Diana's Pool
About the Business
Diana's Pool is a picturesque water access and fishing area located along the Natchaug River in Chaplin, Connecticut. This popular tourist attraction is known for its clear waters, beautiful scenery, and local legends. The main swimming hole, called Diana's Pool, is a large bowl sculpted out of rock just below a three-foot waterfall. Despite swimming being officially prohibited, visitors often enjoy cooling off in the refreshing waters on hot summer days.
The area is surrounded by short trails, old mill ruins, and lush greenery, making it a perfect spot for a leisurely walk or hike. The town of Chaplin owns the parcels upstream from the state property, but they remain undeveloped, adding to the natural charm of the area.
In addition to fishing, Diana's Pool is popular among whitewater kayakers, with Class IV drop-pool rapids along a one-mile stretch of the Natchaug River. The area has a rich manufacturing history, with old paper mill ruins and foundations dating back to the 1800s.
Visitors can explore the area on fisherman's paths along the river, and caution is advised due to narrow riverbanks and potential hazards like strainers. The state purchased the property in the 1970s or 1980s, preserving it as a natural and historical landmark for future generations to enjoy.
Overall, Diana's Pool offers a unique blend of natural beauty, outdoor recreation, and historical significance, making it a must-visit destination in Chaplin, Connecticut.
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Reviews
"First off, I would like to say we've gotten a lot of rain lately, and some of the walking area was covered in water. Although with that said, this trail had no trail markers. This is my first time visiting this place, and it's nice to have a guideline of where the trail is. You can find your way along the river, but it's always nice to trail markers for first time vistors. Also, the trail doesn't look very well maintained. There is a makeshift bridge, and part of this "bridge" has old broken wooden pallets. Also I would like to note that there is very limited parking. There were a lot of signs posted about Roadside ParkingProhibited. I would say this is probably a problem in warmer weather. On the positive side, I would like to say the views are stunning. It was very peaceful and quiet. Could sit and just enjoy the view of the water. Especially with all the rain we got, the water was really flowing."
"Diana's Pool, along with the equally nice pool of the lower falls just downstream, would offer two of the finest swimming holes in southern New England. However, there was a time when this place was overrun and allegedly abused. The state stepped in and banned swimming here, and the restriction has never been lifted. The good news is that you can at least visit the two waterfalls here now. In the early 1980s, the only thing you could do was to fish them. In fact, you'd be ticketed if you tried to do anything else besides fish. There are also rumors that whitewater kayakers are still running both falls during the spring snowmelt. Both falls are small-the lower falls are only 3 feet, and the upper falls that dump into Diana's Pool are only 4 feet-but both scenes emit wild and rugged beauty. Diana's Pool is enormous, especially by Connecticut standards, and it's tough to understand how it could over seem overrun. The lower falls, which showcase a beautiful curtain of water, provides perhaps a higher beauty punch than the upper falls that cascade into Diana's Pool. Sunny slabs surround the edge of the river at the lower falls, and the trout fishing is supposedly excellent here, too."
"Beautiful hiking area along the river. They have good fishing areas and the trail is an easy walk in most areas. You can spend as much or as little time as you would like. I would definitely recommend going there and spending time."
"Very beautiful river. Sad that some people cant clean up after them self. Trash level 1 out of 10 is 1! Over all i have enjoyed my river experience and hike through the woods, hiking level about 3"
"Beautiful and clean place for short hike along river. Lots of roots and rocks so wear good boots. Watering holes are many but some require maneuvering. Don't bring a radio like some dude did and blasting it. The beautiful sound of the river is enough. It wasn't strewn with trash but bring a bag anyway. There's not a lot of parking...8-10 cars maybe. It's not far from Bidwell's Tavern for beer and wings after. Enjoy!"
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