36 Free Swimming Holes near Hot Springs Resort
first prev 1 2 next lastShowing Swimming Holes within 50 miles Distance miles of 1 Surpentine Ave, Hot Springs, NC 28743, USA City, Zip, or Address
Sliding Rock
Hot Springs, North Carolina
2.4 miles SA 60-foot natural rock waterslide into an 8-foot-deep, 50-to-60-degree pool — lifeguard on duty Memorial Day to Labor Day, with a $5 entry fee per person.
Swim
Sapphire Area
Hot Springs, North Carolina
2.4 miles SSeveral waterfalls with swimming within easy walking distance of each other on the Horsepasture River in the Sapphire area of North Carolina.
Swim
Rocky Bluff
Hot Springs, North Carolina
2.4 miles SWRocky Bluff is a tranquil mountain getaway in the Pisgah National Forest near Hot Springs, North Carolina, where a wooded campground sits beside the lovely Spring Creek just a few miles south of...
Camp, Hike, Swim
Big Laurel Creek Area
Marshall, North Carolina
3.3 miles EA 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
French Broad
Del Rio, Tennessee
11.1 miles WSwim near Del Rio, Tennessee
Swim
Old Forge Campground
Bethany, Tennessee
16.0 miles NEPrimitive walk-in camping on scenic Jennings Creek in the Cherokee National Forest, with small waterfalls, swimming holes, and hiking trails right from camp — bring your own water.
Camp, Hike, Swim
Horse Creek Campground
Chuckey, Tennessee
17.7 miles NEA Cherokee National Forest campground beside Horse Creek with fifteen sites, picnic tables, fishing for rainbow and brook trout, creek swimming, and 31 day-use picnic tables — $10/night camping fee.
Camp, Swim
Mouse Creek Falls
Waynesville, North Carolina
20.4 miles SWMouse Creek Falls is one of the finest waterfall hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a two-tiered 45-foot cascade where Mouse Creek spills down a mossy rock face and empties straight into...
Swim
Cosby Campground
Cosby, Tennessee
23.3 miles SWCamp and Swim near Cosby, Tennessee
Camp, Swim
Rock Creek
Unicoi, Tennessee
31.4 miles NEA man-made concrete-bottom stream-fed pool with a sandy beach and short waterfall makes Rock Creek a refreshing — if chilly in June — summer splash near Unicoi.
Swim 3.8 mi
Ramsey Cascades
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
32.5 miles SWRamsey Cascades is the tallest waterfall in Great Smoky Mountains National Park — a thundering 100-foot, multi-tiered cascade hidden deep in the old-growth forest of the Greenbrier area near...
Hike, Kayak, Swim, Whitewater
Little Pigeon River
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
34.7 miles WSeven accessible swimming holes and tubing spots on the Little Pigeon River, surrounded by beautiful Smoky Mountain scenery near Gatlinburg's attractions.
Swim
North Mills River
Mills River, North Carolina
35.0 miles SA 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
35.5 miles EA 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
Big East Fork
Canton, North Carolina
36.5 miles SHeavy 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
Sunburst
Canton, North Carolina
36.7 miles SSunburst 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 1.8 mi
Flat Laurel Creek
39.3 miles S
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
Skinny Dip Falls
Brevard, North Carolina
39.4 miles SA 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
39.6 miles STwo 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 0.1 mi
Looking Glass Falls
Brevard, North Carolina
41.4 miles SOne 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
