Waterfall swimming holes near you & plunge pools in the U.S.

Waterfall swimming holes: Looking for waterfall swimming holes near you? Waterfall plunge pools and cascade basins offer scenic, cold-water swimming when depth and seasonal flow permit. We list 150 waterfall swimming holes nationwide — always scout depth from the bank and never swim near the cascade brink. Inventory counts by type are on the U.S. swimming holes dataset.

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.

150 destinations nationwide.

Prefer distance sorting? Use the GPS finder filtered to waterfall.

Waterfall swimming holes by state

State-specific lists with waterfall destinations only.

Waterfall swimming holes FAQ

Can you swim directly under a waterfall?

No. Swimming directly beneath the cascade is extremely hazardous. Falling water creates powerful downward vortexes and recirculating hydraulics ("keeper holes") that can pin swimmers to the bottom. Furthermore, aerated, frothy water has lower density, drastically reducing your natural buoyancy.

Why are waterfall plunge pools dangerous?

Plunge pools feature strong underwater turbulence, hidden boulders dislodged from the falls, slippery submerged ledges coated in algae, and drifting tree branches. Wet rock walls around waterfalls are notoriously slick and cause severe fall injuries.

When is waterfall swimming safest?

Waterfall pools are safest during low to moderate summer baseflows on calm, sunny days. Always scout the entry point from shore, stay along the shallow edges away from the main cascade, and never enter after flash storms or during high spring runoff.

Showing 36 of 150 waterfall listings. Use the state links above for the rest.

Amnicon Falls State Park — falls swimming hole near Duluth (mn), WI

FallsWI

Amnicon Falls State Park

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.

Fee requiredDuluth (mn)

Auger Falls — waterfall swimming hole near Wells, NY

WaterfallNY

Auger Falls

Auger Falls on the Sacandaga River near Wells and Speculator, New York — free Adirondack gorge cascade with short trails from NY-30. Viewing and careful wading; steep slick banks — swimming in the main gorge is hazardous.

FreeWells

Backbone Rock — falls/creek swimming hole near Bristol (tn/va), TN

Falls/CreekTN

Backbone Rock

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.

FreeBristol (tn/va)

Bash Bish Falls — brook /falls swimming hole near MA, MA

Brook /FallsMAClosed

Bash Bish Falls

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.

Fee requiredMassachusetts

Bash Bish Falls — falls swimming hole near NY, NY

FallsNYClosed

Bash Bish Falls

The falls earn their reputation honestly. Twin cascades thunder down through a deep, shadowed gorge, split apart by a bold wedge of ancient rock before reuniting in a plunge pool below.

Fee variesNew York

Bemis Area — falls/river swimming hole near Elkins, WV

Falls/riverWV

Bemis Area

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.

FreeElkins

Big Laurel Falls — falls. swimming hole near Cashiers, NC

Falls.NC

Big Laurel Falls

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.

FreeCashiers

Black Canyon — creek/falls swimming hole near San Diego, CA

Creek/fallsCA

Black Canyon

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.

Fee requiredSan Diego

Blue Hole Falls — waterfall swimming hole near Elizabethton, TN

WaterfallTN

Blue Hole Falls

Blue Hole Falls on Mill Creek near Elizabethton, Tennessee is a free multi-tier waterfall plunge pool in Cherokee National Forest. Park at the small Panhandle Road pull-off off TN-91, then take a short steep path with wooden steps — no facilities or lifeguards; do not cliff-jump.

FreeElizabethton

Bolton Potholes — falls swimming hole near Burlington, VT

FallsVT

Bolton Potholes

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.

Fee requiredBurlington

Buttermilk Falls — waterfall / creek pool swimming hole near Mendham, NJ

Waterfall / creek poolNJClosed

Buttermilk Falls

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.

Fee variesMendham

Buttermilk Falls State Park — falls swimming hole near Ithaca, NY

FallsNY

Buttermilk Falls State Park

Buttermilk Falls S. P. near Ithaca, New York is a falls swimming spot on Buttermilk Creek. What people come for: Stunning cascading waterfalls; Refreshing swimming hole below falls. There is a fee or park admission, and you will find restrooms, picnic areas, camping and parking. Best visited in June through August. Swim only in the designated, officially sanctioned pool area below the falls.

Fee requiredIthaca

Carmac Falls — creek/falls swimming hole near Cookeville, TN

Creek/FallsTN

Carmac Falls

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.

Fee variesCookeville

Cascade Falls — waterfall swimming hole near Roanoke, VA

WaterfallVA

Cascade Falls

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.

Fee requiredRoanoke

Cedar Creek Falls — falls swimming hole near San Diego, CA

FallsCA

Cedar Creek Falls

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.

Fee requiredSan Diego

Chagrin Falls River Swimming Spots — river/falls swimming hole near Cleveland, OH

River/FallsOH

Chagrin Falls River Swimming Spots

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.

