Swimming Holes near Amherst

Ponds, lake beaches, river holes, and waterfalls within an easy drive of Amherst, MA. Click a spot for details and directions.

About & sources. This map was compiled in July 2026 from local guides and first-hand recommendations: a r/westernmass discussion of places to swim, the Valley Advocate's "Jump In" guide, the UMass Commonwealth Honors College swimming guide, New England Swimming Holes, and official pages from the Massachusetts DCR and The Trustees of Reservations. Each spot's popup lists its specific references. Coordinates were checked against OpenStreetMap; a few markers noted as "approximate" are placed from written directions rather than a mapped feature.

Always check current water quality, flow, and posted rules before swimming — conditions change fast after rain, and access rules change year to year. For the Connecticut River, see isitclean.us (tested Thursdays, posted Fridays). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.