It would be easy to write-off Swiftwater Falls as a waterfall lacking originality, power, or beauty. However, Swiftwater Falls still offers a complete package—a completely worthwhile visit once you consider all the perks. In the background of these falls is a scenic covered bridge, and below the falls lies one of the largest waterfall swimming holes in New England. With its western exposure, the pool soaks up the sun, often heating the water to tolerable temperatures—warm enough to some as early as May. The Wild Ammonoosuc River drops twice here, with both falls of the “block” style. The bottom block is the tallest, at 8 feet, and the widest, at about 45 feet. You will notice that on the last cascade, only the bottom half of the cascade is whitewater, which is highly irregular. The Wild Ammonoosuc River slips for the first half then ripples into whitewater, which carries on into the pool, creating a natural waterslide perfect for anyone confident of their swimming abilities. The perfect time to visit this waterfall is during an afternoon on a hot and sunny summer day. Although this is still northern New England, and many will still find the water temperature chilly, it will be considerably warmer than most swimming holes in the region. There is fairly good fishing here too—don’t forget your fishing pole!

From the parking lot, walk towards the covered bridge and the river to view the falls. A view of the bridge with the falls set in the foreground can be seen by walking down to the rocky beach outlining the swimming hole.

Directions for this particular waterfall are not posted online. Please see directions in our published guidebook, New England Waterfalls: A Guide to More Than 400 Cascades And Waterfalls, or you can email us and we will happily provide them to you.

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