Old Rag Area - Swimming Hole near Crewe, Virginia
Crewe,Virginia
38.542, -78.367
8.9 miles N of Crewe, Virginia
GPS: 38°32'31.2"N 78°22'1.2"W
Maps | Directions
State: Virginia

Swim

There are numerous (we list 6 locations) swimming holes at the bottom of falls and elsewhere in rivers in the East Central region of the Shenandoah National Park, in the vicinity of Old Rag Mountain (a very popular climb), south of Sperryville. All of these swimming holes require hikes of varying length and strenuousness to reach. They can all be hiked to down from Skyline Drive or up from the vicinity of RT 231, south of Sperryville or RT 211, west of Sperryville...Courtesy of swimmingholes.org

Fees: Yes, at the lower end (Sperryville approach) to Whiteoak, Cedar and Nicholson- $5 per person on summ

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  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 Crewe, Virginia

  1. Head northwest on E Virginia Ave toward Tyler St (1.7 mi)
  2. Turn right onto VA-49 N/Watsons Wood Rd (1.9 mi)
  3. Turn right onto US-360 E (14.7 mi)
  4. Turn left onto State Rte 609 (7.2 mi)
  5. Turn left onto VA-609/VA-616 (0.4 mi)
  6. Turn right onto VA-609 (5.0 mi)
  7. Turn right onto VA-13 E (2.3 mi)
  8. Continue straight onto State Rte 1002 (0.3 mi)
  9. Continue onto US-522 N (9.2 mi)
  10. Turn left to stay on US-522 N (1.8 mi)
  11. Turn right to stay on US-522 N (7.2 mi)
  12. Turn left to merge onto I-64 W toward Charlottesville (22.3 mi)
  13. Take exit 136 for US-15 toward Gordonsville/Palmyra (0.2 mi)
  14. Turn right onto US-15 N (12.0 mi)
  15. At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto US-33 W/N Main St
    Continue to follow US-33 W
    (27.0 mi)
  16. Take the Skyline Drive exit toward Shenandoah/National Park (0.3 mi)
  17. Turn left onto Skyline Dr
    Parts of this road may be closed at certain times or days
    (20.3 mi)
  18. Turn right onto Whiteoak Fire Rd
    Restricted usage road
    (0.7 mi)
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Other Swimming Holes Nearby

Add Location 2.8 mi

Cedar Run Falls

Oldrag, Virginia

0.0 miles N

Six waterfalls, a natural waterslide, and a deep swimming hole reward experienced hikers who tackle this strenuous 8-mile, 2,794-ft-elevation Shenandoah trail.

Hike, Swim

swim Swimming Hole

hike Hiking Trail

Whiteoak Canyon

Syria, Virginia

1.5 miles N

A Shenandoah hike featuring both a two-tiered lower waterfall and a classic single-drop upper falls — with cool wading spots along the trail for a well-earned break before the 1,040-foot climb back.

Hike, Swim

swim Swimming Hole

hike Hiking Trail

Rose River

Syria, Virginia

1.9 miles S

A moderately difficult 4-mile forested loop in Shenandoah National Park descending to the Rose River and a stunning 67-foot waterfall — wading is possible in some spots.

Hike, Swim

swim Swimming Hole

hike Hiking Trail

0.3 mi

Big Rock Falls

Syria, Virginia

4.5 miles SW

A moderately challenging 1.5-mile trail follows Mill Prong River to a beautiful cascading waterfall with a swimming hole that fills up nicely at higher water levels.

Hike, Swim

swim Swimming Hole

hike Hiking Trail

Nicholson Hollow Trail

Morning Star, Virginia

4.9 miles N

An 8-mile moderately strenuous Shenandoah hike past stream crossings, small cascading waterfalls, shaded forest, and the historic Corbin Cabin — wading is possible in low-flow conditions.

