Waterfall swimming holes are plunge pools and cascades fed by falls. Flow is often seasonal; check depth, cold water, and slippery rock before you enter.
137 destinations nationwide.
State-specific lists with waterfall destinations only.
Rocky entries and slick spray — gear we compare for waterfall swims, sun, and the approach hike.
Disclosure: Gear links may earn a commission as an Amazon Associate — at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Chewacla State Park in Auburn, Alabama has a lake beach, waterfall, and trails for swimming and hiking. Alabama State Parks day-use fees apply (about $5 ages 12–61; $3 youth/seniors as of 2026) — confirm alapark.com before you go.
View details Fed by the cold, clear waters of Cheaha Creek and High Falls Branch, these unofficial pools and cascades feel like a well-kept secret. Even though they sit just a short distance from one of the state's most beloved parks.
View details Perched atop Lookout Mountain in northeastern Alabama, the West Fork of the Little River carves its way through ancient sandstone and dense hardwood forest before plunging dramatically over DeSoto Falls.
View details Deep in the Bankhead National Forest of northwest Alabama, the Sipsey River carves its way through sandstone canyons and ancient hardwood forest, earning its place as Alabama's only designated Wild and Scenic River.
View details Turkey Creek Nature Preserve in Pinson, Alabama (north of Birmingham) is a free Forever Wild / Jefferson County Greenways preserve with Blue Hole and falls swimming along Turkey Creek. No lifeguards — pack out trash.
View details For thousands of years, and stepping into their currents, you feel the weight of that past in the most elemental way possible. This is central Alabama at its most honest and unhurried.
View details There are no crowds here, no entry gates, no snack bars. Just the sound of moving water, birdsong, and the crunch of leaves beneath your boots.
View details Haw Creek Falls Swimming And Recreation Area is a Creek/Falls swimming destination near Russellville in Arkansas. The setting stays informal and low-key.
View details A pristine waterfall tumbles into a wide, clear pool beneath a canopy of dense hardwood forest, offering one of the most rewarding natural .
View details Petit Jean State Park near Morrilton, Arkansas has lake and creek swimming plus waterfall scenery on Petit Jean Mountain. Arkansas State Parks day-use fees apply — confirm arkansasstateparks.com.
View details Tanyard Creek Nature Trail Falls near Bella Vista / Bentonville, AR — free waterfall overlook and creek pools below Lake Windsor spillway. Easy family hike with steep drop-offs near the falls.
View details Havasu Falls is a Waterfalls swimming destination near Flagstaff in Arizona. The setting stays informal and low-key.
View details Wolf Creek Falls is a Falls swimming destination near Phoenix in Arizona. The setting stays informal and low-key.
View details Black Canyon near Ramona, California is a Cleveland National Forest creek swimming canyon. An Adventure Pass is typically required to park on forest lands; hike-in pools — no lifeguards.
View details Cedar Creek Falls near Ramona / San Diego — permitted ~6-mile RT waterfall hike to a plunge pool. $6 Recreation.gov permit; no cliff jumping; summer flow often gone.
View details Hatchet Creek is a Falls swimming destination near Redding in California. The setting stays informal and low-key.
View details Mccloud River Swimming Holes In Northern California sits in California. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View details Switzer Falls in Angeles National Forest near Pasadena — waterfall hike down the Arroyo Seco from Switzer Picnic Area off Angeles Crest Highway. Adventure Pass parking and seasonal pool notes.
View details Cascade Creek sits in Colorado. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View details Devil’s Punchbowl on the Roaring Fork River near Aspen / Glenwood Springs, Colorado is a free waterfall plunge-pool swim. Powerful current and cold water — expert caution only; many years see injuries.
View details Indian Well State Park in Shelton, Connecticut has a Housatonic River beach for swimming plus waterfall and picnic areas. CT-plated vehicles park free; out-of-state parking fees apply (about $10 weekday / $15 weekend) — confirm ctparks.com.
View details This unofficial but beloved natural feature draws swimmers, snorkelers, and curious wanderers to a stretch of river where the water quickens, tumbles, and churns over rocky shoals in a way you simply don't expect from Florida.
View details Jump Creek Falls near Marsing, Idaho is a ~60-foot desert canyon waterfall with a clear plunge pool southwest of Boise and Nampa. Short hike, free access, extremely slippery rock — no lifeguards.
View details DOG SLAUGHTER FALLS is a falls destination on Dog Slaughter River in KY near London, Corbin, Williamsburg. Fee note: No. Confirm current access and conditions before you go — no lifeguards at informal spots.
View details Gabes Branch Falls lies in Kentucky. Accessed by unmarked dirt roads that wind through dense Appalachian forest, the journey itself sets the tone.
