Swimming Holes

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Explore all Swimming Holes in NYC & Vicinity

These are some of the places where people swim besides well-known beaches, lakes and pools, but the rules change all the time, so check before you go! Most of them are at your own risk and conscience, some have life-guards, some are just local swimming spots and some might be on private property (by now). As with all water/nature fun and adventure, be careful, observe the local laws and ordinances and don’t do anything you will regret later! Take your garbage with you, always, otherwise local towns will close these spots to public! And take water shoes with you, as some of those places are rocky!

Jump to Swimming Holes in: Westchester, Long Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Upstate NY, Pennsylvania

WESTCHESTER

  • McGregor Lake– It’s a private lake beach at first, but if you walk 100 feet across the dam from the parking lot, then there’s also a cute little place to swim right off the hiking trail for regular folks when in a pinch in the summer…

LONG ISLAND

  • North Haven Pond– A small fresh water pond in the Hamptons with a little roped off beach and a rope swing… close enough to ride a bike from Sag Harbor…

CONNECTICUT

  • Enders Falls– Multiple swimming holes and places to jump off the ledges, close to parking too, but be mindful of taking out your trash…
  • Indian Well State Park– Scenic waterfall in a creek with a pool at the bottom…
  • Lake Mashapaug– Lots of swimming opportunities along a very scenic lake…
  • Millers Pond– Lots of little nooks to claim as your own beach as you follow the trail around the lake…

NEW JERSEY

  • Highlands Natural Swimming Pool– Not really a swimming hole, but rather a pool carved into rock and a (rather stiff) fee to enter, but a fun place to go…
  • Hopewell Quarry Swim Club– A swim club in a flooded quarry, worth a visit…
  • Lake Pam– A square lake next to a thruway, some say it was used for skinny-dipping in the 70’s by Stockton students…
  • The Glen @ Delaware Water Gap– Chill on the rocks around the deep pool on Vancampens Creek…
  • Buttermilk Falls A small swimming spot close to the biggest falls in NJ…

UPSTATE NY

  • Peekamoose Blue Hole– A gorgeous blue, clear water, but can get extremely over-crowded on nice days, so a day permit is now required to access…
  • Esopus Creek – Multiple points along the creek on Route 28…
    • Phoenicia– Mostly tubing, but fun none-the-less…rentals near-by…
    • Marbletown Beach– A small beach on Esopus Creek with a play area near-by…
  • Schoharie Creek– Multiple points. Runs parallel to Route 23A…
    • West of Dolan’s Lake Park– Close to Scribner Hollow…
    • Prattsville– A low dam and swimming/sunning on the rocks…
    • Mosquito Point– A fairly deep and “chilly” spot under a bridge to go and freshen up…
  • Catskill Creek– Climb down steep bank to swim from rocks or walk over the bridge to a sandy beach…
  • Diamond Notch Falls– 30 Mins from Hunter and a 0.7 mile hike starting at Spruceton Road…
  • Skinners Falls– Gentle eddies ideal for swimming, or bring cash to rent tubes and float down the river…
  • Split Rock Hole– Start at the Coxing trailhead at Mohonk Preserve, it’s a short hike to the water… lot’s of wildlife around though, so be careful…
  • Kaaterskill Creek– The mascot river of Catskills with falls, but all spots will get really crowded on nice days…
    • Kaaterskill Falls– Swim at the base of a huge waterfall…
    • Fawn’s Leap– Best for daredevils jumping off of 24-ft crag into watery chasm, dangerous, so maybe just watch the nutcases…
    • Rat’s Hole– A good place for families with flat rocks to sunbathe on…
    • Helena Falls– Right next to the bridge, park on the road and don’t block locals…
  • Vernooy Kill Falls– It’s a 2-mile hike, but worth it for cooling off in natural pools at waterfalls afterwards…
  • Stony Kill Falls– Swimming hole is above the falls, but will potentially have nudists…
  • Ore Pit Pond– Roped off area of a quarry with life guards and a diving platform
  • Otter Falls– Hard to find, but worth it. In Catskills not far from parking area for Giant Ledge trailhead…
  • Red Hook Area
    • Stony Creek Falls– At the falls in Tivoli Bay area, swimming is above the falls…
    • Jansen Kill– Popular family swimming hole under a bridge…
  • Beaverkill Campground and Day Use Area– A covered bridge and turquoise waters are great, just be mindful of fishermen…
  • Woodstock Area
    • Little Deep– A local favorite where the Saw Kill river widens a bit… parking at W Hurley-Zena Road…
    • Big Deep– A jade lagoon surrounded by forest, plus a rope swing… parking is a road-side pull-off near Casablanca Ln…
  • Millstream Swimming Hole– Because it’s a private property and was being trashed, the owners (The Woodstock Inn) only allow quests to swim in this gorgeous spot…
  • Mine Kill Waterfalls– A short trek down from the trail head (you really can’t get lost) will reward you with majestic falls and an occasional sunny day rainbow…
  • Colgate Lake– Peaceful and serene with some sandy areas…
  • Enfield Falls @ Robert H Treman State Park– It’s a drive (4hrs), but deserves a mention because it’s a gorgeous life-guarded swimming area right under a waterfall…
  • Ellenville Holes– Several swimming spots either in Sandbury Creek or Rondout Creek in Kerhonkson along Route 209…
  • Marbletown Beach– A small beach on Esopus Creek with a play area near-by…
  • Inn at Leeds– Park on the street in front of Inn at Leeds and pass through a parking lot to some falls/sunning rocks on a creek that lead to a pond…
  • Red Falls– Beautiful low cascading falls with a pool under them, a bit of a hike if parking legally…
  • County Road 2 Bridge– Alternative to Red Falls if too busy…
  • Bastion Falls– Small pool under a pretty waterfall to cool off in, but a tricky road to it as cars pass near and limited parking…
  • Onteora Lake– Long skinny lake stays warm all summer long, swimming is at your own risk as there are no life-guards….
  • Colgate Lake– Swimming allowed as well as paddling, no facilities, near a Dutcher Notch hiking trail and a picnic area…
  • Echo Lake– Hike from the trailhead of Overlook Mountain Trail and turn to Echo Lake Trail to reach this beautiful swimming spot… you’ll pass overlook mountain house ruins too…watch for rattlesnakes like everywhere in the wild…

PENNSYLVANIA

  • Delaware Water Gap
    • Milford Beach– A grassy beach on DWG…
    • Hackers Falls– Some people swim under the falls and even cliff dive, but it’s a questionable activity, otherwise beautiful…

MORE/SIMILAR

  • Swimming Holes @ Outly App– Maps out some more swimming holes on a sleek app, use the water layer…
  • See/Swim– Mapping locations of swimming places around NYC and farther…
  • CT.GOV- List of parks with swimming spots in CT, some are salt water…

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