Puffer's Pond Swimming Area

Amherst, Massachusetts · on Factory Hollow Pond

Verified · 3 independent sources

WATER: pond
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: No fee found
SEASON: Best in summer

About Puffer's Pond Swimming Area

Puffer's Pond is an 11-acre, town-owned pond on the Mill River in North Amherst, Massachusetts, managed by the Amherst Conservation Department as a designated but unguarded swimming area. A classic local swimming hole with two informal named beaches, North Beach and South Beach, it ranks among the town's busiest recreation spots and most popular places to swim, and draws fishing, canoeing, and picnicking crowds as well.

The pond lies within a Mill River greenbelt conservation area that stretches from Route 63 east to the Amherst town line, about three miles north of the town center, surrounded by floodplain forest with an extensive trail network that draws hundreds of visitors on summer days.

Swimming at Puffer's Pond Swimming Area

Swimming takes place at two informal, unguarded beach areas (North Beach and South Beach) on a small, tannic (tea-colored) pond described as clearer in settled summer weather and cloudier after storms or algae blooms. The pond averages about 5 feet deep with a maximum depth over 20 feet, has deep drop-offs, and swimming is explicitly at one's own risk with no lifeguard on duty.

How to get to this swimming hole

Located about three miles north of Amherst town center, off State Street in the North Amherst area; parking is at town conservation lots serving North Beach and South Beach.

Parking: Free town conservation parking lots at both North Beach and South Beach; roadside parking is also allowed in designated spots but is prohibited in front of gates and between 8:30 p.m. and 6 a.m., and on the south side of State Street between Sand Hill Road and the main gate. Lots reportedly fill quickly on hot summer weekends.

The hike in

To the water: ~0.1 mi one-way from lot to beach
Time on foot: about 5 minutes on foot from parking to the beach

Difficulty: easy

Trailhead: No named trail is required -- short paths drop directly from the North Beach and South Beach conservation parking lots to the water's edge.

The pond sits within a larger Mill River greenbelt with an extensive conservation trail network (used for longer walks/dog walking), but none of that mileage is required to reach the swimming beaches themselves.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

OK with supervision

Sandy shoreline near the beaches is fine for wading, but the pond has deep drop-offs (avg depth ~5 ft, max 20+ ft) and slippery rocks close to shore; there is no lifeguard and swimming is explicitly at your own risk, so town rules require adult supervision for children under 12. The dam/cliff area is off-limits and cliff jumping is banned, which also signals a real jump-related hazard nearby.

Parking

Free

Free Town of Amherst conservation parking lots serve both North Beach and South Beach off State Street; roadside parking is also allowed in designated spots but is barred in front of gates, between 8:30 p.m. and 6 a.m., and on the south side of State Street between Sand Hill Road and the main gate. Lots reportedly fill quickly on hot summer weekends.

Restrooms

None on site

No permanent restroom currently confirmed on site; the Town of Amherst's own Puffer's Pond page lists new restrooms only as a planned five-year Capital Improvement Program item alongside dam/dike, trail, and parking upgrades, not an existing facility.

Water clarity

Varies with season and flow

Small tannic (tea-colored) pond that runs clearer in settled summer weather and turns cloudier after storms or during algae blooms; the town's own advisories show it is also subject to periodic E. coli-driven swim closures during the official swim season, most recently a mid-July 2026 closure-then-reopening cycle at both beaches.

Hours

6:00 a.m. until dusk

Swim smart

No lifeguard present; periodic E. coli-related closures during the swim season; deep drop-offs; slippery rocks; dam and cliff areas are off-limits due to hazard/no-jumping rules.

Rules: Open 6:00 a.m. until dusk. No lifeguard on duty; swimming is at your own risk. No alcoholic beverages, smoking, glass containers, fires/grills, or skinny-dipping. Cliff jumping is prohibited and the dam/cliff areas are off-limits. Dogs must be leashed and cannot enter North Beach, South Beach, or the pond itself (they may swim in Cushman Brook upstream or the Mill River downstream). Children under 12 require adult supervision. Shore fishing is allowed but fishing from canoes/kayaks is not; non-motorized boating is permitted during operating hours. Visitors must stay on marked trails.

This is an informational listing, not an invitation. Conditions and access change; verify locally before you go. Visiting any swimming hole is at your own risk. See our Terms of Use.

On the water

CanoesKayaks

Restrictions: Non-motorized boating only, permitted solely during official operating hours (6 a.m.-dusk); fishing from a canoe or kayak is prohibited (shore fishing only); boats must stay clear of the off-limits dam/cliff/spillway area.

No on-site rental or launch concession; visitors bring their own non-motorized craft.

Backstory

The Town of Amherst acquired the pond and surrounding corridor for conservation purposes to protect the Mill River corridor and its habitat from development, though the site has long functioned as a heavily used recreation destination. The dam and dike have documented deficiencies and are included in the town's five-year Capital Improvement Program for repair, alongside planned restroom, trail/beach, and parking improvements.

Puffer's Pond Swimming Area: FAQ

Is Puffer's Pond Swimming Area kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Puffer's Pond Swimming Area?

No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.

Where do I park for Puffer's Pond Swimming Area?

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Puffer's Pond Swimming Area?

No on-site rental or launch concession; visitors bring their own non-motorized craft.

When is the best time to visit Puffer's Pond Swimming Area?

Summer swimming season (Memorial Day through Labor Day), during which the town conducts weekly E. coli water-quality testing; the pond can close temporarily within this window if bacteria levels exceed state standards.

What are the rules at Puffer's Pond Swimming Area?

Open 6:00 a.m. until dusk. No lifeguard on duty; swimming is at your own risk. No alcoholic beverages, smoking, glass containers, fires/grills, or skinny-dipping. Cliff jumping is prohibited and the dam/cliff areas are off-limits. Dogs must be leashed and cannot enter North Beach, South Beach, or the pond itself (they may swim in Cushman Brook upstream or the Mill River downstream). Children under 12 require adult supervision. Shore fishing is allowed but fishing from canoes/kayaks is not; non-motorized boating is permitted during operating hours. Visitors must stay on marked trails.

What water body is Puffer's Pond Swimming Area on?

Puffer's Pond Swimming Area is on Factory Hollow Pond, a natural pond verified in USGS hydrography data.