View details Bash Bish Falls in Mount Washington, Massachusetts is the state’s highest twin waterfall — a scenic hike and viewpoint in Bash Bish Falls State Park. Swimming and entering the water are prohibited; stay in designated viewing areas.
View details Royalston Falls lies in Massachusetts, where Falls Brook moves through a wooded corridor. A dramatic 50-foot waterfall plunges through a granite gorge carved by Falls Brook, sending up a cool mist that hangs in the air and clings to the moss-covered walls around it.
View details Umpachene Falls on the Mill River in New Marlborough / Southfield, Massachusetts is a free cascading waterfall swim with clear pools. Family-friendly Berkshire Hilltowns spot — rocks are slippery.
View details Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities. The park is anchored by Maryland's largest cascading waterfall.
View details Swallow Falls State Park Swimming Spots sits in Maryland along Youghiogheny River/Muddy Creek/Tolliver Run. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View details Deep in the forested heart of Maine's North Woods, Gulf Hagas earns its nickname. With every step you take along its slate-walled gorge.
View details No crowds, no snack bars, no parking lot noise. Just the roar of falling water, the smell of pine and cold stone, and the particular quiet that only deep Maine woods can offer.
View details Standing at the edge of the viewing area, you hear Moxie Falls before you see it. A deep, resonant roar that rises through the trees like a distant thunderstorm growing closer with every step.
View details Smalls Falls lies in Maine, where Sandy River moves through a wooded corridor. A well-marked rest area off Maine Route 4 delivers you almost directly to the water's edge, where a series of four cascading waterfalls tumble through rust-colored gorge walls into emerald-green pools below.
View details The Ledges near Wilmington / southwestern Maine is a free rocky river swimming hole with jump spots. Scout every landing; depth changes after rain and there are no lifeguards.
View details Set along the gentle, winding Ocqueoc River, the falls spill over broad shelves of pale limestone in a series of low, approachable cascades that feel less dramatic than a canyon waterfall and more like the land itself exhaling.
View details Here, Amity Creek and the Lester River carve their way through ancient volcanic rock, shaping natural pools and tumbling over waterfalls that have drawn swimmers, hikers, and picnickers for generations.
View details The stretch of Minnesota's North Shore highway running north of Duluth is one of the great American scenic corridors. A rugged ribbon of boreal forest, volcanic rock, and Lake Superior's cold blue expanse.
View details Clark Creek Natural Area near Woodville, MS — $2/person access to 50+ waterfalls and creek pools on steep loess trails. Directions from McComb and what to bring.
View details Merit Water Park and D'Lo Water Park sit an easy day trip from one another, each with its own personality. One a creek-carved wonderland of sculpted rock, the other a wide river bend with enough current to make you feel genuinely alive.
View details Owens Creek Falls in Mississippi is a free cascade swimming hole with clear pools. Informal access — slippery rock; no lifeguards.
View details Mill Creek Falls is a Creek/Falls swimming destination near Missoula in Montana. The setting stays informal and low-key.
View details Big Laurel Falls near Fontana and Robbinsville, North Carolina is a free cascade swimming hole in the Nantahala National Forest area. Short hike to clear pools; rocks are slippery and there are no lifeguards.
View details These two mountain lakes sit inside the sprawling Nantahala National Forest, shielded from the outside world by dense hardwood canopy, ridgeline silhouettes, and the kind of quiet that settles over you like a second skin.
View details Big Creek Smoky Mountains Swimming Spots lies in North Carolina. Fed by cold, clear mountain streams tumbling down ancient ridgelines, Big Creek and its tributary Mouse Creek offer a string of .
View details Dupont State Forest Swimming Holes, Western Nc sits in North Carolina along Little River. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View details A 50-foot curtain of whitewater thunders over ancient Appalachian rock and crashes into a wide, deep pool below. The kind of scene that stops you mid-step and makes you reach for your camera before you even think about your swimsuit.
View details Fires Creek Region Swimming Spots lies in North Carolina. Cold, crystalline water rushes through forested hollows, mossy boulders frame natural pools, and the sound of the creek becomes the only soundtrack you need.
View details Hickory Nut Falls near Chimney Rock / Lake Lure, North Carolina is a tall cliff waterfall viewed from Chimney Rock State Park. Park admission is required; swimming at the falls base is not a free roadside wild swim — follow park rules.
View details Looking Glass Rock Swimming Spots, Asheville-Brevard Nc lies in North Carolina. These are unofficial, locally cherished places where cold mountain water tumbles over ancient stone into shaded pools, offering a kind of refreshment that no resort pool can replicate.
