About this spot
Old City Falls Nature Preserve in Strafford, VT, town-maintained with free parking off Old City Falls Road and a short trail to the falls. This upper pool sits above the main 40-45-foot boulder-strewn drop, formed where the brook plunges over a steep shelf into a deep, clear basin; town and blog write-ups (Vermont 251 Adventures, Tripadvisor, New England Waterfalls) describe two swimming pools here as a long-standing local summer draw. Reaching the upper pool means climbing above the lower gorge on wet, slippery rock, which reviewers flag as the real risk versus the water itself. Flow is strongest April-June and drops off by late summer. Public preserve, open daylight hours, no fee.
Safety first. Cliff jumping is inherently dangerous and can cause serious injury or death. Conditions — water depth, submerged hazards, and access — change constantly. CliffScout is community-sourced reference information, not a guarantee a spot is safe. Always assess the conditions yourself before jumping, and never jump where you're unsure. You assume all risk.