31 Free Swimming Holes near Old Fort, NC 28762
first prev 1 2 next lastShowing Swimming Holes within 50 miles Distance miles of Old Fort, NC 28762, USA City, Zip, or Address
Mount Mitchell Area
Trinity, North Carolina
12.2 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 0.8 mi
Hickory Nut Falls
Chimney Rock, North Carolina
13.6 miles SA 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
Linville Gorge Area
Marion, North Carolina
25.4 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
Wilson Creek Area
Collettsville, North Carolina
29.9 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
Stone Mountain State Park
Connelly Springs, North Carolina
30.3 miles ESwim near Connelly Springs, North Carolina
Swim
North Mills River
Mills River, North Carolina
30.4 miles SWA 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
Rock Creek
Unicoi, Tennessee
36.4 miles NA 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
Big Laurel Creek Area
Marshall, North Carolina
38.0 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
Dupont State Park
Wallace, North Carolina
38.5 miles SWSwim near Wallace, North Carolina
Swim
Davidson River Campground
Pisgah Forest, North Carolina
38.9 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
Big East Fork
Canton, North Carolina
40.3 miles SWHeavy 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
Looking Glass Falls
Brevard, North Carolina
40.4 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
40.4 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
Sapphire Area
Hot Springs, North Carolina
40.5 miles NWSeveral waterfalls with swimming within easy walking distance of each other on the Horsepasture River in the Sapphire area of North Carolina.
Swim
Sliding Rock
Hot Springs, North Carolina
40.5 miles NWA 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
Coontree Recreation Area
Brevard, North Carolina
40.5 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
Hot Springs Resort
Hot Springs, North Carolina
40.6 miles NWA privately operated outdoor resort with natural hot mineral water in private hot tubs — popular with visitors who split the cost, with mineral-rich water that relaxes and rejuvenates.
Swim
Rocky Bluff
Hot Springs, North Carolina
40.7 miles NWRocky 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
Elk River Falls
Elk Park, North Carolina
41.3 miles NSwim near Elk Park, North Carolina
Swim 0.8 mi
Daniel Ridge Falls
Brevard, North Carolina
41.9 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