View details lies in North Carolina, where Jacob Fork moves through a wooded corridor. The star of the show is Jacob Fork, a clear, cold mountain stream that carves through dense hardwood forest before plunging dramatically over an 80-foot cascade known as High Shoals Falls.
View details Sunburst swimming hole / Sunburst Falls on NC 215 near Waynesville — West Fork Pigeon River pools under the stone arch bridge in Pisgah National Forest. Free access; tiny pull-off parking.
View details Sapphire Valley Swimming Holes is a Waterfall swimming destination near Asheville in North Carolina. The setting stays informal and low-key.
View details Stone Mountain State Natural Area Swimming Holes lies in North Carolina, where Big Sandy Creek moves through a wooded corridor. Along Big Sandy Creek and its tributaries, a series of waterfalls carve their way through ancient granite, creating cool, clear pools and a natural rock slide that draws.
View details Wilson Creek Swimming Holes In North Carolina sits in North Carolina. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View details Crawford Notch Region Swimming Holes lies in New Hampshire, where Varies, See Below moves through a wooded corridor. Threading along Route 302 through a dramatic glacial valley hemmed in by granite walls and old-growth forest, this corridor offers everything from a quick roadside dip to a full.
View details Packers Falls sits in New Hampshire along Lamprey River. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View details Sculptured Rocks sits in New Hampshire along Cockermouth River. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View details Buttermilk Falls in Mendham, NJ — India Brook Park waterfall pool near Morristown. Free hike access; township rules prohibit swimming even though the pool looks inviting.
View details Otter Hole is a Brook/Falls swimming destination near Paterson in New Jersey. The setting stays informal and low-key.
View details Sitting Bull Falls west of Carlsbad, NM — spring-fed desert cascades and a cold swim pool in Lincoln National Forest. ~$10/vehicle day-use; gated hours; swimming when open.
View details Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities. Buttermilk Creek carves its way through a dramatic gorge before spilling down a series of cascading falls into a cool, inviting pool below.
View details Chautauqua Gorge Swimming Destinations is a creek/falls destination on Chautauqua Creek in NY near Buffalo, Erie (Pa), Westfield. Fee note: No. Confirm current access and conditions before you go — no lifeguards at informal spots.
View details Keene Adirondack Swimming Holes is a River/Falls swimming destination near Elizabethtown in New York. The setting stays informal and low-key.
View details Rattlesnake Gulf is a Falls swimming destination near Syracuse in New York. The setting stays informal and low-key.
View details Red Hook Hudson Valley Swimming Spots sits in New York along Varies - See Below. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View details Salmon River Falls lies in New York. At 110 feet tall, the falls thunder down a sheer rock face into a deep gorge carved over millennia by the relentless force of the Salmon River.
View details Six Mile Creek Area sits in New York. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View details Split Rock Falls near Elizabethtown, NY — free roadside Adirondack waterfall pools on the Boquet River. Tiny US-9 parking; slick rock and strong current make swimming high-risk.
View details Robert H. Treman State Park near Ithaca, NY — lifeguarded natural pool below Lower Falls in Enfield Glen, plus gorge trails to Lucifer Falls. Seasonal vehicle fee and swim rules.
View details Few places in western New York stop you in your tracks quite like Zoar Valley. Carved over thousands of years by the persistent force of Cattaraugus Creek, this wild, unmaintained gorge cuts through the landscape with a drama that feels almost cinematic.
View details Chagrin River swimming spots near Chagrin Falls and Cleveland’s east suburbs offer free informal creek and river pools. Respect private property; depth and flow change after rain.
View details Little Niagara near Sulphur / Chickasaw Country, Oklahoma is a cascade swimming spot in the Travertine Creek area (often associated with Chickasaw National Recreation Area). Confirm NPS access and any fees.
View details Turner Falls sits in Oklahoma along Honey Creek. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View details Canton Creek Swimming Spots On The North Umpqua River lies in Oregon. Where Canton Creek meets Steamboat Creek and the greater North Umpqua River system, a series of informal, unhurried pools invites you to slow down, wade in, and let the Pacific Northwest work its quiet magic.
View details Falls City Falls near Falls City, Oregon is a free waterfall swimming hole with clear plunge pools popular with Willamette Valley day-trippers. Rocks are slick; check depth before jumping.
View details This unofficial but breathtaking waterfall and . There are no signs pointing you here, no crowds jostling for space.
View details Here, along the North Umpqua River and its tributaries, you'll find cool, clear water rushing through a landscape draped in Douglas fir, bigleaf maple, and wild rhododendron.
