Huntington Gorge

Richmond , Chittenden County, VT , USA

No Known Alternate Names

The large pool and waterfall as the Huntington River exits the upper gorge

On June 21st of 2005, another swimmer died in the gorge. This is a needless tragedy. Say a prayer, 'kay? People: DON'T SWIM HERE IN HIGH WATER! I can't stress this enough. A good rule of thumb: If the normally dry channel on the opposite side of the gorge has any flow whatsoever, the water is too high. (Look at the 4th photo.) If you aren't familiar with the gorge, ask a local. The locals have been swimming there for years, and know when, and when not to, swim. I was there 3 days earlier and found the water to be quite high, certainly far too high to be in the water. If you wish to cross to the other side, ford the still waters well above the entrance to the gorge. If the water looks swift or deep, don't do it. High levels of water rushing through constricted passages offer too damn many hazards to justify swimming. If you have your heart set on swimming, stick to the pool below the gorge and falls, it's deep and it's safe. Locally, Huntington Gorge is has developed a reputation as a killer. It is estimated that over forty people have drowned in the Gorge. Deadly as it may be, it is a beautiful place, it just requires the use of caution. The Huntington River is a wide, rocky river before it reaches the gorge. At the gorge, the river narrows and disappears into a cleft only a few feet wide. In the gorge, the river goes over several drops ranging from 6 to 12 feet in height. The final pool is about 25 feet deep. It is a very popular place to swim and jump off the rock walls. The problems arise primarily when people swim in high water, or dive in low water. In low water, the bottom pool is a deep, cool, and inviting place to swim and dive. The bottom pool is actually 2 adjoining potholes 25 feet and 18 feet deep respectively. Between the 2 potholes is a rock protrusion several feet below the surface. Divers can strike this rock ledge and lose consciousness. In high water, the river roars through this constriction. There are often logs caught in the potholes. These can act as strainers and trap the unwary swimmer. Even if a strainer isn't present, the sheer force of the water can pin a swimmer underwater. Furthermore, many of the deaths here are alcohol related, it is after all, a notorious party spot. To quote a site devoted to swimming holes, "The bozo factor is off the chart." Despite the grim tales of the place, caution and common sense can make this a relatively safe place to swim. Don't swim alone, don't swim in high water, and look before you leap. The bedrock is a blue schist that lends itself nicely to water sculpture. The access is very easy, being just 50 feet off of Dugway Road in the town of Richmond. Just make certain not to block the roadway as towing is a fairly common practice here. Given the ease of access and the large amounts of people that visit the area, and the high level of notoriety, the owner has exhibited a great deal of patience and lenience. I'd like to thank Mr. Linn, he's got a nice place there.

The gorge is a long and sinuous gorge carved in a mass of the Underhill Schist.

The first mill on the site was built in 1806 by John Preston, it was an overshot gristmill used to grind wheat. In 1867, the mill was sold to the Robinson family. The mill still ground limited quantities of wheat, but also produced apple cider and wheel spokes. In 1902, the millsite was sold to the Richmond Light and Power Company, producing power for the town. It had a working head of 44' and had almost completely diverted the flow of the Huntington River. Happily, this endeavor was not profitable, and in 1917, the Burlington Savings Bank foreclosed, selling the gorge to the Powers Electric Company, who subsequently sold the property to the Green Mountain Power Corporation in 1923. In 1955, the GMPC sold the property to the Mount Mansfield Girl Scout Council who then sold the property in 1960 to John Shearer, stipulating that no commercial ventures take place at this location in perpetuity. The falls were then sold to William Skelton. In 1976, after 4 drownings in the gorge, an entrapping rock ledge was dynamited, lowering the depth of the pool by about 6', and altering the falls at the outlet of the upper gorge. The falls then were sold to the current owner of the property, Charles Linn.

Huntington Gorge has so many angles and facets to view. The rocks here are perhaps the best example of water sculpture in the state, rivaled by only Warren Falls in my humble opinion. In high water, a segment that is normally a dry channel fills with water and spills into the gorge from the opposite side. In low water, the pools are an intense green and turquoise in hue. You'll want a tripod. I'd skip the warming filter here, as it might detract from the colors of the pool and the soft blue-gray of the rocks. Sweet light (shortly after dawn or dusk on a clear day) is very good here. Overcast days as well, but the sun can hurt you here. You'll also want a wide range of focal lengths as telephoto is the safest way to get "into" the gorge. My 28-105mm is sufficient to the task, although I admit that my new 10-20mm lens is a TON of fun to shoot with.

The falls are on Dugway Road, about 1.8 miles from Jonesville.

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