Deep Creek (Great Smoky Mountains NP, NC side)
One of the most popular swimming and tubing destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, easily accessed from Bryson
North Carolina
White Lake
One of North Carolina’s most popular natural lake beach destinations, known for unusually clear, shallow, warm water — the go-to
Silver Run Falls
An easily reached 25-foot waterfall near Cashiers with a small sandy beach for wading and a good pool for swimming.
Green River Gorge (Narrows section)
The Green River Gorge has two very different faces: a tame, popular tubing section near Saluda, and further downstream, the
Lake Lure (public beach)
A sandy beach on a scenic mountain lake surrounded by the granite cliffs of Hickory Nut Gorge, near Chimney Rock,
Lake James State Park (beach)
The top mountain beach recommendation in several regional guides — a wide sandy beach with bathhouse, concessions, and kayak/paddleboard rentals.
Wildcat Lake (Banner Elk)
A popular Banner Elk summer swimming spot with a white sandy beach, swimming pier, and fishing dock, next to Tufts
Fires Creek / Leatherwood Falls
A network of creek swimming spots in the Fires Creek watershed, including Leatherwood Falls, in the far southwestern corner of
South Mountains State Park (Jacob Fork River / High Shoals Falls)
Jacob Fork River tumbles through a rugged gorge creating a series of swimming holes, capped by the dramatic 80-foot High
Eno River Swimming Spots (Bobbit Hole, Sennett Hole, etc.)
A network of shaded, rocky swimming holes along the 40-mile Eno River flowing through Durham, Hillsborough, and Chapel Hill —