Mule Hollow - Swimming Hole near Elkins, West Virginia
Volga, WV 26238, USA,Elkins,Virginia
38.7996, -79.7512
10.1 miles SE of Elkins, West Virginia
Address: Volga, WV 26238, USA
GPS: 38°47'58.6"N 79°45'4.3"W
Maps | Directions
State: Virginia
Trails/Routes: 1.2 mi

State Park

Swim

Mule Hollow is a more private swimming hole just outside of Bemis. The swimming hole itself is located in Shaver's Fork river, and is a deep pool with little current from the river felt as you swim in it. There are large, flat rocks surrounding the pool that are perfect to get some sun on or place your personal items. To get to Mule Hollow, you have to walk along some train tracks. These tracks may have nails, or other sharp objects poking out or around it so wear sturdy shoes to prevent injury. You will walk on these tracks for about a mile. Because this area is a little more obscure and difficult to get to, it doesn't get as many visitors which makes it the perfect place for you to go if you don't enjoy lots of shouting and just want to enjoy the nature around you. A large rock hangs over the pool that you can swim underneath to get some cover from the warm sun. This area is best during the summer time, specifically in July. The water is refreshing and warm from the sun rays. Make sure to bring sunscreen and water with you!

 

 

 

525 Written by tward

More Information

Facebook

Explore the things you love.

https://www.facebook.com/
Add Resource

Link to another great resource

  1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
  2. Travel & camp on durable surfaces
  3. Dispose of waste properly
  4. Leave what you find
  5. Minimize campfire impacts
  6. Respect wildlife
  7. Be considerate of other visitors

Directions

From Elkins, West Virginia

  1. Head north on Henry Ave toward Randolph Ave/Seneca Trail (72 ft)
  2. Turn right onto Randolph Ave/Seneca Trail
    Pass by Hardee's (on the left in 0.4 mi)
    (0.7 mi)
  3. Turn left onto US-33 E (12.0 mi)
  4. Turn right onto Glady Road (9.4 mi)
  5. Turn right onto Bemis Rd (2.1 mi)
  6. Turn left
    Restricted usage road
    (0.4 mi)
or

To get to Mule Hollow, go to the train tracks in Bemis and walk south along the railroad tracks (there is no trail to here) for about 1 mile (25-30 minutes). Watch out for the excursion trains several times a day - be careful. (The excursion trains DO NOT stop at Mule Hollow - you have to walk.) Follow the tracks, which will begin to follow the river closely after a while, until you reach an almost hidden, steep little trail on the left with a small tree stump at the top (the trail is pretty steep so you might want to bring a rope) and you're there.Courtesy of swimmingholes.org

to add photos & videos and suggest edits

Guest Review/Comments

/5
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Edit Review Delete Review

Darrel Bickel

10/22/22 1:43 pm
That sounds like the place I swam in as a kid. We called it Mule Hole. The area with the 10-12 foot rock overhang was the main swim hole but upstream of this were a series of waterfalls that the river over the centuries had bored chutes and tubes in one could ride down and shoot out below the falls. I was in grade school and slim and trim then. But if you can get in same the size stays the same throughout. The main down side was the stone tunnels and slides could wear out denim shorts, pockets and all, in a few hours, regular bathing suits would last a fraction of that. If you did not bring some other pants going home would not have many stops. Mule Hole also had a mountain spring in the wall on the other, Eastern I think, side. I would hope it is still drinkable, but it was ice cold when it came out of that wall and ran done to the river. You do have to be able to swim back with a pitcher of water in your hand to enjoy it with meals. Now the current seemed calm in that deep hole that is about 20 feet deep, but I know one time I had started from the last falls base, and was going downstream to where a friend was on a rock and his face suddenly had a panic look as he pointed in my direction, when I began to drift back upstream I went to a freestyle stroke and beet the whirlpool pulling me toward it. So from time to time the current gets visible. Now a half mile or so up stream was a wide shallow area with sink holes. I think that was a river crossing point over a century back. I stepped into one of the sink spots and found a large wagon wheel rim, and rolled it back to the swim hole to show others. Well it was too big to bring home, at least six feet in diameter, and got left there. As I understand it was used by others to contain a camp fire on the rock and when they left for home, they pushed the fire and wagon wheel rim into the hole. It may be about 20 feet down in the swim hole, somewhere downstream, or somebody rolled it back to a vehicle and took it home for a pot rack or something. Before you go to get it you might want to remember it will be light in the water, but gets real heavy once it's above water. And take some extra cloths.
Reply
Edit Review Delete Review
Reply Cancel
Mule Hollow Swimming Hole by Mark Pirritano
BACKDIVE MULES HOLE BEMIS WV by Danny Morici 2013.07.17 Shavers Fork of the Cheat River, near B by klondike108
525

Added by tward

Other Swimming Holes Nearby

Add Location

Bemis Area

Volga, West Virginia

2.4 miles SW

Swim near Volga, West Virginia

Swim

swim Swimming Hole

High Falls

Elkins West, Virginia

3.5 miles S

A 7.5-mile moderate hike or mountain bike ride in West Virginia leading to a spectacular waterfall with a swimming hole below — or skip the hike and ride the train in from Bemis for about $10.

