Southwest Cove
Westmore, Vermont · Willoughby State Forest
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Local spot, unofficial
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Southwest Cove
Southwest Cove is a secluded swimming hole and beach on the narrow south end of Lake Willoughby in Westmore, Vermont, within Willoughby State Forest. For anyone after a dramatic lake to swim in, it sits beneath the glacially-carved cliffs of Mount Pisgah and Mount Hor and has been used informally as a clothing-optional swimming spot for decades.
The cove occupies the hidden western side of the narrow southern end of Lake Willoughby, a glacial lake often compared to a Norwegian fjord because it is flanked by the steep cliff faces of Mount Pisgah and Mount Hor. Rather than an open sandy beach, the shoreline is described as flat wooded ground running right down to the water, with the tree line ending at the lake's edge.
Swimming at Southwest Cove
Visitors describe clear, clean lake water and a small, quiet beach area suited to swimming, sunbathing, and picnicking, with kayaking and paddleboarding also common in the cove. The lake itself is one of the deepest in New England (photographed at 300+ feet in the main basin), though the shallower cove margins are what's used for swimming.
How to get to this swimming hole
From the village of Westmore, follow Lake Willoughby Road/VT-5A along the lake; the cove is reached by a footpath through the woods from a parking/access area near the south end of the lake, on the opposite (western) side from the main boat launch.
Parking: A small informal parking area exists near the south end of the lake (referenced in local coverage as a point of contention regarding overcrowding); no formal, developed lot with signage is documented.
The hike in
Difficulty: easy walking distance but the path is narrow and unmarked, creating single-file bottlenecks at busy times
Trailhead: An informal footpath through the woods starting from a parking/boat-launch access area on the eastern side of the narrow south end of Lake Willoughby, off Lake Willoughby Road/VT-5A near Westmore; the cove itself is the hidden western side reached by crossing this stretch of woods.
No official trail name, mileage, or maintained trailhead signage was found in any source; this is an informal, volunteer-maintained access path (maintained by a group called 'Friends of the Southwest Cove'), not a mapped hiking trail like nearby Mount Pisgah Trail.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Not ideal for young kids
Shallow water near shore (reported roughly 2.5 ft for a good distance out) would suit small kids, but there are no restrooms, no lifeguard, and access is via a narrow, informal, sometimes-crowded footpath rather than a stroller/family-friendly path; the cove has also functioned for decades as a clothing-optional beach, which some families may want to know before visiting.
Parking
Free
Small, informal, free parking area near the south end of the lake (described as 'the entrance') with limited spaces that fill quickly in peak season; no formal developed lot with signage is documented, and overflow/roadside parking near VT-5A has been a point of local controversy over overcrowding.
Restrooms
None on site
No restrooms on or near the cove itself. Willoughby State Forest's own overview page notes portable toilets exist only at a couple of specific other spots in the forest, not at Southwest Cove.
Water clarity
Clear
Multiple independent visitor accounts describe the water as clear: one swimmer called out 'clear water and good views,' and another report describes 'excellent swimming conditions... clear waters' with gentle waves. No conflicting reports of murkiness were found.
On the water
An aggregator listing notes kayaking and paddleboarding are common in the cove's shallower waters alongside swimming. No specific motor/no-wake restrictions for this cove were found; Lake Willoughby overall has a boat launch on its eastern shore near the south end, but rules specific to watercraft in Southwest Cove itself are not documented.
Rentals nearby
Canoes, single and tandem kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs); rentals include paddles and life jackets, by the hour, day, or week
2314 VT Route 105, West Charleston, VT; they explicitly deliver to Lake Willoughby (along with Lake Memphremagog, Salem Lake, Seymour Lake, Echo Lake, etc.), with free delivery on orders over $100 within 45 minutes of their base · June-Aug: daily 8am-7pm; late May & Sept: daily 9am-5pm (call ahead in shoulder months)
What regulars say
Visitor reports consistently describe Southwest Cove as small, secluded, and scenic, with clear water and the 'best views around' of the Mount Pisgah and Mount Hor cliffs. One first-hand account notes summer water temperatures around 64F and a tree-lined shore rather than a sandy beach, with flat wooded ground running to the water's edge.
Backstory
The cove has been used as an informal, clothing-optional swimming beach for decades and is maintained on a volunteer basis by a group called Friends of the Southwest Cove. It has repeatedly been the subject of local controversy and Westmore town governance discussions over nudity complaints and proposals to add formal parking/boardwalk infrastructure, which regular visitors have opposed.
Southwest Cove: FAQ
Is Southwest Cove kid friendly?
Shallow water near shore (reported roughly 2.5 ft for a good distance out) would suit small kids, but there are no restrooms, no lifeguard, and access is via a narrow, informal, sometimes-crowded footpath rather than a stroller/family-friendly path; the cove has also functioned for decades as a clothing-optional beach, which some families may want to know before visiting.
How hard is the hike to Southwest Cove?
A hike is required. Wear real shoes, since approaches to natural swim spots are often rocky or rooty.
Where do I park for Southwest Cove?
Small, informal, free parking area near the south end of the lake (described as 'the entrance') with limited spaces that fill quickly in peak season; no formal developed lot with signage is documented, and overflow/roadside parking near VT-5A has been a point of local controversy over overcrowding.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Southwest Cove?
An aggregator listing notes kayaking and paddleboarding are common in the cove's shallower waters alongside swimming. No specific motor/no-wake restrictions for this cove were found; Lake Willoughby overall has a boat launch on its eastern shore near the south end, but rules specific to watercraft in Southwest Cove itself are not documented.
When is the best time to visit Southwest Cove?
Summer, per multiple visitor accounts describing peak use in warm months and a reported water temperature around 64F in summer.
What are the rules at Southwest Cove?
Southwest Cove is a traditional, unofficial clothing-optional beach on Willoughby State Forest (public) land. As of local news coverage, the town of Westmore was drafting a public indecency ordinance after complaints about nude sunbathers, with proposed fines starting around $150 for a first offense; beach regulars disputed the complaints and opposed formal restrictions or added infrastructure (e.g., a proposed parking lot/boardwalk).
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