Uproxx
As temperatures across the United States reach the triple digits, people willing to brave life beyond the reach of air conditioning gather at beaches, pools, and music festivals in droves. Now don’t get it twisted, we love a good stretch of sand or heavily chlorinated waterpark, but when it comes to truly connecting with nature the classic swimming hole is an unbeatable All-American classic.
Of course, opinions about what makes a “swimming hole” vary. Like art and pornography: you know them when you see them. Some are idyllic grottos. Others are quarries. Others still are parts of creeks or rivers. The key is a little bit of intimacy, a bigger bit of adventure, and a whole ton of water.
In a lot of cases, swimming hole trips are purely word-of-mouth affairs — which makes finding them nearly impossible if you don’t know the right mouths. So, in an effort to aid you, we’ve identified the best spot that each state in the Southeast has to offer. You don’t need to spend all of your time cruising highways and byways listening for the sounds of people splashing and cannonballing, just read on, then jump into the comments to tell us about your own fave swimming holes in the region.
Virginia: Dismal Falls (Pearisburg)
If the summer heat has got you down and you want to spend time at a Virginia swimming hole under a canopy of trees, Dismal Falls is ideal (despite its gloomy ass name). A 40-foot wide falls drops 12-feet into a striking pool of water. On either side of the waterfall are ledges for climbing and jumping. On one side, the ledge is stratified, like a pile of books, making them great for posing for choice bathing beauty pics.
Although the pool is in a National Forest, it’s very secluded and the tree coverage keeps it fairly well shielded from the nearby road. This is one reason so many people choose to swim sans suit. Get there on a weekday and you may be completely alone.
Unlike the more popular 66-foot Cascades waterfall in Giles County, Dismal Falls is totally free to visit. Even the nearby campgrounds don’t have a fee.
West Virginia: Shupe’s Chute (Holly River State Park)
Nestled in the Holly River State Park, Shupe’s Chute is the very model of a modern major waterfall/swimming hole combo. The north fork of the Holly River is routed through a cleft in the quartzite bedrock of wooded, cliffs and falls into a deep, turquoise pool of cool water. The sound of the rushing water can be deafening when the current is strong and the water is high. A little bit further downstream are smaller falls and a tiny, quiet swimming hole, but Shupe’s Chute is so picturesque and refreshing that we wouldn’t go anywhere else if we could help it.
The chute is named for longtime park administrator Walter Shupe, who you are encouraged to ask about at the ranger station. If you have a chance to speak to him, he is a wealth of knowledge about the park and surrounding area.
Tennessee: Rutledge Falls (Tullahoma)
Hidden away on private property, Crumpton Creek drops 40-feet at Rutledge Falls and continues west to Normandy Lake. Generously deemed open to the public by the owners, this continuously cold water constitutes the perfect swimming hole for fighting the Tennessee heat.
Because the swimming hole isn’t maintained by a parks system, many find it a bit difficult to find. There aren’t any signs. Most people use the Rutledge Falls Baptist Church as a landmark, parking across the street at the trailhead. From there, it’s just a short hike away. However, short doesn’t mean easy. You do have to scramble down some slippery rocks. But, once you get to the bottom of the trail and have Rutledge Falls in view, the sheer majesty of it is undeniable.
Exploring the area is a lot of fun. You will probably find yourself face-to-face with a statue of a female figure that used to be part of a set of three gaslight standards installed at the State Capitol grounds in the 1860s. The former owner of the falls rescued her during a renovation and dubbed her the Lady of the Falls when he installed her on his property near the swimming hole.
North Carolina: Hooker Falls (Cedar Mountain)
Hooker Falls is on the Little River in DuPont State Forest, and it is one of four major falls in the area (but this is the only one safe for swimming). A 14-foot falls, it cascades into an amazing swimming hole that is only a quarter mile from the parking area. This pool of chilly, water is great for a swim, but a lot of people also like floating on inflatables. Plus, you can actually walk behind the falls like a pirate looking for a hideout and swing from a rope swing.
Recent renovations to add changing rooms and restrooms is indicative of the growing popularity of this swimming hole. It also means the parking area is being reduced. Combined, the result is that you need to get there before the crowds or have a backup plan.
It’s worth noting that the falls was named for Edmund Hooker, the operator of a mill below the falls in the 1800s and not for sex workers. We are still on the lookout for swimming holes named for people in the sex industry.
South Carolina: Chau Ram Falls (Westminster)
Located in the Sumter National Forest, this swimming hole’s name is a portmanteau of the Chauga River and Ramsey Creek. The falls are actually a pleasant 40-foot cascade created when the Ramsey Creek empties into the Chauga River. This swimming destination is a bit of a secret (even to locals, many of whom don’t know that the park exists). They are really missing out because there are so many aspects of this area that are great for summer fun. You have the falls, sandy beaches, and four major sets of rapids for people who want to kayak or tube. Plus, it’s not far from a beautiful suspension bridge — the longest in the county.
There is a really convenient campground if you want to make this more than a day trip and take advantage of the water activities as well as the four miles of hiking trails along the river.