View details North Umpqua River Swimming Holes is a river/falls destination on North Umpqua River in OR near Roseburg, Glide. Fee note: None. Confirm current access and conditions before you go — no lifeguards at informal spots.
View details Oneonta Gorge near Portland remains closed — no legal creek walk to Lower Oneonta Falls. Use Oneonta Trail to Triple Falls and other Columbia Gorge alternatives instead.
View details Buttermilk Falls - Homewood is a Falls swimming destination near Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. The setting stays informal and low-key.
View details Creek Falls sits in Pennsylvania along Jacobs Creek. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View details Little Shickshinny Creek Falls is a Falls/Creek swimming destination near Wilkes Barre in Pennsylvania. The setting stays informal and low-key.
View details QUAKERTOWN FALLS is a creek/falls destination on Quakertown Creek in PA near New Castle. Fee note: none. Confirm current access and conditions before you go — no lifeguards at informal spots.
View details Rock Run in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania has clear creek pools and natural rock slides near Trout Run and Ralston, north of Williamsport. Remote PA Wilds swimming — check depth before sliding; no lifeguards.
View details Horseshoe Falls lies in South Carolina, where Cedar Shoals Creek moves through a wooded corridor. Set along Cedar Shoals Creek, this unofficial waterfall and .
View details Moonshine Falls Scenic Swimming Spots lies in South Carolina, where Varies, See Below moves through a wooded corridor. Whether you're chasing the roar of a waterfall, looking for a shaded pool to cool off in, or simply seeking a stretch of nature largely untouched by development, Moonshine Falls.
View details Near Westminster in South Carolina, Sumter N. Near the small town of Westminster, a 30-foot cascade on Ramsey Creek tumbles dramatically into the Chauga River, carving out crystal-clear .
View details Todd Creek Falls near Travelers Rest and Greenville, South Carolina is a free cascade swimming hole with clear mountain-creek pools. Short hike; rocks are slick — no lifeguards.
View details Tucked into the wooded hollows of the Cherokee National Forest along Beaver Dam Creek, Backbone Rock is one of those rare places that rewards visitors with both history and natural beauty in a single stop.
View details A 15-foot cascade tumbles down the Tellico River into a wide, deep pool so inviting that once you see it, the only question is how quickly you can get in.
View details Carmac Falls is a private waterfall swimming hole on the historic Evins Mill property near Smithville, Tennessee (Nashville / Cookeville day-trip range). Paid access and registration required — not a free public swim.
View details Fed by the cold, clear waters of Blackburn Fork, this stunning 75-foot two-tiered waterfall plunges and cascades into one of the most celebrated .
View details Here, where the Jacks River and the Conasauga River wind through forested hollows and over smooth river rock, you can wade into cool, gin-clear currents and feel the pressures of modern life dissolve with every step downstream.
View details This unofficial, natural waterfall and . Just a dirt road that deposits you at the edge of something genuinely beautiful.
View details The park straddles the watersheds of Fall Creek and Cane Creek, and while the iconic main waterfall commands most of the attention, savvy visitors know that the real joy of .
View details Ozone Falls sits in Tennessee along Fall Creek. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View details A tributary of Big Bigby Creek feeds this dramatic 75-foot cascade, sending water tumbling down a moss-streaked rock face into a cool, inviting pool below.
View details Smoky Mountain Central Tennessee Swimming Holes lies in Tennessee, where Varies, See Below moves through a wooded corridor. Winding between Maryville and the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this corridor threads through a landscape of dense hardwood forest, tumbling streams, and.
View details Twisting Falls lies in Tennessee, where Elk River moves through a wooded corridor. Unofficial and undeveloped, this .
View details Walls Of Jericho sits in Tennessee along Turkey Creek. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View details Capitol Reef lies in Utah, where Fremont River/Freemont Falls moves through a wooded corridor. In the sun-scorched heart of Utah's canyon country, where ochre cliffs rise hundreds of feet above a narrow river corridor, the Fremont River offers one of the most unexpected pleasures in the American.
View details Just park, walk a few steps, and let the cool waters of Calf Creek pull you in. Towering sandstone cliffs rise on either side of the creek corridor, their warm orange and rust tones glowing in the Utah sun.
View details Few places on earth marry dramatic geology with cool, clear water the way Zion National Park does. Whether you're floating on your back while Navajo sandstone cliffs glow ember-orange in the afternoon sun, or picking your way barefoot across river stones toward a hidden emerald pool, .
View details Big Rock Falls sits in Virginia along Mill Prong Creek. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View details Campbell Creek lies in Virginia. Reaching the creek demands a moderate hike across uneven terrain and steep descents, through forest corridors where poison ivy reminds you this is wild country.
