10 Mountain Swimming Holes Near Asheville NC

These swimming holes near Asheville are perfect summer havens for cooling off in the hot North Carolina summers.

From calm waters in lakes and rivers to cool pools of water at the foot of waterfalls, you can find exciting and beautiful places to swim near Asheville.

Some of my favorites are:

• Sliding Rock
• Elk River Falls
• Looking Glass Falls

Let’s dive in and learn about some of the best swimming holes in the area!

10 Mountain Swimming Holes Near Asheville NC

Hooker Falls

Hooker Falls is one of the waterfalls near Asheville you can swim in. For those looking for swimming holes near Asheville, you really can’t beat Hooker Falls as it is one of the most visually stunning areas in the DuPont National Forest.

The waterfall is only twelve feet tall, but is very wide, creating a beautiful location for swimming, photography, relaxing, hiking, and picnicking. You can easily access the waterfall via a short walk from the parking area. While you are in this area, keep in mind that campfires and cooking fires are not allowed.

In the parking area, you will find changing rooms and restrooms. As an added bonus for dog parents, dogs are welcome here! Just know that they must be on a leash at all times.

While this is a popular swimming area in the summer amongst locals and visitors, it is important to remember that swimming underneath waterfalls can be dangerous and you should exercise caution at all times, especially if you are visiting with little ones.

Lake Lure

Lake Lure is among the greatest swimming spots near Asheville! Lake Lure Beach provides a hundred yards of clean sandy beach, a water park with water games and slides, a large covered picnic shelter, a large parking area, and of course, one of the best swimming holes near Asheville.

Having access to a fantastic swimming location and a sandy beach while being surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains isn’t a common occurrence, so the swimming hole at Lake Lure is really quite the treat.

What I really love about this beach in the Blue Ridge Mountains is all of the restaurants and points of interest nearby. When you are done swimming, you have several restaurants within ten minutes of the beach and attractions as well, including Chimney Rock State Park.

Silver Run Falls

Possibly the most desirable of the Asheville mountain swimming holes is Silver Run Falls. Easily getting the name as one of the best swimming holes near Asheville, Silver Run Falls is located in the Nantahala National Forest just four miles south of Cashiers, North Carolina.

The waterfall stands twenty-five feet high. It drops to a tranquil pool below with a little beach area that you can relax on while you enjoy the relaxing sounds of the waterfall. It is easy to see why this is one of my favorite waterfalls in North Carolina and one of the most popular swimming spots in the mountains.

As such a popular point of interest, it can be crowded in the summer months with visitors swimming as they try to escape the summer heat. Another reason making this such a popular swimming hole is that it is safe for young children.

The waterfall can be reached along the forest road; you will see a small parking area beside the road that holds 4-5 cars. From there, you will walk approximately a quarter of a mile, passing a couple of observation points before you reach the waterfall.

Sliding Rock

Each summer, thousands of adults and children alike head to the natural water slide called Sliding Rock as it is home to one of the top swimming holes in the NC mountains. And like with most swimming holes near Asheville, Sliding Rock is packed in the peak heat of the summer.

One of the best things to do in Asheville, Sliding Rock is a sixty-foot flat and sloping boulder where you will find visitors patiently lined up on the sidelines for their chance to slide down. You will fall down into the eight-foot pool of water that is chilly 50-60 degrees!

More than 11,000 feet of water rushes down the natural slide each minute! If you aren’t interested in sliding down, you can enjoy the observation areas or just watch from the shoreline. There is a small fee to enter and children three and under are free. Be sure not to slide during thunderstorms or high water.

This is truly one of my favorite things to do near Asheville!

Looking Glass Falls

The trail to Looking Glass Fall is a short seven minutes and it is one of my favorite Asheville hikes with swimming holes! While the waterfall itself is quite popular amongst visitors to North Carolina, it is also home to one of the best swimming holes near Asheville.

Located in Pisgah National Forest, visiting this waterfall allows you access to one of the top hikes in North Carolina. However, the waterfall is also accessible from the roadside, making it ideal for visitors with mobility or walking challenges.

The waterfall drops a dramatic sixty feet into a shallow pool of water below. While you are there, you will notice people sitting along the water’s edge on the rocks in the pool. This is the perfect location to soak up the sun and enjoy the views and sounds of the waterfall.

