Frenchman’s Hole
Newry, Maine · on Bull Branch
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- waterfall pool
- FALLS
- Waterfall on site
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Yes, see below
- SEASON
- June
About Frenchman’s Hole
Frenchman's Hole is a well-known natural swimming hole on Bull Branch in Newry, Maine, centered on a roughly 10-foot waterfall dropping into a deep pothole pool. The surrounding 385-acre property was purchased by the State of Maine with Land for Maine's Future funding and Mahoosuc Land Trust support, and is now managed by the Bureau of Parks and Lands as part of the Mahoosuc Unit Reserve.
The swimming hole sits along Bull Branch stream in the mountainous Mahoosuc Unit Reserve near Sunday River, in a forested, rocky gorge setting reached via Sunday River Road and Bull Branch Road outside Bethel. The protected property includes over a mile of Bull Branch frontage and adjoins a state ecological reserve with documented rare plants and natural communities.
Swimming at Frenchman’s Hole
The main feature is a roughly 10-foot waterfall pouring into a deep pothole/pool (reported around 20 feet deep in places), popular for cliff/rock jumping with a rope to climb back out, plus shallower pools and quieter spots suitable for children and casual swimming. Water is described as cold even in summer.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Bethel, take Route 2 north about 2 miles, turn left onto Sunday River Road, follow it roughly 7 miles staying right at forks, cross a pair of logging (twin) bridges, then turn onto Bull Branch Road (marked with a small swimming-icon sign and a 'Mahoosuc Public Land' sign) and continue to the parking area.
Parking: A small parking lot/clear parking area exists near the falls; when seasonal gates on the access roads are closed, visitors park farther out (about 0.4 to 0.7 miles away) and walk in.
The hike in
- To the water
- 0 to about 0.7 mi one-way, depending on which seasonal gate is closed (road-side lot at the falls = essentially no walk; outer gate closures push it to ~0.4-0.7 mi)
- Time on foot
- 5-15 minutes depending on parking location
Difficulty: easy
Trailhead: No formal named trailhead, visitors park at the lot/pull-off on Bull Branch Road (off Sunday River Road, north of Bethel via Twin Bridges) and walk in on the road/short path itself.
Not a backcountry trail, it's a walk along Bull Branch Road/a short path from parking directly to the falls and pools; described by one source as a short stroll rather than a hike, involving a stone staircase down to the upper pool.
Broader Mahoosuc Unit Reserve has additional hiking trails in the surrounding hills, but those are separate from the direct route to the swimming hole.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Multiple sources describe both a deep cliff-jumping pool below the ~10 ft waterfall and smaller, calmer/shallower pools nearby suited to young kids and casual wading. No lifeguards; the main pool has variable depth, submerged rocks, and current, so families with small children should stick to the shallower side pools and supervise closely near the falls.
Parking
Free
Small, clear parking area/lot on the left side of Bull Branch Road right at the falls when the road is fully open, free of charge, no entrance fee. Bull Branch Road has seasonal gates: if the gate nearest the falls is closed, visitors park at a pull-off and walk in about 0.4 mi (~10 min); if the road is closed further out, park at its start and walk about 0.7 mi (~15 min).
Restrooms
Yes
An outhouse (vault-style) is located in/near the parking area at the falls; picnic tables are also on site. No flush toilets or running water reported.
Water clarity
Clear
Natural Resources Council of Maine describes Bull Branch here as 'a clear and powerful mountain stream.' No reports of murkiness found; water is repeatedly described as cold even in summer.
Hours
No posted hours or gate/season schedule was found; one visitor account describes it as open to the public all day, every day, though the unpaved Bull Branch Road itself has seasonal gates (dates not published) that can push parking further from the falls.
On the water
Restrictions: The swimming hole itself is a small waterfall/pothole pool, not navigable for recreational paddling. NRCM's property page notes that kayaking, canoeing, and swiftwater-rescue training do occur on this stretch of Bull Branch (Class 3-4 whitewater), used notably by the Hurricane Island Outward Bound Center, but this is advanced whitewater paddling elsewhere on the property/reserve, not casual kayak/canoe/SUP use at the falls and swimming pools themselves.
No rental or launch infrastructure at the swimming hole; treat as a non-boating swim stop.
Rentals nearby
Kayak, canoe, and river-tubing trips/rentals on the Androscoggin River (guided river trips, self-guided rentals)
121 Mayville Road, Bethel, ME 04217 (roughly 10-12 miles from Frenchman's Hole, on the Androscoggin River rather than Bull Branch)
Kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding (plus land activities like axe throwing/archery), per Sunday River resort's summer/fall activities page
Based at Sunday River Resort in Newry, ME, along the same Sunday River Road corridor used to access Bull Branch Road/Frenchman's Hole
What regulars say
Recurring themes from visitor reports: it 'can be crowded, since swimming is allowed,' with July and August drawing the biggest crowds and warmest water, while June and September are quieter but colder; most jumpers use the upper pool and climb out via a fixed rope, though it's possible to scramble down the sides of the falls to reach the lower pool; several visitors independently caution to test water depth and check the current and conditions yourself before jumping, and to avoid visiting after dark.
Backstory
The 385-acre property was acquired by the State of Maine using Land for Maine's Future funding with support from Mahoosuc Land Trust, protecting more than 1.2 miles of Bull Branch frontage and 0.75 miles along Sunday River; it is now part of the Bureau of Parks and Lands' Mahoosuc Unit Reserve (nearly 10,000 acres) and serves as the closest public swimming option for area residents, the next nearest being over 16 miles away.
Frenchman’s Hole: FAQ
Does Frenchman’s Hole charge a fee?
No entrance fee reported.
Is Frenchman’s Hole kid friendly?
Multiple sources describe both a deep cliff-jumping pool below the ~10 ft waterfall and smaller, calmer/shallower pools nearby suited to young kids and casual wading. No lifeguards; the main pool has variable depth, submerged rocks, and current, so families with small children should stick to the shallower side pools and supervise closely near the falls.
How hard is the hike to Frenchman’s Hole?
A hike is required, about 0 to about 0.7 mi one-way, depending on which seasonal gate is closed (road-side lot at the falls = essentially no walk; outer gate closures push it to ~0.4-0.7 mi) to the water (5-15 minutes depending on parking location). Wear real shoes, since approaches to natural swim spots are often rocky or rooty.
Where do I park for Frenchman’s Hole?
Small, clear parking area/lot on the left side of Bull Branch Road right at the falls when the road is fully open, free of charge, no entrance fee. Bull Branch Road has seasonal gates: if the gate nearest the falls is closed, visitors park at a pull-off and walk in about 0.4 mi (~10 min); if the road is closed further out, park at its start and walk about 0.7 mi (~15 min).
When is the best time to visit Frenchman’s Hole?
June through September, with July and August offering the warmest water but also the largest crowds.
What are the rules at Frenchman’s Hole?
Managed as Maine state public land (Bureau of Parks and Lands, Mahoosuc Unit Reserve); swimming is described as allowed. No additional posted rules were found in sources reviewed.
What water body is Frenchman’s Hole on?
Frenchman’s Hole is on Bull Branch, a natural waterfall pool verified in USGS hydrography data.
