39 Free Swimming Holes near Mills River, NC
first prev 1 2 next lastShowing Swimming Holes within 50 miles Distance miles of Mills River, NC, USA City, Zip, or Address
North Mills River
Mills River, North Carolina
4.8 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
Davidson River Campground
Pisgah Forest, North Carolina
11.5 miles SWA 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
Looking Glass Falls
Brevard, North Carolina
13.1 miles SWA 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
13.1 miles SWOne 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
Coontree Recreation Area
Brevard, North Carolina
13.1 miles SWA 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
Dupont State Park
Wallace, North Carolina
13.2 miles SSwim near Wallace, North Carolina
Swim
Big East Fork
Canton, North Carolina
14.2 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
14.6 miles SWAn 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
Skinny Dip Falls
Brevard, North Carolina
15.7 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
Cove Creek Tubs
Brevard, North Carolina
15.8 miles SWThree 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
15.9 miles SWA 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 0.2-2.8 mi
Graveyard Fields
Brevard, North Carolina
16.5 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 0.8 mi
Hickory Nut Falls
Chimney Rock, North Carolina
18.3 miles EA waterfall inside Chimney Rock State Park operated as a private concession — admission fee applies; see the park website for current pricing and details.
Hike, Swim 1.8 mi
Flat Laurel Creek
19.8 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
Courthouse Falls
20.2 miles SW
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
21.1 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
Bear Creek Area
Tuckasegee, North Carolina
27.2 miles WSeveral remote swimming holes in lakes along Route 281 southeast of Sylva and Cullowhee — bathing suits optional at most spots, given how far off the beaten path they are.
Swim
Big Creek Area
Tuckasegee, North Carolina
27.2 miles WSeveral remote swimming holes near the TN-NC border in the Big Creek Recreation Area of the Great Smoky Mountains — very secluded, and dogs are not allowed on the trail.
Swim
Moonshine Falls Area
Bishopville, South Carolina
29.9 miles SWSwim near Bishopville, South Carolina
Swim 1.3 mi
Rainbow Falls
Lake Toxaway, North Carolina
30.3 miles SWA 150-foot spectacular cascade on the Horsepasture River can be admired from front, side, bottom, and top — one showstopper in a 2-mile series of incredible falls.
Hike, Swim
