Maine has lakes and Maine has ocean, but some of the best swimming in the state happens in places you have to walk to. Waterfall plunge pools. Granite river gorges that were carved by 10,000 years of snowmelt. Deep blue holes below cascades with cliff ledges to jump from. If you have already done the lake swim circuit, this is the next move.
The swimming holes in this guide range from “pull off the road and walk 200 feet” to “hike 3 miles on a rough trail.” Some are famous and busy on summer weekends. Some you will probably have to yourself even in August. All of them are cold. Welcome to Maine.
Waterfall swimming holes kill people almost every summer in New England. The most common causes are shallow-water diving (unseen rocks), strong currents below falls (hydraulics hold you under), and cold-water shock. Never dive into any pool without first checking depth from the shore. Never swim directly below a waterfall; the churning water is not buoyant and can pull you down. If you are not a strong swimmer, stay in shallow water. Water temperatures in most Maine swimming holes stay in the 50s and 60s even in August.
The 12 Best Swimming Holes in Maine
| Name | Nearest Town | Type | Depth | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frenchman's Hole | Newry | Waterfall pool | 10+ ft | Short walk |
| Coos Canyon | Byron | Gorge/cascade | Variable | Roadside |
| Smalls Falls | Township E | Multi-tier waterfall | 5-15 ft | Short walk |
| Screw Auger Falls | Grafton Notch | Cascade + pools | Shallow (danger) | Roadside |
| Moxie Falls | The Forks | Tall waterfall | Deep pool (downstream) | 0.5 mi walk |
| Gulf Hagas | Brownville | Multi-falls canyon | Variable | Long hike (4+ mi) |
| Angel Falls | Township D | Tall waterfall | Shallow below | Short walk |
| Jewel Falls | Portland | Urban cascade | Wading | Short walk |
| Snow Falls | West Paris | Roadside cascade | Moderate | Roadside |
| Houston Brook Falls | Pleasant Ridge | Waterfall pool | Moderate | Short walk |
| Step Falls | Newry | Multi-tier cascade | Variable | Short walk |
| Rattlesnake Pool | Stow | Gorge pool | Deep | 1 mi hike |
1. Frenchman’s Hole
Location: Newry | Best for: Cliff jumping, deep pool swimming
Frenchman’s Hole is the most famous swimming hole in Maine, and the fame is deserved. A broad waterfall drops about 15 feet into a deep blue plunge pool below Bull Branch, just off Route 2 in Newry. The pool is big enough for 20 people to swim comfortably, deep enough to jump from the granite ledges on either side, and cold enough that the first 30 seconds make you question your choices.
On summer weekends the parking lot fills by 10 AM. Come early. Come on a weekday if you can.
Access: Parking lot off Sunday River Road in Newry, then a 5-minute walk down a well-worn trail.
Frenchman’s Hole is one of the few swimming holes in Maine where the water is legitimately warm enough to stay in for more than 10 minutes. The pool is shallow enough to warm in the sun, and Bull Branch runs warmer than most mountain streams because it drains sunlit meadows higher up. On a hot day in August this is as good as Maine swimming gets.
2. Coos Canyon
Location: Byron | Best for: Family swimming, amateur gold panning
Coos Canyon sits directly alongside Route 17 between Rumford and Rangeley. The Swift River cuts through pink granite here, forming a series of pools, chutes, and small cascades. No hike required. Pull into the roadside parking and walk down the granite slabs to the water.
The canyon has wading areas for kids, deeper pools for swimming, and a legendary small waterfall ideal for sliding down on your rear. It is also Maine’s most famous spot for amateur gold panning. Yes, there is gold in this river. No, you will not find enough to quit your job.
Access: Free roadside pull-off on Route 17 in Byron. Picnic tables and a small visitor information kiosk.
3. Smalls Falls
Location: Township E (near Rangeley) | Best for: Multi-level swimming and jumping
Smalls Falls is a four-tier waterfall on Sandy River just off Route 4 south of Rangeley. Each tier has a pool. The upper pools have higher jumping ledges (up to 30 feet, which is too high, people die from this, do not do it). The middle pools are the sweet spot: 10 to 15 feet deep with safer 6-to-10-foot ledges to jump from.
The state maintains a small rest area with a footbridge at the top. Walk upstream along the granite bank to find the swimming pools. The whole thing is very exposed to sun, which means the granite gets hot and the water stays cold.
Access: Route 4 rest area, Township E. Sign is small and easy to miss.
People die jumping at Smalls Falls almost every summer. The upper tiers have shallow, rocky landings that look deep from above. Do not jump from any ledge you have not personally verified by swimming underneath and feeling the bottom. The state has installed warning signs for a reason.
