Fifty feet or so down river there is a waterfall , and you can either head down below the falls and swim the more calm waters past the falls. We offer free hands-on demonstrations to teach how to pan for and find gold on your own. There are great photo ops, swimming holes, picnic areas along with a sub and gift shop at this great waterfall and canyon. Be careful though because once you get below the falls it is more difficult to get out of the canyon. A Ride Down This Epic Natural Waterslide In Maine Will Make Your Summer Complete. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Coos Canyon is a beautiful, natural gorge along the Swift River. Go PRO to support our mission and get benefits like gear deals, no ads, and more! It then quickly shallows out, making it a perfect swimming spot even for kids. It’s a natural gorge along the Swift River with tumbling waterfalls and multiple wading pools. Coos Canyon is arguably the most unique swimming hole in the state of Maine. Follow the numerous trails along the river back to the parking lot. You can sit on before dipping into a refreshing pool that’s around 4-6 feet deep. Skip navigation Sign in. You'll be tenting in the Maine wood... To keep the hike as short as possible, the hike can be an out and back at 5.6 miles, but if you wanted to make it a loop that is possible and adds only an additional 2 miles or so. We drove up here with the intention of panning in the river for gold. Conveniently, it is right beside Route 17, south of Rangeley. So instead of getting into the cold water and panning for hours for most likely nothing, we wimped out and went to the rock shop and panned one of their buckets of dirt seeded with gold. along the way locals warned us that most of the areas where you can still find gold have been closed off. Google Maps. If you're feeling lucky try searching for gold. Cliff jumping is common, and snorkeling a favorite. Great place to stop and just walk around too. The Swift River is full of GOLD. You can even try your hand at panning for gold, first discovered here in the 1840s. The roadside picnic area makes this a great lunch stop. Beautiful views lay in front of you, for you to enjoy. You will find this hot spot to fit all ages. Angel Falls, Rangeley. View a map of this area and more on Natural Atlas. This scenic campsite is located right on A Wrinkle in Thyme Farm property in western foothills of Maine. Russell Norris dives into the chilly Swift River at Coos Canyon in Byron, Maine. LIST OF WATERFALL/SWIMMING HOLE DEATHS Here is a list of all known waterfall and swimming hole-related fatalities in New England. Water is crystal clear! There is also a convenience store across the street and grills for lunch. More swimming holes: The Best Swimming Holes in Maine via Yahoo. In fact, the drive to reach it is almost as beautiful as the falls themselves. Coos Canyon is on Route 17 between Rumford and the Rangeley Lakes area , one of western Maine's most scenic drives, and it's a place where travelers can rest, soak up the sun, hike up a … mountains are superb. It has remained one of my favorite places on earth, and I've driven considerable distances to visit on several occasions. This is where you find the most intricately carved rock. A gorgeous wild swimming hole in Vernon, New York is located within only a short minute walk from the park. You have cliff jumping here. The 500-yard gorge is set along the Swift River and is easily accessible, located just off Route 17. © 2021 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. The trail itself has a gradual incline over the course of the 1.15 miles to get to the top. Cape Arago: One of three state parks south of Coos Bay, rugged Cape Arago is the end of the road (U.S. 101 continues south inland). Original pictures and insider tips about neighborhoods, delicious restaurants, entertainment, and unique places to visit in Byron, ME. I first visited Coos Canyon about 30 years ago. Cory Freeman grew up jumping into the water he estimates is 20 feet deep in places. We took the Brook Trail up to the summit (which passes by the alpi... Start at parking-place, make it to the top and chose a route to hike back down. There is a gold mining store across the highway that has good coffee and the cashier was very helpful with directions to local outdoor attractions. 3,769 notes. There are three natural swimming holes in front of the park, and waterfalls above and below that. You certainly won't get stuck in the canyon but the rocks are steeper and can be slippery with wet feet so use caution. Looking for that natural swimming hole. A curiously carved canyon of potholes and smoothed rocks. Attractions. See/Swim is a guide to outdoor swimming and exploration, with over 400 locations throughout the United States. Access to the canyon is from the parking area adjacent Route 17 on Byron. 