By Tyler Maheu, Staff Sportswriter
With July winding down, August’s heat is on its way. However, our area offers a bevy of locations where you can beat the heat with some water fun.
Starting in Woodstock Village, residents can seek refuge in the cool waters of the Ottaquechee River. Two of the most popular entry points flow past the Woodstock History Center’s lawn and between the Woodstock Recreation Center and Little Theater.
The water near the history center is said to be shallower, and best for those looking to wade. The swimming area in between the rec center and Little Theater features a sandy beach.
In Barnard, of course, you’ll find Silver Lake State Park. Admission is free for children up to three years old, $2 for those four to 13 years of age, and $5 for anyone 14 and up. The park, on the northern shore of Silver Lake, is home to a sandy beach, picnic area, and camping ground. Camping fees are separate from beach access.
Beyond swimming, boating and fishing are also offered at Silver Lake. According to vermont.gov, Silver Lake is a hotspot for smallmouth bass, northern pike, perch, and other warm-water species. Boat rental prices and types of boats may vary.
In Reading, a secluded section of the Black River is a popular swimming hole. Twenty-Foot Hole can be found just over a mile down Tyson Road when coming from the west. Visitors are told to look for a small turnoff along the road for parking, then asked to follow the forested trail down to the river. The small stretch of river features three sets of pools and many small cascades.
Allegedly, the deepest section of the swimming hole was once 20 feet deep, leading to the name. However, over time, the area’s water has become much shallower.
The Windsor Swim Area at Kennedy Pond features a sandy beach and multiple docks, diving boards, and a small play area. Admission to the area is free. Swimmers can go for a dip Monday through Friday from noon to 7 p.m. and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. Lifeguards are often on duty within the listed hours, and during weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon, swim lessons are available for a fee.
The swim area’s posted rules state that kids need to complete a diving test before using the diving board; those aged 10 and under must be with an adult during lifeguard hours, while those 14 and under need to be with one during off hours. No flotation devices or swim aids, including life jackets, are allowed. Canoeing, fishing, and kayaking may be done outside of the buoyed-off beach section.
Fishing enthusiasts will love the variety of fresh catches available at Weathersfield’s Stoughton Pond. Operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers, the pond has a playground, picnic facilities, restrooms and shoreline fishing access. Trout are stocked in the pond, and can be found there along with bullhead, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed and yellow birch fish.
Buttermilk Falls in Ludlow is an off-the-beaten-path option that is sure to awe. Cared for by the Camp Plymouth State Park, the falls meet at the forking point of Branch Brook and Black River. Visitors will take a half-mile walk down a well-kept trail before choosing to enjoy the upper or lower falls.
The upper falls is split into two different drops, one of 12 feet and the other 15 feet, with a large, rocky pool down below which is deep enough for swimming. The lower falls filter into a 25-foot-wide pool perfect for wading and cooling down below the tree canopy above. To find the swimming hole, travel down Buttermilk Falls Road, just outside of downtown Ludlow.
Lastly, Hoyts Landing on Charlestown Road in Springfield is the perfect spot to drop a line. Hoyts Landing is home to several fishing tournaments throughout the summer, including events on the Twin State Elites and Southern Vermont Bass series. Resting just on the Vermont side of the Connecticut River, the concrete boat launch has a dock and plenty of riverfront access. Paddle boats of all kinds are welcome, in addition to motorboats.