Hike, Swim

swim Swimming Hole

hike Hiking Trail

Rapidan Rivers

Madison, Virginia

6.8 miles S

Swimming holes beneath small waterfalls along the Rapidan River in Shenandoah, accessible on short hikes — protected waters known for trout and catfish fishing.

Swim

swim Swimming Hole

5.2 mi

Hazel River Falls

Sperryville, Virginia

7.7 miles NE

A 5.3-mile moderate hike in Shenandoah National Park leading to two moss-covered waterfalls, a wading and swimming pool, flat sunbathing rocks, and small caves to explore.

Hike, Swim

swim Swimming Hole

hike Hiking Trail

Piney River

Sperryville, Virginia

12.6 miles NE

Multiple swimming holes along Piney River — including one beneath a small waterfall — reached by following Cumberland Trail through the forest near Sperryville.

Hike, Swim

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Rock Mills

Castleton, Virginia

14.9 miles NE

CLOSED. This property is owned by the Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church. Swimmers here without a permit will be prosecuted for trespassing. A classic all-American swimming hole with a tire and rope swing, a small sandy beach, and smaller pools for little ones — privately owned but open to the public near a historic country Baptist church.

Swim

swim Swimming Hole

3.8 mi

Overall Run Falls

Overall, Virginia

18.1 miles N

Virginia's longest consecutive waterfall anchors a challenging 8-mile Shenandoah hike with rock scrambles, cool river rest spots, and a deep swimming hole for experienced swimmers.

Hike, Swim

swim Swimming Hole

hike Hiking Trail

Fridley Gap

Keezletown, Virginia

18.8 miles W

A small, chest-deep swimming hole at the halfway point of a beautiful George Washington National Forest loop — cold all year and only 0.5 miles from the trailhead.

Hike, Swim

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Hazel Falls

Rixeyville, Virginia

20.1 miles E

A remote cool, clear swimming hole with a dual waterfall — an upper rocky overhang shelter pool and a deeper lower pool — reached by a mile-plus hike on Hazel Mountain and White Rocks Trails.

Swim

swim Swimming Hole

Overall Area

Crewe, Virginia

23.4 miles N

Swim near Crewe, Virginia

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Gooney Creek

Front Royal, Virginia

23.5 miles N

Camp, Hike, and Swim near Front Royal, Virginia

Camp, Hike, Swim

swim Swimming Hole

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

Elizabeth Furnace

Strasburg, Virginia

26.8 miles N

A recreation area in the Shenandoah with 32 electric campsites, miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, rock climbing access, and a Passage Creek swimming hole with a log to jump from.

Camp, Hike, Mountain Bike, Rock Climb, Swim

rock climb Rock Climbing Wall

mountain bike Mountain Bike Trail

swim Swimming Hole

hike Hiking Trail

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Buzzard Rock Hole

Strasburg, Virginia

27.8 miles N

A cold, clear, deep swimming hole below the iconic Buzzard Rock, with a sunbathing ledge all around — just note the rocky shallow bottom makes jumping unsafe.

Hike, Swim

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Charlottesville Area

Williamsville, Virginia

29.6 miles S

Two swimming spots north of Charlottesville, Virginia — a fee applies, so check details before heading out.

Swim

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6.1 mi

Rip Rap Hollow

Crozet, Virginia

33.2 miles SW

A 50-foot, mountain-fed swimming hole on a difficult 10-mile Shenandoah Valley loop that also passes Chimney Rock and a scenic waterfall — cold, clear, and worth the effort.

Hike, Swim

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Blue Hole Bergton

Bergton, Virginia

34.1 miles NW

A scenic day-use picnic area on a river in Rockingham County — flooding and erosion have made it shallower over time, best now for wading and enjoying the forest and rock surroundings.

Swim

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15.7 mi

Sugar Hollow

Crozet, Virginia

34.9 miles SW

An 11-mile loop starting and ending at Sugar Hollow Reservoir, passing Blue Hole and Rip Rap swimming holes — a hiker's way to combine challenge with a cool dip in Shenandoah.

Hike, Swim

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