3 Reviews (207) 364-4900 Website. Spend 10 minutes or all day! You have natural water slides here. There are several spots for some smaller cliff jumping (up to 20 or so feet) both above and below the falls, but make sure you check the depth before you jump as there are a lot of shallow spots and the river fluctuates wildly in depth. Stopping in shops, etc. The bottom drops out of the Swift River producing fabulously deep water running between vertical walls as high as 32 feet. I think the river above the falls is the most fun there are places where you can ride the current down some of the more tame chutes and try to fight the current up some of the more powerful (pictured above). There is a gravel parking lot to the right side of the road (heading north) so simply park and walk down to the river below. Search. Me doing a gainer off Coos Canyon, Maine. Please explore responsibly! Small town along our route with a beautiful waterfall course that is right on the highway. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. We run this site in our free time to document our travels, and to share them with people who like outdoor swimming. We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. The 500-yard gorge is set along the Swift River and is easily accessible, located just off Route 17. Dine on an island #unknown #swimming holes. Enjoy the easy drive right to our secluded campsite. It is just feet off of route 17 and a great place to cool off on a summer day or break up the ride to the beautiful Rangeley lakes region. Also in Western Maine lies Coos Canyon, Byron's Happy Gorge conveniently set off the road to Rangeley (Route 17). A short drive to campsite during... We welcome you to stay here at Piper Ranch, a farm near the rural village of Buckfield, Maine. Coos Canyon is right off of route 17 in Byron, ME. Diamond Fork (Fifth Water) Hot Springs by Sam Klein. It can be six inches deep in one spot and drop off to ten feet directly next to it so be careful. Me doing a gainer off Coos Canyon, Maine. i heart swimming holes. Several locations spread over a mile or more, cliffs to jump of are from 1 to 15 yards! Also located along the Swift River, Coos Canyon is a great roadside park to stop for a swim or enjoy a picnic. Don't bother using the rest room/outhouse unless you can hold your breath while in there (horrible.). The owner of the Wilson Lake Inn informed me about Coos Canyon Falls. Coos Canyon is a geological mini-wonder. So there are steep cliffs, pools to swim and … See/Swim was created by two artists to map access to land, and to help people feel connected with their surroundings. Just don't expect cell service. Get directions, reviews and information for Coos Canyon in Byron, ME. There are a few steeper sections near the top, but completely manageable even for a beginner. With ample views and sounds of song birds and wildlife. If the water's flowing high enough (but not too swift) dare to take a jump off one of the many rock faces into the water- I did! Insider tip: go on a cloudy day and you are likely to have the place to yourself! Nice area, can see the canyon from the parking lot. Coos Canyon: Swimming Hole - See 75 traveler reviews, 44 candid photos, and great deals for Rangeley, ME, at Tripadvisor. As a boy he even dreamed of becoming a professional cliff diver before he discovered that the paper mill offered more immediate employment. sharing special places to swim around the world (via herwordlessness) Apr. A curiously carved canyon of potholes and smoothed rocks. The canyon is utterly beautiful. The rocks lining the canyon walls have uniquely carved lines in them, due to erosion over the years. Worth a stop to see if you are driving by. 17, about 14 miles north of Rumford. The falls aren't that big or tall, and the falls… Coos Canyon This geologically unique area is known by prospectors around New England as a place to pan or sluice for gold. Spend 10 minutes or all day! Great little park, good for lunch and people watching. Great little riverside campground and store to set you up with all you need for a family adventure panning for real gold. Located on Rte. Locals know where to jump from just follow the kids up to the 40 footer. Coos Canyon: by accident while looking for moose - See 75 traveller reviews, 44 candid photos, and great deals for Rangeley, ME, at Tripadvisor. Above the falls there is plenty of room on the sides of the river to walk or even sit to have a picnic. Oxford County is a county in Maine. Coos Canyon K. eep your eyes open while you swim: this stretch of the Swift River is one of the best places in Maine to pan for gold. Jan. 29 2017. It was also in the book about New England waterfalls, but I don't think I would have stopped if he hadn't pointed out that the falls were found right along the road. It can sometimes be slippery to access, so exercise extreme caution when heading in. Great swimming, great for photos, wonderful picnic spot, and always kind people. A cascading waterfall lunges over natural rock steps. Coos Canyon, Rangeley: See 74 reviews, articles, and 40 photos of Coos Canyon, ranked No.7 on Tripadvisor among 26 attractions in Rangeley. "The canyon is considered one of the premier swimming holes in the U.S.," according to an AP caption. On Monday night, about 50 registered voters packed the town meeting, held in a one-room schoolhouse heated by a wood stove and overlooking Coos Canyon, a popular swimming hole. River swimming holes tend to have one of the highest collections of garbage of anywhere on a national forest, or BLM land, that is used for recreation. Coos Canyon is arguably the most unique swimming hole in the state of Maine. 