramatic cascade will stop you mid-sentence. Moss Glen Falls hides a few miles north of Stowe Village in CC Putnam State Forest.
Leashed dogs are welcome on the trail, which climbs to viewpoints worth every step.
The falls are primarily a scenic destination, so enjoy the cascade and surrounding scenery with your dog. Heads up: a second Moss Glen Falls exists in Granville, so double-check your directions.
4. Twenty-Foot Hole Beach, Reading
Tucked off Tyson Road in Reading, this one rewards drivers who slow down and look twice.
The natural pool drops about twenty feet, which explains the name and the local nickname.
Pets are welcome, and the seclusion means fewer crowds jostling for a spot on the rocks.
Bring a towel and a long lead. Quiet water like this practically begs for a lazy afternoon float.
5. Starr Farm Park Beach, Burlington
City dogs deserve big water too. Starr Farm Park in Burlington delivers wide Lake Champlain views right at the shoreline.
Pets are welcome on leash, and the beach gives pups room to run, jump, and belly-flop into the shallows.
Late afternoon light across the lake is genuinely spectacular here.
Pack fresh drinking water, since lake swimming makes dogs surprisingly thirsty and salt-free does not mean thirst-free.
6. Calm Cove at Niquette Bay State Park
Here is the rare treat: an official off-leash swim spot. Calm Cove sits inside Niquette Bay State Park at 274 Raymond Road, Colchester.
Across the park, dogs must remain leashed except at Calm Cove, while the main sand beach stays off-limits to pets.
Calm Cove flips that rule, letting pups paddle freely in Lake Champlain.
Hike the shaded trails first, then reward everyone with a proper swim. Fair trade, honestly.
7. West River Trail at Jamaica State Park
Rail trails and rivers make excellent partners. Jamaika aside, spell it Jamaica: the park sits at 48 Salmon Hole Lane.
Leashed pets roam most of the park, though the marked Salmon Hole swimming area stays off-limits to dogs.
No problem. The West River Trail passes dozens of pebbly pull-offs where the current slows.
Pick a shallow eddy, toss a floating toy, and let the West River do the rest.
8. Quechee Gorge and the Ottauquechee
Locals call Quechee Gorge Vermont’s Grand Canyon, and standing at the bottom you get why.
The gorge area welcomes dogs, and a short walk down drops you at the Ottauquechee River.
Rock formations create pockets of calm water between faster chutes, ideal for careful swimming.
Check the current before letting anyone loose. After rain, this river moves with real purpose, so patience pays off.
9. Village Riverbanks in Woodstock
Not every swim requires a trailhead. The Ottauquechee River curls right through Woodstock Village, with drop-in spots minutes from the town center.
Small sandy banks and waist-deep stretches suit cautious paddlers and confident swimmers alike.
Dogs are welcome at these village river access points.
Grab an iced coffee, stroll the sidewalks, then slip down to the water. Errands and swimming in one loop.
10. Below Martins Mill Covered Bridge, Hartland
Walk past a 19th-century covered bridge and the water appears like a reward.
Martins Mill Covered Bridge stands on Martinsville Road in Hartland, with a swimming hole just beyond it.
The bottom is mostly sand with a few larger rocks, and small waterfalls ring the pool.
Dogs are welcome here. Sandy footing means less paw-scraping, which older swimmers especially appreciate on a long summer day.
11. Kenneth Ward Park, Middlesex
Rock formations here look like nature got creative with a chisel. Kenneth Ward Park in Middlesex pairs those ledges with a small beach and a swimming hole.
Pets are welcome, making it a favorite for two-legged and four-legged regulars.
The water refreshes fast on humid August afternoons.
Wear grippy sandals. Wet river rock gets slick, and steady footing keeps the day cheerful for everyone.
12. Camper’s Beach at Woodford State Park
At Vermont’s highest state park, even the swimming feels lofty. Woodford State Park sits at 142 State Park Road, Woodford.
Mountain views frame the water, and dogs are allowed at the camper’s beach.
Spruce and fir crowd the shoreline, keeping things shady and cool.
Book a campsite and you get sunrise paddles plus a tired, happy dog by dinner. Hard combination to beat.
13. Grand Isle State Park Boat Launch
Lake Champlain stretches out like an inland sea at Grand Isle State Park, 36 East Shore South.
Dogs are welcomed at the boat launch, and a rocky beach sits right alongside it.
Smooth stones make easy footing for wading and fetch in the shallows.
Keep an eye out for passing boats. Timing your swim between launches keeps the whole outing relaxed and drama-free.
14. Silver Lake State Park, Barnard
Motorboats are banned at Silver Lake, and the quiet is the whole point.
The park sits at 20 State Park Beach Road in Barnard, with leashed dogs allowed throughout.
Swimming happens on the outer portions of the lake rather than the main sandy beach.
15. Blush Hill Road Access, Waterbury Reservoir
Clear water, quiet coves, mountains on every side: Waterbury Reservoir earns its fan club.
The Blush Hill Road access in Waterbury allows dogs for swimming and paddleboarding, a welcome contrast to nearby Waterbury Center State Park, where pets are not permitted.
Load a board and let your co-captain ride along.
Arrive early on weekends. Parking fills fast, and the calmest water shows up before the breeze does.
