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🏞️ River Swim  ·  Upper Valley / East Central Vermont

Quechee Gorge

📍 Quechee
Nearest Town
✅ Free
Entry Fee
💧 Cool river water
Water Temp
🟢 Easy
Difficulty
📅 Summer
Best Season
⚠️ Safety Notice — Read Before Visiting
Be careful not to conflate the dramatic overlook/bridge area (not a swim spot, sheer drops) with the separate, gentler river access within Quechee State Park downstream — a public-facing listing should make this distinction unmistakable given how visually tempting the gorge itself can look from the bridge.
🏞️ River Swim 🟢 Easy Free Entry ⚠️ Safety Note
🌊 About Quechee Gorge

Vermont's deepest gorge (165 ft) draws crowds to its dramatic overlook bridge — but the swimmable river access is a separate, developed spot within Quechee State Park downstream, reached by trail, not the sheer gorge walls themselves.

📋 Visit Details
Entry Fee
✅ Free
Water Temperature
💧 Cool river water
Best Season
📅 Summer
Reservation
Not Required
Water Type
Vermont's deepest gorge, with limited river access near the bridge
Managed By
Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation (Quechee State Park)
County
Windsor County, Vermont
Access Difficulty
🟢 Easy
🗺️ Getting There

Address / Access Point:
5800 Woodstock Rd (US-4), Quechee, VT 05059

Access Notes:
Easy overlook access at the main bridge; actual swimming access is via a separate, gentler trail down to the Ottauquechee River within Quechee State Park, not from the gorge rim itself

GPS Coordinates
43.6375, -72.4087
Open in Google Maps →
✅ Before You Go — Checklist
  • ✓
    Check current water conditions — especially after recent rain
  • ✓
    Save GPS coordinates offline before leaving — cell service may be limited
  • ✓
    Pack reef-safe sunscreen, dry bag, water shoes and plenty of drinking water
  • ✓
    Tell someone where you are going before heading to a remote location
  • ✓
    Pack out everything you bring in — leave no trace
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