Fires Creek / Leatherwood Falls
A network of creek swimming spots in the Fires Creek watershed, including Leatherwood Falls, in the far southwestern corner of
Swimming Holes
Wildcat Lake (Banner Elk)
A popular Banner Elk summer swimming spot with a white sandy beach, swimming pier, and fishing dock, next to Tufts
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.
Lake Lure (public beach)
A sandy beach on a scenic mountain lake surrounded by the granite cliffs of Hickory Nut Gorge, near Chimney Rock,
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
Silver Run Falls
An easily reached 25-foot waterfall near Cashiers with a small sandy beach for wading and a good pool for swimming.
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
Little Bradley Falls
A smaller, somewhat less-visited counterpart to Big Bradley Falls near Saluda — still requires the same general caution around steep
Upper Creek Falls
A multi-tiered cascade in Pisgah National Forest near Morganton, popular for its series of pools.