Hike, Swim

swim Swimming Hole

hike Hiking Trail

Stuart

Elkins, West Virginia

8.6 miles N

An attractive, well-developed swimming spot in West Virginia with cool water, a sandy beach, and a safe, calm atmosphere — day use runs $3.

Swim

swim Swimming Hole

Upper Falls of Seneca Creek

Whitmer, West Virginia

14.1 miles E

A 30-foot cascade tumbles into a deep green pool at the end of a 5-mile moderately challenging hike through beautiful creek and forest scenery in West Virginia.

Swim

swim Swimming Hole

Otter Creek Area

Parsons, West Virginia

17.7 miles N

A network of swimming spots in and around Otter Creek Wilderness in the Monongahela National Forest — remote, scenic, and clothing optional in some areas.

Swim

swim Swimming Hole

Kumbrabow State Park

Valley Head, West Virginia

18.2 miles SW

Swim near Valley Head, West Virginia

Swim

swim Swimming Hole

Seneca Falls

Seneca Rocks, West Virginia

20.2 miles E

A moderately difficult 3.5-mile forested hike to Seneca Falls — a cascade encircling a clear pool with a sloping rocky beach where you can swim right beneath the falls.

Hike, Swim

swim Swimming Hole

hike Hiking Trail

Seneca Area

Shady Spring, West Virginia

20.8 miles E

Swim near Shady Spring, West Virginia

Swim

swim Swimming Hole

Cave Hole

Seneca Rocks, West Virginia

20.8 miles E

A free, fee-free swimming hole on the North Fork South Branch Potomac River near Seneca Rocks, with blue-green water, a rocky beach, cliff reflections, and shaded alcoves — no diving.

Swim

swim Swimming Hole

Audra State Park

Volga, West Virginia

23.8 miles NW

An organized river swimming area at Audra State Park in West Virginia — a concrete pad beach with lifeguards in a scenic river setting. Fees apply.

Swim

swim Swimming Hole

Red Creek

Davis, West Virginia

25.3 miles NE

A remote West Virginia canyon hides multiple waterfalls, natural water slides, and deep swimming pools along a 6.3-mile out-and-back through dramatic rock formations.

Camp, Hike, Kayak, Swim

swim Swimming Hole

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

kayak Kayaking Area

Horseshoe Bend Area

Webster Springs, West Virginia

27.6 miles N

Swim near Webster Springs, West Virginia

Swim

swim Swimming Hole

Big Bend

Cabins, West Virginia

28.0 miles E

A sandy-beached swimming hole on the Potomac River with deep enough water for splashing and a circular current perfect for tubing — plus a campground with showers and fire pits.

Swim

swim Swimming Hole

Elk River Area

Masontown, West Virginia

29.2 miles SW

Swim near Masontown, West Virginia

Swim

swim Swimming Hole

River Access Hole

Cabins, West Virginia

30.2 miles NE

Scenic forested rock formations and the rushing North Fork South Branch of the Potomac River offer wading, swimming, fly fishing, and float access — wear foot protection in the rocky riverbed.

Canoe, Kayak, Swim, Whitewater

swim Swimming Hole

canoe Canoeing Area

kayak Kayaking Area

whitewater Whitewater Rapid

Holly River State Park

Webster Springs, West Virginia

32.8 miles W

Swim near Webster Springs, West Virginia

Swim

swim Swimming Hole

Petersburg Area

Parsons, West Virginia

38.3 miles E

Swim near Parsons, West Virginia

Swim

swim Swimming Hole

Welton Park

Petersburg, West Virginia

38.3 miles E

A beautiful 29-acre riverside park on the Potomac River with beach and dock access, kayak and canoe put-in, picnic areas, campsites, a playground, and a growing holiday light show.

Swim

swim Swimming Hole

Williams River Area

White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia

39.1 miles SW

Several swimming holes in and near the Cranberry Wilderness of West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest — bathing suits optional.

Swim

swim Swimming Hole

Kingwood Area

Webster Springs, West Virginia

42.8 miles N

Swim near Webster Springs, West Virginia

Swim

swim Swimming Hole

More Similar Arenas Near Mule Hollow:

Swimming Holes Things to Do

Nearby Campsites

More Campsites Near Mule Hollow:

Campsites

Embed Arena

Where do you plan to embed this code?

<script src="https://www.freearenas.com/embed/a5ff31787"></script>

Copy
×
loading...

Edit Your Experience

Log Your Visit to This Location

We've logged that you went. Is there anything else you want to add?

Thank you for your review/comment

We've recorded your comments. Is there anything else you want to add?

By recording your visit on FreeArenas.com, you'll have a collection of all the great places you've been and provide valuable information for yourself and others in the future.

Have you been to this location?

/5
Cancel

Donate to the Cause

Help us inspire and inform every person to enjoy life and the great outdoors in a responsible way. There's a lot of ways to do this. Here's a few ways we're working on our mission right now: Providing information, Building and maintaining local trails, Helping and teaching kids to fix their bikes, Cleaning up local parks to provide safe and clean places to enjoy nature. Learn More

Update Review

/5

New Collection

Add an Arena

Just some quick info about this location to get started...