Chasing Waterfalls in a Vermont Summer

Vermont summers are short and precious, and when the heat arrives, locals head for the water. Tucked into the folds of the mountains are countless waterfalls and swimming holes — cold, clear, and often reached by a short walk through the woods.

Fed by mountain streams, these pools stay bracingly cold even in August, which is exactly their appeal on a sweltering day. Some are gentle cascades with a calm basin below; others are rushing chutes and jumps for the bold. Many are unmarked, passed down by word of mouth and guarded a little jealously by the families who've swum there for generations.

Their unofficial nature is part of the charm and part of the responsibility. Regulars preach a simple code: pack out your trash, respect the neighbors and the parking, and be honest about your own limits, since currents and slick rocks turn dangerous fast. Treated with care, these hidden pools are among the purest pleasures a Vermont summer offers — a cold plunge in the woods, a warm rock to dry on, and the whole afternoon to do it again.