4. Screw Auger Falls (Grafton Notch)
Location: Grafton Notch | Best for: Wading and sightseeing
Screw Auger Falls in Grafton Notch State Park (not to be confused with the other Screw Auger Falls at Gulf Hagas) is a photogenic 25-foot cascade that has carved deep potholes in the granite bedrock of the Bear River. The small pools above and below the main drop are shallow and rocky, suitable for wading but not real swimming. People still swim here because the setting is gorgeous. Just do not expect a deep plunge.
Access: Route 26 in Grafton Notch. Day-use fee for the state park. Short, paved walk from the parking lot.
The potholes at Screw Auger Falls have killed visitors. The stone is polished smooth by water and gets extraordinarily slippery. Stay back from the edge. Do not wade in the main cascade. The shallow-looking pools have strong currents that have pulled adults under.
5. Moxie Falls
Location: The Forks | Best for: Below-falls swimming
Moxie Falls is one of the tallest in New England, a 90-foot plunge on Moxie Stream. You cannot (and should not) swim directly below the falls. But below the main drop, Moxie Stream runs through a narrow gorge with several deep pools that are excellent swimming. The water is icy cold year-round, even in August.
A 0.5-mile well-maintained trail leads to the viewing platforms. From the lower platform, you can scramble down to the stream. Use caution; the descent is steep and slippery. Better access to the swimming pools is from the Moxie Stream downstream, off the Lake Moxie Road.
Access: Moxie Falls trailhead off Lake Moxie Road (FR 81) in The Forks.
6. Gulf Hagas
Location: Brownville (Katahdin Iron Works) | Best for: Adventurous day-hike swim
Gulf Hagas is called the “Grand Canyon of Maine,” which overstates things but gets the idea across. It is a 2.5-mile slate canyon cut by the West Branch Pleasant River, with six named waterfalls along its length. Most of them have swimming pools below. The full loop is about 8 miles round trip through the 100-Mile Wilderness.
Screw Auger Falls (the Gulf Hagas one, not the Grafton Notch one) has a gorgeous deep plunge pool. Billings Falls and Buttermilk Falls also have swimming access. The Jaws is a narrow chute where the river squeezes between stone walls 25 feet apart.
Access: Katahdin Iron Works Road via North Maine Woods gate ($12/day non-resident use fee). Hike in via the Gulf Hagas Trail or Rim Trail. Carry water, food, and expect to be out for 5 to 8 hours depending on how far you go.
7. Angel Falls
Location: Township D | Best for: Photography + wading
Angel Falls drops 90 feet down a rock face in a thin vertical ribbon, especially striking in late spring when water flow peaks. The pool below is shallow and rocky; it is not a great swimming pool. But on a hot summer day, the spray zone is refreshingly cool and the setting feels remote.
Getting there is part of the experience. The gravel forest road is rough. The trailhead parking is small. The walk from the trailhead is about 15 minutes on a trail that crosses a stream three times (you will get wet feet).
Access: Berdeen Stream Road (gravel) in Township D, west of Rangeley. High-clearance vehicle recommended.
8. Jewel Falls (Portland)
Location: Portland | Best for: Quick dip near the city
Jewel Falls is hidden inside the Fore River Sanctuary in Portland, a few minutes from Rosemont or the I-295 corridor. A small cascade drops into a modest pool tucked into the woods. It is not a destination swim. But for Portland residents who want to cool off without driving an hour, it is the option that exists.
Water quality is not tested regularly. Use your judgment, especially after heavy rain (urban runoff). Wading is more practical than swimming.
Access: Fore River Sanctuary parking on Rowe Avenue, Portland. 0.5-mile walk to the falls.
9. Snow Falls
Location: West Paris | Best for: Roadside swim on Route 26
Snow Falls on the Little Androscoggin River is roadside-accessible off Route 26 between Paris and Bethel. The falls are modest (a series of cascades rather than a single drop), but the pools below have good swimming depth and a nice sandy gravel bottom. It is a reliable swim spot for anyone driving between Portland and the White Mountains.
Access: Small roadside park on Route 26 in West Paris. Clear signage. Free parking.
10. Houston Brook Falls
Location: Pleasant Ridge Plantation | Best for: Lesser-known pool swimming
Houston Brook Falls is a 40-foot cascade in the western mountains that locals know about and most tourists do not. The pool at the base is deep enough for swimming and receives a constant curtain of water from the falls above. The walk in is easy: 10 minutes on a flat trail.
Access: Forest road off Route 201A in Pleasant Ridge. Trailhead is unmarked but well-worn.
11. Step Falls Preserve
Location: Newry | Best for: Tiered cascade with multiple pools
Step Falls is a 250-foot series of cascades and pools on Wight Brook, protected by The Nature Conservancy. It is one of the most photogenic cascades in Maine, and several of the pools are swimmable. Smaller and quieter than neighboring Screw Auger Falls. The granite slabs are perfect for laying out to dry.
The trail climbs gently for about 0.5 miles from the parking lot, paralleling the brook. Each pool has slightly different character; the upper pools are smaller and shallower, the middle pools are the best for a real dip.