5 2017. Welcome to Private Retreat at River's Edge, your personal hideaway in the Western foothills of Maine. This swimming hole is easily accessed by simply pulling off of the Route 17 Scenic Highway. Fox Pond N estled alongside the Blackwoods Scenic Byway, Fox Pond couldn’t be easier to get to, and the views of Tunk and Catherine. Coos Canyon, on the Swift River in Byron, is a free roadside swimming area created by erosion. We stopped at Coos Canyon on our way North to Rangeley, Maine. Pretty but locals say finding gold here is very hard, Points of Interest & Landmarks in Rangeley, Rangeley Lake State Park: Tickets & Tours‎, Mooselookmeguntic Lake: Tickets & Tours‎, Cascade Stream Gorge Trail: Tickets & Tours‎, Rangeley Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum: Tickets & Tours‎, Rangeley Lakes Trails Center: Tickets & Tours‎, Rangeley Lakes Region Logging Museum: Tickets & Tours‎, Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust: Tickets & Tours‎, Hunter Cove Wildlife Sanctuary: Tickets & Tours‎, Maine Forestry Museum: Tickets & Tours‎, South Bog Interpretive Trail: Tickets & Tours‎. Russell Keene, 52, of Livermore Falls, Maine, does a swan dive into the Swift River off a cliff at Coos Canyon in Byron, Maine. Enjoy th... Getting to Rapid River can be a bit of a trek, as the 10 or so miles leading to it is a maze of logging roads and the cell service is spotty at best. We stopped for a break to get out of the car. Coos Canyon: Campground has gone WAY downhill - See 75 traveler reviews, 44 candid photos, and great deals for Rangeley, ME, at Tripadvisor. It is very picturesque and worth stopping for if you do not have to go out of your way. more. I know - not as cool or fun but we still had a blast and still had fun exploring the river and rocks just for fun. The real stuff. The swimming area is a deep area within the Swift River and is nestled between two fairly steep sections of rock. I have loved it here since I was a kid. This is a half day hike, full of nice places on the way to have lunch at, or just to enjoy and walk by. Oct 10, 2012 - Coos Canyon in Byron, ME (about 20mins outside of Rumford). Via magdalenawosinska.com. Just below the falls there is a cool rock overhang that you can sit under (in the water). adventures and follow local regulations. Swimming Holes in the Bethel, Maine area - Duration: 1:37. We're committed to building a better, more inclusive home for the modern outdoors. It is just feet off of route 17 and a great place to cool off on a summer day or break up the ride to the beautiful Rangeley lakes region. My goal is to try to keep this list as complete and up-to-date as possible. Coos Canyon 472 Swift River Rd Byron ME 04275. Coos Canyon: Great cool off spot - See 73 traveller reviews, 40 candid photos, and great deals for Rangeley, ME, at Tripadvisor. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. It's known as one of the best places to pan for gold in Maine. It's almost impossible to miss but if you're worried about it you can type "coos canyon" or "coos canyon rock and gift" into google maps and it will take you right there. If you know of any other such deaths, please send me an email at gparsons66@hotmail.com so that I can add them to this list. Here Are 11 Maine Swimming Holes That Will Make Your Summer Epic. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. However, what might be more interesting than gold, are the metamorphic rock formations that make up the canyon walls. It is a popular swimming and picnicking area, with waterfalls and swim holes. This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. You'll find the longest single drop in Maine at the 90-foot Angel Falls at the … C – Coos Canyon, Byron For century upon century, the Swift River has etched and chipped away at the granite bedrock, creating Coos Canyon. Then, once you're in, soak up the sun! Coos Canyon is right off of route 17 in Byron, ME. Cliff jumping/diving into an icy cold river! Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your Coos Canyon can be found just off of Route 17 scenic highway. Via Flickr / … Rock formations that Make up the Canyon walls have uniquely carved lines in them due. 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