While you will be visiting in the summer for perfect swimming conditions, you should also consider returning in the winter. The cold temperature creates stunning ice formations around the waterfall; perfect for photographers!

Wildcat Lake

When looking for places to swim near Asheville, Wildcat Lake should be on your radar! Not only is it home to one of the best swimming holes near Asheville, but it’s also one of the top things to do in Banner Elk, North Carolina.

This incredible lake is thirteen acres and is home to a white sandy beach, an old-fashioned swimming hole, a fishing dock, and more. You can enjoy swimming in the calm waters here from Memorial Day to Labor Day where you have the benefits of a lifeguard on duty and boating is limited to kayaking and canoeing.

This is also a great place to fish if you are interested! The lake is stocked with bluegill, bass, trout, and more. You can fish here seven days a week with a North Carolina state fishing license.

Elk River Falls

Elk River Falls is another one of the incredible swimming holes in North Carolina that you won’t want to miss! It’s also one of the top waterfalls near Boone and Blowing Rock, North Carolina so be sure to add this incredible attraction to your itinerary!

I love a lot about this waterfall, but what really makes it one of the top swimming holes near Asheville how there are various depths of water for wading and swimming. If you have small kids or you just want to put your feet in the water, there are shallow areas for you! Also, great for those visiting with dogs.

While there is a pool of water directly beneath this remarkable fifty-foot mountain waterfall, that is not the swimming hole. It is important that you know, the swimming areas are down from the waterfall, not directly underneath it.

No diving is allowed here and no swimming under the falls is allowed as the swift current has caused injuries and deaths. That said, the shallow areas down from the falls are extremely popular and totally free to enjoy.

Schoolhouse Falls

Schoolhouse Falls is home to one of the greatest Asheville swimming holes, not to mention being near many of the best campgrounds in North Carolina. Like with most swimming holes near Asheville, Schoolhouse Falls can get pretty crowded during the summer, but don’t let that dissuade you from visiting!

Dropping only twenty feet, this isn’t one of the tallest waterfalls in western North Carolina, but it is still a beauty! Located in the Nantahala National Forest, the cascade free falls into a charming and calm pool of water below that is safe for wading and swimming.

You can hike to this waterfall is 2.5 miles round trip. You depart from Cold Mountain Gap Trailhead before following along the Panthertown Valley Trail. The trail will take you through the woods and over a wooden bridge before you reach the waterfall. Ranked as moderate in difficulty, most visitors will be able to hike the trail.

Midnight Hole

Say hello to one of the greatest things to do in the Smoky Mountains. Midnight Hole is not only one of the best swimming holes near Asheville but one of the best swimming holes in North Carolina! A popular swimming hole amongst teens, adults, and families, there is swimming, creekside hiking, and jumping at Midnight Hole.

Crystal-clear water and huge boulders make this a beautiful and exciting place to jump in the water and swim. During the summer, you can expect the area to be busy; from 10 am to 5 pm, the area will be full of people of all ages enjoying the swimming opportunity and scenery.

You have to hike 1.4 miles to reach this swimming hold. However, in the heat of the summer, the cold and crisp water is super refreshing and just what you need to survive the hot North Carolina summer months.

Bust Your Butt Falls

Easily one of the best swimming holes in Asheville, Bust Your Butt Falls is an impeccable swimming hole with a natural waterslide on the Cullasaja River. If you find yourself near Highlands, don’t skip over Bust Your Butt Falls as it is truly one of the top swimming holes near Asheville.

Highlands is one of the best North Carolina mountain towns to visit in western Asheville and this incredible waterfall is a must-experience when in the area. You can reach the waterfall off of Highway 64 where you will take a short walk over some rocks from the parking area.

Along with the natural waterfall, there is a rope swing and a jump-off rock. Many boulders around the area give you spots to sit and watch, sunbathe, or picnic. A couple of things to keep in mind: stay out of the water when the water is high and be very careful on the boulders as they can be very slick.

Now that you have learned a bit about the best swimming holes near Asheville as well as how to stay safe at them as well, which of these awesome places to swim in North Carolina will you be adding to your bucket list?