View details The star of the show is a thundering 60-foot waterfall on Little Stony Creek that sends a curtain of white water crashing into a cool, crystal-clear pool below.
View details Cedar Creek Falls is a Falls swimming destination near Abingdon in Virginia. The setting stays informal and low-key.
View details Falls Of Dismal is a Waterfall swimming destination near Blacksburg in Virginia. The setting stays informal and low-key.
View details FOSTER FALLS is a waterfalls destination on New River in VA near Wytheville, Pulaski. Fee note: Unknown. Confirm current access and conditions before you go — no lifeguards at informal spots.
View details What you find at the end of the trail is nothing short of breathtaking. A dramatic natural amphitheater where waterfalls cascade over layered rock faces into pools of crystalline water, all framed by dense Appalachian forest.
View details Mountain Run is a Creek/Falls swimming destination near Harrisonburg in Virginia. The setting stays informal and low-key.
View details Nottoway Falls sits in Virginia. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View details Old Rag Blue Ridge Swimming Spots lies in Virginia, where Varies (See Below) moves through a wooded corridor. While most hikers come to the Blue Ridge for the legendary rock scramble up Old Rag Mountain, the waterways threading through this corner of Virginia hold their own kind of magic.
View details Here, cool mountain-fed water tumbles through rocky hollows shaded by sycamore and oak, and the soundtrack is nothing more than moving water and birdsong.
View details No roped-off lanes, no snack bars, no crowds jostling for a patch of shade. Just the sound of cascading water, the smell of damp earth and hemlock, and the sight of a waterfall spilling into a series of crystal-clear freshwater pools.
View details Piney River Swimming Hole, Shenandoah National Park sits in Virginia. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View details Roaring Run Falls Day Use Area near Eagle Rock / Clifton Forge, VA — free easy ~1.5-mile loop to a ~35-ft cascade on Roaring Run, picnic sites, vault toilets, and the 1832 iron furnace. Cold creek swimming at your own risk; no lifeguards.
View details Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities. Marys Falls draws visitors who appreciate the effort it takes to reach it.
View details White Rock Falls sits in Virginia. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View details Wildcat Pool is a Falls With Small Pool swimming destination near Mount Fair in Virginia. The setting stays informal and low-key.
View details Bolton Potholes on Joiner Brook near Bolton, Vermont are free cascading granite pools popular with Burlington and Waterbury day-trippers. Cold mountain water and rock jumping — scout every landing.
View details Bristol Falls & Circle Current sits in Vermont along New Haven River. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View details Buttermilk Falls sits in Vermont along Branch Brook. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View details Montgomery Center, Vermont has several waterfall and creek swimming holes in the northern Green Mountains near Lowell and Stowe day-trip range. Cold clear water, short hikes, and no facilities at most pools.
View details Spread across Clark County parks and the edge of Gifford Pinchot National Forest, these freshwater spots draw swimmers, families, and explorers looking for something real: cold water, forested banks, and the kind of quiet that only nature provides.
View details This perennial creek winds through basalt walls carved and sculpted by the catastrophic Ice Age floods that reshaped the Columbia Basin thousands of years ago.
View details Snoqualmie River Swimming Spots lies in Washington. Fed by cold mountain snowmelt that gradually warms through the summer months, this stretch of river rewards those willing to make the short hike with deep, jewel-toned pools, dramatic rock formations, and the kind of forested silence that reminds.
View details Whatcom Falls Park in Bellingham, WA — free city park on Whatcom Creek with waterfall views and informal Whirlpool swimming. Directions, cliff-jump warnings, and trail tips.
View details Wind River Region Swimming Retreats sits in Washington along Hot Springs/Dry Creek. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View details Amnicon Falls State Park near Superior, WI — waterfall swimming and wading on the Amnicon River by a covered bridge. State park sticker required; no lifeguards or designated beach.
View details The Bemis area on Shavers Fork near Elkins / Glady, West Virginia has waterfall and river swimming pools in the Monongahela National Forest region. Free informal access — cold mountain water; check flow after rain.
View details Clustered near the historic Jenkinsburg Bridge where Big Sandy Creek spills into the Cheat River, this unofficial destination rewards those willing to earn it.
View details Unhurried, unguarded, and entirely honest about what they are: wild places where Appalachian nature does exactly what it pleases. The star attractions here are three distinct waterfalls, each with its own personality.
View details Glade Creek Swimming Holes, West Virginia lies in West Virginia. Carved over millennia into sandstone and shale formations.
View details Red Creek sits in West Virginia. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View details Seneca Area sits in West Virginia along Varies - See Below. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View details
