Bartlett Falls were a swimmer’s dream. The huge swimming hole is sand-bottomed and half the size of an olympic swimming pool. The water was very clear and the river current made swimming just a little challenging.

Effort: Almost none. The falls are about 20 paces from the road. Maybe on a busier day, you’d have trouble finding parking, making the falls 40 paces from where you have to park.

Reward: The falls are lovely. The real draw here, is that Bartlett falls are only one of two waterfalls in Vermont that allow you to go behind the falling water. In the grotto behind the falls, the sound was deep and rumbling, like a semi truck driving across a bridge overhead. My outreached hand was pushed down by the power of the falling water. I could yell at the top of my lungs and barely hear myself over the noise. The noise and the water were purifying somehow, as if the water was carrying away my stress, worries and tension.

Fun: Best swimming I’ve got to do in Vermont. Hands down. Just lovely.

Pidi and Daisy’s Review: We didn’t get to see Bartlett Falls. Mom left us in the car because there was no way for us to get down to the water. Plus the falls are right along a busy road, so we would have to be on our leashes anyway. She swam, got really happy, and we took a nap in the car.