FreeCleveland

Chautauqua Gorge Swimming Destinations — creek/falls swimming hole near Buffalo, NY

Creek/FallsNY

Chautauqua Gorge Swimming Destinations

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.

FreeBuffalo

Clark Creek Natural Area — creek/falls swimming hole near Woodville, MS

Creek/FallsMS

Clark Creek Natural Area

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.

Fee requiredWoodville

Cummins Falls — falls swimming hole near Cookeville, TN

FallsTN

Cummins Falls

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 .

FreeCookeville

Cunningham Falls State Park — waterfall swimming hole near Frederick, MD

WaterfallMD

Cunningham Falls State Park

Cunningham Falls S. P. near Frederick, Maryland is a waterfall swimming spot. What people come for: Maryland's largest cascading waterfall; 43-acre man-made lake. There is a fee or park admission, and you will find restrooms, picnic areas, camping and parking. Best visited in Spring. Water conditions are unknown.

Fee requiredFrederick

Devils Punchbowl — falls fed pool swimming hole near Glenwood Springs, CO

Falls fed poolCO

Devils Punchbowl

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.

FreeGlenwood Springs

Dog Slaughter Falls — falls swimming hole near London, KY

FallsKY

Dog Slaughter Falls

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.

FreeLondon

Elrod Falls — waterfall swimming hole near Kingsport, TN

WaterfallTN

Elrod Falls

This unofficial, natural waterfall and swimming hole. Just a dirt road that deposits you at the edge of something genuinely beautiful.

Fee variesKingsport

Falls City Falls — river/falls swimming hole near Salem, OR

River/FallsOR

Falls City Falls

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.

FreeSalem

Foster Falls — waterfalls swimming hole near Wytheville, VA

WaterfallsVA

Foster Falls

FOSTER FALLS is a waterfalls destination on New River in VA near Wytheville, Pulaski. Confirm current access and conditions before you go — no lifeguards at informal spots.

Fee variesWytheville

Glen Ellis Falls — waterfall swimming hole near Pinkham Notch, NH

WaterfallNH

Glen Ellis Falls

Glen Ellis Falls in Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire — a 64-foot White Mountain National Forest waterfall with a short paved/stairs path from the Route 16 scenic parking. Primarily a viewing hike; swimming at the falls is typically discouraged — use nearby Wildcat Brook / Jackson Falls for swimming.

Fee requiredPinkham Notch

Hickory Nut Falls — falls swimming hole near Asheville, NC

FallsNCClosed

Hickory Nut Falls

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.

Fee variesAsheville

High Falls (ulster County) — waterfall swimming hole near High Falls, NY

WaterfallNY

High Falls (ulster County)

High Falls in Ulster County, New York — Rondout Creek waterfall and village swimming searches near New Paltz / Rosendale. Scenic falls by the hamlet; swimming access is limited and often informal — confirm posted rules and private land.

Fee requiredHigh Falls

Jackson Falls — waterfall swimming hole near Jackson, NH

WaterfallNH

Jackson Falls

Jackson Falls on Wildcat Brook in Jackson, New Hampshire — free multi-tier cascade pools a few minutes from North Conway and Pinkham Notch. Informal roadside / neighborhood parking; slick granite and cold water; pack out trash.

FreeJackson

Jump Creek Falls — falls swimming hole near Boise, ID

FallsID

Jump Creek Falls

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.

FreeBoise

Kings River Falls — falls swimming hole near Clarksville, AR

FallsAR

Kings River Falls

A pristine waterfall tumbles into a wide, clear pool beneath a canopy of dense hardwood forest, offering one of the most rewarding natural .

Fee variesClarksville

Little Niagara — waterfall/pool swimming hole near Sulphur, OK

Waterfall/poolOK

Little Niagara

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.

FreeSulphur

Livermore Falls — waterfall swimming hole near Campton, NH

WaterfallNH

Livermore Falls

Livermore Falls on the Pemigewasset River near Campton and Plymouth, New Hampshire — free river swimming above and below the cascades in Livermore Falls State Forest. Short walk from Livermore Road parking; stay well clear of the strong mid-channel current.

FreeCampton

Looking Glass Rock Swimming Spots, Asheville-brevard Nc — waterfalls, pools swimming hole near Asheville, NC

Waterfalls, PoolsNC

Looking Glass Rock Swimming Spots, Asheville-brevard Nc

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.

FreeAsheville

Montgomery Center Vermont Swimming Holes — falls swimming hole near Stowe, VT

FallsVT

Montgomery Center Vermont Swimming Holes

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.

FreeStowe

Mountain Run — creek/falls swimming hole near Harrisonburg, VA

Creek/FallsVA

Mountain Run

Mountain Run near Harrisonburg, Virginia is a creek swimming spot on Mountain Run. What people come for: Secluded swimming hole in George Washington National Forest; Rock-hopping and mini-waterfalls along Mountain Run. Access is free, and there are no facilities on site. Best visited in May through September. The trail involves rock-hopping and scrambling.

FreeHarrisonburg