Hall's Pond-- follow River Road north/northeast. continue on "nollet road" (never heard of it). go onto baker/bebbington road, bear right onto bebbington, then bear right onto kennerson reservoir/molnar road. continue on kennerson road. Hall's is a fairly large pond with a man-made dam at the northeast corner at the road. There is little parking to swim, because a cranky ranger generally disapproves of parking at the boat launch except for swimming. If he is there, parking is available down a little ways on side streets. Water is fairly warm and sludgy on the bottom in some places. All rope swings have been taken down following a drowning a few years ago. However there are pleasant islands to swim or canoe to, and at the nearest one to the boat launch there is a very large tree trunk in the water that can provide much entertainment.
Atwoodville-- turn onto route 89 south at the mount hope bridge. follow rt 89 for 2.9 miles. turn left on atwoodville road. follow for 0.3 miles to a bridge. park directly before the bridge on the left, without blocking the driveway with a sign saying "do not block driveway," and follow a footpath down to rocks and a deep-ish pool in the mount hope river. (more parking is available up the hill before the bridge on the right side of the road.) the water is not especially warm, but when there's been a lot of rain waterfalls become quite powerful and work well as massages if you sit under them. some rocks can be jumped from, but others are quite dangerous as diving platforms. another nice place for a picnic is on the rocks around the river.
Diana's Pool-- from atwoodville, follow atwoodville road north (over the bridge) and turn right on bedlam road. after about 1 and a half miles, take a hard right on phoenixville road, aka route 198. turn left on diana's pool road (almost immediately). parking will be up a little hill on your left. swimming is not legal at diana's pool and police do occasionally check the area. however, the worst they will likely do is shout at you and make you get out of the water. temperature is about the same as atwoodville, but the main swimming hole (follow the footpaths for a while upriver to come to it) is much larger and deeper. for the brave, there is a very tall rock outcropping that can be jumped off of when the water is high. otherwise, tamer rocks are fun to sit on and jump off of. again, this river can be hazardous when the water lever is extremely high (not likely in summer).
Eagleville Dam-- from storrs, following south eagleville road (aka route 275) down through eagleville (cross route 32 and go under the train bridge, then park on the right in the parking lot). slimy on the bottom but good for a quick dip. don't fall over the dam.
Echo Pond-- take route 89 south to just before the turn towards the stoplight in mansfield center, take a left onto clark street, and bear left but don't go onto crest road, go straight. parking is on the left before the residential circle. also slightly slimy on the bottom but the water is very clear and of a nice temperature. this place is also good for skating in winter.