Few summer pleasures are sweeter than plunging into a swimming hole. It’s a refreshing, joyful experience, in a region where summer is short. 

Many swimming holes come with waterfalls, providing a two-in-one experience. Others feature placid waters and an opportunity to lazily float away the afternoon. Whatever your preference, there’s likely a swimming hole or two on this list for you. Wherever you go, remember to respect the environment, and those who will come after you, by packing out anything you bring in.

P.E.I.
Covehead Harbour
Just outside P.E.I. National Park, between Stanhope and Brackley Beach, Covehead Harbour offers a great wharf to jump from. It’s high enough to offer a thrill and low enough to the water to be safe for children. In summer, there are almost always lots of kids here. Bonuses: it’s a great spot to watch shorebirds, and you can always grab some ice cream or a fish burger after your swim. The bridge over the harbour was a popular jumping-off point, but also a potentially dangerous one, with fishing and tour boats passing under it. Now barriers prevent access, so you’ll have to confine your jumping to the wharf. And that’s just fine.

Basin Head
At Basin Head Provincial Park, an inland pond empties into the Atlantic through a tidal channel that cuts across the park’s famed “singing sands” beach, where the material composition of the sand makes the beach squeak or sing as you walk across it. On a hot summer day, there may be hundreds of (mostly young) people jumping into the channel off the bridge or the wharf beside it. Technically, jumping off the bridge is against park rules, but that doesn’t seem to stop anyone. P.E.I.’s provincial parks manager, Shane Arbing, told CBC several years ago that the park doesn’t “condone” or “endorse” jumping, but recognizes that’s one of the reasons young people in particular visit Basin Head. If you want to follow the rules, skip the jumping, ease into the water, and let the current gently carry you out to the ocean. Then do it all over again.

NEW BRUNSWICK
The Cuts
A half-hour drive west of Sussex, the Cuts is a former quarry with gorgeous blue water and a resident population of large goldfish. A site with something for everyone, the Cuts offers a small beach area you can drive right up to. Kaitlyn Cormier, whose family owns a cottage a 90-minute drive away, says the Cuts is “very chill.” While high enough to provide a thrill, the rocks are low enough that they’re not daunting. “It’s very accessible, and not something scary or a feat to try and take on,” she says. “You can jump in and keep jumping, or bring your noodle and float away.”

Dunbar Falls
A half-hour drive from Fredericton, Dunbar Falls is a short walk into the woods. Park at the trailhead off Highway 148, and hike the 700 metres in. The trail can be soggy and wet at times, so be prepared. Your reward is a gorgeous swimming hole at the base of a picture-perfect small waterfall that stretches across the entire width of the stream. Tara Simmonds, who lives in Dartmouth, N.S. but grew up in Fredericton, is a fan. She calls Dunbar Falls, “A special place,” and, “a beautiful little swimming hole under a small but lively waterfall.”

NOVA SCOTIA
Kempt Quarry
This is a beautiful spot for a quiet swim. At a former gypsum quarry just off Highway 215 in West Hants, the municipality runs this site, which means that, in addition to providing amenities like picnic tables, it regularly tests water quality. Trees ring the deep, crystal-clear waters and low rocky ledges provide great spots to jump. For the younger set, there is also a shallow pool. There are plenty of spots to lounge on the grass, plus a nearby hiking trail.

Pockwock Falls
Pockwock Falls is at the edge of one of the oldest Black communities in Nova Scotia, and just a short drive from downtown Halifax. From the trailhead, there is a wide gravel path that crosses a small bridge. After that, you’ll see a smaller trail fork over to the right. The falls cascade over the rocks through three different main channels, and the pool at the base is invigorating. It can be fun to sit at the base of the falls and let the water splash over you, but water levels vary dramatically, so use caution. Wildfires raged nearby in spring 2023, but spared the Pockwock watershed. Respect the neighbourhood and don’t park on private property or block driveways.

NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR 
Big Tunnel
Big Tunnel, in Chapel Arm, about 100 kilometres west of St. John’s, is one of outdoor swimming advocate Jordan Young’s favourite swimming spots. Young is one of the admins of the Swim Club N.L. Facebook group and creator of a crowd-sourced Google map featuring hundreds of places to swim outdoors in the province. It’s been viewed nearly half a million times. His description of Big Tunnel will have you wanting to get right in. “I like Big Tunnel because of the way the water has carved the tunnel into the rock over hundreds of thousands of years. It’s all at once peaceful and very dramatic,” he says. “It has a deep hole for the daredevil divers, yet it also features a nice shallow area with slow water that kids can wade into safely. Also got to mention the natural ‘hot tubs’ carved into the rock of the tunnel that you can sit in and feel the river rush past you.” Park at the ballfield behind Holy Family Elementary, and then follow the trail for the short walk to the swimming hole.

The Punch Bowl
A popular (year-round, for the intrepid) swim and bonfire spot, Young describes the Punch Bowl as “totally ‘in the woods’ but... only a 10-minute drive from downtown (St. John’s) and a relatively gentle 10-to-15 minute walk in on a gravel road.” He also notes it’s “very family friendly, always lots of folks with their kids and dogs” and “entry is easy with a shallow area.” Parking on Blackhead Road.

Holy Cross Swim Park
A municipal recreation area in the town of Holyrood, about half an hour’s drive from St. John’s, what sets Holy Cross apart is its level of accessibility. Open usually from late June to the last week in August and fully lifeguarded, this swim spot hosts live music and other activities. Steve Martin, head of parks and recreation for the town, says there is a ramp going into water, and “the whole park is accessible, with ramps going up everywhere, including to the canteen.” He says the park is a great swim spot for children, with lots of “younger families, and grandparents watching kids.” There is an admission fee though. “It’s $2,” Martin says. “It’s been $2 for as long as I can remember.”