Blue Heron
Stearns, Kentucky
| GPS: |
36°40'6.8"N 84°32'51.6"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Kentucky |
Restrooms Picnic Tables Rivers Trails Fishing
Swim
Blue Heron is a beautiful, forested swimming hole on the Big South Fork Cumberland River. The river here has cool water that is shallow at the edges, deepening in the center allowing for a true swimming experience. Visitors should exercise caution while swimming here, as there are no lifeguards and the river is moving.
Parking for the swimming hole can be found at the picnic area at the end of Blue Heron Road just past the Mine 18 community and the footbridge. Restrooms and picnic tables are also available here.
Visitors to Blue Heron will find that swimming is not the only activity available in the area. The Big South Fork area is crawling with trails for hiking, biking and horse back riding. Visitors can also visit Mine 18, or Blue Heron Mine, an abandoned mining town that has been turned into an outdoor museum. With the museum and trails so close to the swimming hole, there is plenty to keep visitors busy all day
More Information
Exploring the Fascinating Blue Heron Mining Camp in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation
Learn about visiting one of the most fascinating coal mining camps open to the public in Kentucky.
https://www.roadtripsandcoffee.com/blue-heron-mining-camp/swimmingholes.org Kentucky swimming Holes and Hot Springs rivers creek springs falls hiking camping
THE web site for beautiful, natural places for a cool dip or hot soak.
https://www.swimmingholes.org/ky.html
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Stearns, Kentucky
- Head south on State Hwy 1651 toward Bridge St (0.1 mi)
- Turn right onto KY-92 W/
State Hwy 1651 (0.2 mi) - Turn left onto State Hwy 1651 (0.5 mi)
- Turn right onto Ky-741 (0.7 mi)
- Turn right onto State Hwy 742 (5.9 mi)
- Continue onto Blue Heron RdDestination will be on the right(2.0 mi)
Other Swimming Holes Nearby
Gentleman's Swimming Hole
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Hike, Swim 0.7 mi
Dog Slaughter Falls
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Short Creek
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Clear Creek
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45.7 miles EA wide, level three-mile multi-use trail following a beautiful creek on a former railroad route through forest — open to hikers, bikers, horses, ORVs, and anglers, with swimming allowed in the creeks.
Hike, Horseback, Mountain Bike, Swim
