Cliff Diving & Jumping in Vermont
31 spots across 24 areas. Pick a town to explore, or get the app for the full map.
→ The best cliff jumping spots in Vermont, ranked
Vermont packs more classic swimming holes per mile than almost anywhere in New England, and several double as jump spots. The Dorset Marble Quarry — America's first commercial marble quarry, now a deep spring-fed pool — is the icon (privately managed in season: paid parking on Kelly Road, waiver required, follow posted rules). Clarendon Gorge's rope swing and pools sit under the Long Trail's swinging suspension bridge off Route 103, and the New Haven River at Bristol Falls, the Bolton Potholes, and Warren Falls on the Mad River round out the classics. Green Mountain water is cold even in August, and many holes sit on private or conservation land — parking rules are enforced, so read the signs.
Bradford1 spot
Bristol2 spots
Dorset1 spot
East Dorset1 spot
Fair Haven1 spot
Fairlee1 spot
Hancock1 spot
Johnson2 spots
Killington1 spot
Ludlow3 spots
Middlebury1 spot
Morristown1 spot
New Haven1 spot
North Clarendon1 spot
Richmond1 spot
Rutland1 spot
Salisbury1 spot
South Burlington1 spot
Stowe3 spots
Strafford2 spots
Thetford Center1 spot
Warren1 spot
Windham1 spot
Windsor1 spot
Cliff jumping in Vermont — FAQ
Where is the best cliff jumping in Vermont?
The Dorset Marble Quarry is the best known, with ledges at multiple heights over deep quarry water. Clarendon Gorge (rope swing, pools under the Long Trail suspension bridge), Bristol Falls on the New Haven River, and the Bolton Potholes are the other favorites.
Is the Dorset Quarry free?
Swimming is managed by the private owners in season — parking at the Kelly Road lot runs about $15 per car with a required waiver/wristband, and parking on Route 30 itself is prohibited and patrolled. Posted rules about jumping change, so follow current signage.
How cold are Vermont swimming holes?
Cold — most are fed by mountain streams and stay bracing even in high summer. Quarries like Dorset warm up more at the surface but stay cold below. Water levels and currents also rise fast after rain in the gorges.