Arkansas: Twin Falls (Witts Springs)
We love swimming holes. Fact. We also love symmetry, so the Twin Falls of Devil’s Fork is a choice place to do some swimming, splashing, and photographing as far as we are concerned. Some people say that one of the falls is called the Falling Water Waterfall (uh, okay), but we mostly hear the pair referred to as the Big Devil’s Fork Falls and the Long Devil’s Fork Falls because those are the names of the rivers that meet at this gorgeous blue pool. This is legitimately one of the most beautiful twin falls sets in all of the nation, and it’s also super exciting when the water is high and kayakers come plunging down the falls.
If you’re up for a hike, make your way to a part of the recreation area called the Sand Stone Castle, a hidden area once used by outlaws. It is a maze of rooms and entrances in the bluff line that feel like a real hideaway.
Georgia: Edge of the World, Amicola River (Dawsonville)
Wanna spend an entire day chilling and enjoying the sun? Take an easy hike along the Amicola River Trail until you reach this choice swimming hole. There’s plenty of space to soak, wade, and lollygag on the rocks. People still lollygag, right?
River rocks form natural slides into water that varies in depth — allowing for swimming as well as seated soaking. There are plenty of exposed rocky areas you can sit on when sunning yourself and/or posing sultrily for photos. It is a popular spot because of its innate perfection and crowds will gather, but that means you can make some friends or arrange to arrive before the day’s peak hours.
Dawson County also has the tallest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River, and a big moonshine history, so why not visit Amicalola Falls while you are in the area and the Dawsonville Moonshine Distillery?
Louisiana: South Toledo Bend State Park (Anacoco)
Toledo Bend in the western part of the state is home to a fantastic reservoir that serves as a prime swimming hole. In one of the most beautiful state parks in Louisiana, the water is used for boating, paddle boarding, and fishing (it’s the number one bass lake in the nation), as well as swimming.
Luckily, there are several small swimming holes that are part of the reservoir, so you aren’t competing for space to get your swim on. This is the largest manmade lake in the southern States, so space isn’t exactly at a premium. There are sandstone boulders, rock ledges, and small rapids to provide variety to the landscape. Plus, the water is clear, swift, and cool.
About 10 miles south of the lake sits the Hodges Garden, a 700-acre scenic garden on the site of an old rock quarry. It also houses a 225-acre lake that feeds waterfalls, geysers, and fountains. Looking for photo opps? You’ve found them.
Alabama: The Hippie Hole (Fort Payne)
Without a doubt, this is one of the best named swimming holes on the list. Even if the official name is Martha’s Falls, we are totally going to follow the lead of the locals and keep calling it The Hippie Hole.
Located in Little River Canyon in northeastern Alabama, this swimming hole requires you to hike about a mile from the Little River Canyon Falls parking lot, but it’s totally worth it to frolic in the falls and enjoy the rock formations that surround the water. With cliffs ranging from 5 to 25 feet, divers of all levels can get wild.
When you are all tuckered out from swimming and sunning, stop at nearby convenience store Ralph’s Little River Canyon Grocery, which has a café that serves up topnotch southern cuisine. For sure get a burger but don’t forget the fried okra.
Mississippi: Merit Water Park (Mendenhall)
Merit Water Park isn’t a series of waterslides erected theme park style over a cement foundation. Nope. It’s 25 acres located on Rials Creek in Simpson County. It has a waterfall (yes, we are waterfall junkies) and an old-fashioned swimming hole. Both a sand and a rock, creek-side beach are sunning options, but most people throw down a towel on the large rocks that punctuate the water. The broad rock formations not only provide a dock of sorts to sit on; they also form chutes, pools, and jacuzzies.
Be warned: the water is spring-fed, so it is cold even in the peak heat of summer. It’s also some of the most pristine H2O in the state. It is legit crystal clear, though it looks brown in some images. The camera captures the bottom of the creek through the transparent water and makes it appear that the pools of water are themselves discolored.
Florida: Wekiwa Springs (Apopka)
We want to tell you to go to Weeki Wachee Springs, where women have been doing mermaid shows in one of the deepest, naturally formed underwater caverns since 1947. But to swim there, you have to do a lot of training and wear a seashell bra and tail, so we know that it’s not a viable option for everyone (but look it up and go there anyway).
Instead, we recommend a swim in Wekiwa Springs located at the headwaters of the Wekiwa River. It provides the opportunity to see a bit of central Florida that has remained roughly the same for hundreds of years. Because the swimming hole is only 20 minutes north of Orlando and is breathtaking, it gets a lot of traffic. Arrive early.
In addition to all the swimsuit-clad fun you can have, there is also canoeing, kayaking, hiking, cycling, and horseback riding in the state park that houses the spring, so why not make a real vacation of it and stay for a few days?
Kentucky: Dog Slaughter Falls (Corbin)
Look, we didn’t name it. Apparently, early settlers named the Dog Slaughter Creek and Falls after the drowning of unwanted pets or the death of hunting dogs due to predatory wildlife. But, really?
Name aside, this waterfall and swimming hole in the Cumberland Falls Resort Park is beautiful. It is a moderate hike to get there, but because of that you may have the place to yourself. And, should you be quiet, you can end up watching deer swimming through the hole. The water is deep enough to swim about for whitetails and people, and there are tons of boulders you can sun yourself on. Setting up a hammock is even an option.
Some of the hike in involves walking over stones that can be slick. Be sure to wear good shoes or hiking boots. And, as long as we’re being your mom, bring sunscreen and reapply it regularly.
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