Access: Step Falls Preserve parking lot on Route 26 in Newry, just south of Grafton Notch State Park. Free. Donation box at the trailhead.
12. Rattlesnake Pool
Location: Stow | Best for: Quintessential Maine gorge swim
Rattlesnake Pool in the Cold River Trail system near Stow is a deep green pool at the base of a narrow gorge. Calendar-perfect. The water is cold even in late summer because Cold River is aptly named, but the pool is deep enough for real swimming and a modest ledge jump.
The hike in is about a mile through White Mountain National Forest. Make it a day: do Rattlesnake Pool plus Rattlesnake Flume (just downstream) plus the Basin Rim Trail if you want a longer hike.
Access: Stone House Road (dirt) in Stow. Trailhead at the end of the road. White Mountain National Forest parking pass required.
What to Bring
- Water shoes or old sneakers: Granite and smooth rock get slippery. Sharp rocks and broken glass are present at some popular spots. Do not swim barefoot.
- A quick-dry towel: Microfiber packs small and dries faster than cotton.
- A waterproof bag or bin: For your phone, keys, and snacks while you swim.
- Layers: The walk in can be warm. After swimming in 58-degree water, you will shiver until the sun warms you back up.
- Sunscreen: Most swimming holes are in granite bowls with no shade. You will burn faster than you expect.
- Trash bag: Pack out everything. Maine swimming holes stay beautiful only because everyone pitches in.
Best Time of Year
June: High water from snowmelt. Waterfalls are at their most impressive. Water temperatures are brutal (mid-50s). For photographers, not for swimmers.
July: Water levels drop, visibility improves, water warms into the low 60s at the most exposed pools. Peak swimming season begins mid-July.
August: The best swimming month. Warmest water, lowest flows (which makes pools clearer and safer), long days, and every swimming hole is reliable.
September: Crowds thin dramatically after Labor Day. Water is still swimmable through mid-month but colds off quickly. Foliage begins at higher elevations and frames the pools beautifully.
Rain changes everything. After heavy rain, flows can double or triple within hours, turning gentle pools into dangerous currents and muddy brown water. Check stream gauge data (USGS) or simply avoid swimming holes for 24 to 48 hours after significant rainfall.
What is the best swimming hole in Maine?
Frenchman's Hole in Newry is the most popular and arguably the best for a combination of access, water depth, and setting. For a more rugged adventure, the pools at Gulf Hagas are outstanding. Smalls Falls has the most variety with multiple tiers, but it is also the site of frequent accidents, so caution matters there.
Are swimming holes in Maine safe?
They can be, with precautions. Most injuries and deaths happen from shallow-water diving, swimming below active waterfalls, or cold-water shock. Check depth before jumping, stay away from the base of large falls, and do not swim alone in remote spots. Cold water shock is real even in August; the water in most Maine swimming holes stays in the 50s and 60s.
Are there free swimming holes in Maine?
Yes, almost all of them. Frenchman's Hole, Coos Canyon, Smalls Falls, Snow Falls, Houston Brook Falls, Step Falls Preserve, and Angel Falls are all free. Grafton Notch State Park (Screw Auger Falls) charges a day-use fee. Gulf Hagas requires a North Maine Woods gate fee. White Mountain National Forest (Rattlesnake Pool) requires a parking pass.
How cold is the water at Maine swimming holes?
Most are in the mid-50s to low-60s Fahrenheit even in August. The coldest are deep, shaded pools at Gulf Hagas and Moxie Falls (50s all summer). The warmest are shallow, sunlit pools like Frenchman's Hole and Snow Falls (occasionally low-70s on hot August afternoons). Plan to swim for short bursts with warm-up breaks between.
Can you jump off the rocks at Maine swimming holes?
At some, yes. Frenchman's Hole and Smalls Falls have popular jumping spots. The risks are real: shallow water, hidden rocks, strong currents below the surface. Always check depth by swimming under the jump spot first. Never jump from higher than 10 to 15 feet without verified deep water and clear landing zones. People die every year in New England from swimming-hole jumping accidents.
What time of year is best for swimming holes in Maine?
Mid-July through August is prime. June has the strongest flows but coldest water. September is pleasant but cools off quickly. Early in the season, pools can be dangerously high and fast; late in the season, flows drop but pools stay swimmable through Labor Day.
Do I need special gear for swimming holes?
Water shoes are the most useful item. The rocks are slippery and sometimes sharp. A quick-dry towel, a waterproof bag for your phone, and a warm layer for after your swim are the other essentials. Most swimming holes require a short walk on a trail, so pack accordingly.
Image Credits
- Screw Auger Falls (hero): Doug Kerr (Dougtone), CC-BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Moxie Falls: Andy Thrasher, CC0 Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
- Buttermilk Falls, Gulf Hagas: Andythrasher, CC-BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Coos Canyon: Magicpiano, CC-BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Smalls Falls: Tim Pierce, Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
