31 Free Swimming Holes near Hickory Nut Falls
first prev 1 2 next lastShowing Swimming Holes within 50 miles Distance miles of Chimney Rock Park Rd, Chimney Rock, NC 28720, USA City, Zip, or Address
North Mills River
Mills River, North Carolina
22.6 miles WA campground in the Cherokee National Forest with creek swimming, fishing for rainbow and brook trout, and kid-favorite tubing — plus 31 picnic tables and educational summer programs nearby.
Swim
Mount Mitchell Area
Trinity, North Carolina
25.3 miles NA family swimming area on the South Toe River near Mount Mitchell in the Pisgah National Forest campgrounds — note that the site is closed seasonally and fees apply.
Camp, Swim
Dupont State Park
Wallace, North Carolina
26.6 miles SWSwim near Wallace, North Carolina
Swim
Davidson River Campground
Pisgah Forest, North Carolina
28.9 miles WA year-round campground in Pisgah National Forest just four miles from Brevard and less than an hour from Asheville, with shaded loops, hiking trails, waterfalls, and fishing spots nearby.
Camp, Hike, Swim
Coontree Recreation Area
Brevard, North Carolina
30.9 miles WA scenic picnic area on the Davidson River with direct access to calm, deep water for swimming and fishing — plus the 3.7-mile Coontree Loop Trail through Pisgah National Forest.
Hike, Mountain Bike, Swim
Looking Glass Falls
Brevard, North Carolina
31.0 miles WA cascading 60-foot waterfall over mossy stone with a wading pool below — just a short, beautiful walk from Pisgah Highway in Brevard, stunning in any season.
Hike, Swim 0.1 mi
Looking Glass Falls
Brevard, North Carolina
31.0 miles WOne of North Carolina's most popular and accessible waterfalls — the 60-foot Looking Glass Falls drops roadside along the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway in Pisgah National Forest, with easy viewing from the parking area or a short walk.
Swim
Big East Fork
Canton, North Carolina
32.5 miles WHeavy forest, multiple waterfalls, and a river that shifts from white rapids to calm swimming holes along Big East Fork in Pisgah National Forest — great for kayaking, camping, and swimming year-round.
Backpack, Hike, Kayak, Swim 0.8 mi
Daniel Ridge Falls
Brevard, North Carolina
32.5 miles WAn easy half-mile hike in Pisgah National Forest near Brevard to a 150-foot waterfall known by three names — most impressive after rain, modest in dry spells, with an optional 4-mile loop to the top.
Hike, Mountain Bike, Swim
Cove Creek Tubs
Brevard, North Carolina
33.8 miles WThree perfectly rounded pot holes — the Pisgah Forest's finest — stack up to 12 feet deep in sun-drenched pools that are best described as nature's own jacuzzi collection.
Swim
Whaleback Swimming Hole
Asheville, North Carolina
33.9 miles WA horseshoe of massive bedrock around a deep, green swimming hole where Cove Creek meets the Davidson River — locals' quiet answer to crowded Sliding Rock.
Swim
Skinny Dip Falls
Brevard, North Carolina
34.0 miles WA cascading waterfall with multiple clear pools for wading and swimming, a 6-foot jumping spot, and an easy 3/4-mile forested walk from the Blue Ridge Parkway — swimmers should mind fast water and slippery rocks.
Hike, Swim 0.2-2.8 mi
Graveyard Fields
Brevard, North Carolina
34.7 miles WTwo cascading waterfalls — a swimmable Lower Falls just 1/3 mile from the road, and a more challenging Upper Falls on a 3.5-mile wildflower loop — make this a must-see hike.
Hike, Swim
Stone Mountain State Park
Connelly Springs, North Carolina
35.7 miles ESwim near Connelly Springs, North Carolina
Swim 1.8 mi
Flat Laurel Creek
38.0 miles W
A 3.18-mile multi-use trail following Flat Laurel Creek through colorful rock formations and forest, with distant views of Sam Knob and a small waterfall — open year round.
Hike, Horseback, Mountain Bike, Swim
Linville Gorge Area
Marion, North Carolina
38.2 miles NELinville Gorge's deep swimming holes reward serious adventurers who navigate rough roads and steep trails — but the gorge is easy to get lost in, so go prepared.
Swim
Courthouse Falls
38.2 miles W
A gorgeous 45-foot waterfall streams into a stunning blue-green pool in a greenery-covered cliff cove — just a 3/4-mile easy hike from the parking lot, open year-round.
Hike, Swim
Sunburst
Canton, North Carolina
39.3 miles WSunburst is a refreshing mountain getaway along the West Fork of the Pigeon River in North Carolina's Pisgah National Forest, tucked into the high, forested country south of Canton and...
Swim
Wilson Creek Area
Collettsville, North Carolina
42.5 miles NENumerous waterfalls and swimming holes tucked throughout the Wilson Creek area — most require short or longer hikes to find, but all are gems worth the effort in the Pisgah National Forest.
Swim
Big Laurel Creek Area
Marshall, North Carolina
43.2 miles NWA family-friendly hike along Big Laurel Creek to multiple swimming holes — and a classic Class III–IV whitewater run for paddlers making the transition to creek boating.
Hike, Kayak, Swim, Whitewater
