There’s no better way to beat the heat of the summer than cooling down in an old fashion swimming hole. Yes, old fashion, before concrete pools and water parks became popular, there were natural swimming holes. Natural swimming pools are a perfect getaway from crowded water parks and chlorinated water.
In the Upstate alone, there are many lakes and ponds where you can swim freely and be close to nature and enjoy its natural beauty. But for those who’s looking for an incredible fun adventure less than two hours from Greenville, there’s one place you should check.
Located on Looking Glass Creek in the Pisgah National Forest near Brevard, NC, Sliding Rock is a fantastic rock waterfall that is so smooth you can literally slide down the rocks and plunge into a 6-7 feet swimming hole. Sounds fun isn’t it? It is.
It is really a great place for family and everyone will surely enjoy. There
are lifeguards on duty in the height of summer. Changing rooms and rest rooms are also available. A word of advice, smooth doesn’t really mean perfectly smooth, it is still rock so throw a pair short jeans to keep your swimsuit from snagging. The water flowing down the rock came from the frigid Carolina mountain so prepare, the water can be chilly even in summer. The water is so cold it will take your breath away when you hit the crystal clear pool at the bottom. You are really going to beat the heat!
There is a small admission of $2 per person. There are picnic areas at the Pink Beds just 4 miles away and you can also enjoy fishing along the river so make a weekend of it.
To get there from Greenville, drive to US-276 North (45 miles from US-276 N/Rutherford St). Turn right onto US-64 East/US-276 North (3.4 miles). Turn right onto US Highway 276 North (Forest Heritage Scenic Byway) to enter the Pisgah National Forest. Go 7.6 miles to a parking area on the left.
Read More: 7 Great Spots to Hike in the Upstate
