Spend Three Days At Three Waterfall Swimming Holes On This Weekend Road Trip In North Carolina
We certainly love a good road trip around here! Scenery, snacks and singing in the car all make for a great time. The only thing we don’t like about a road trip in North Carolina is the price of gas. An ideal trip allows for a full weekend away, but won’t drain the tank – or your wallet. This weekend family trip includes just 31 miles of driving over three days. Nonetheless, it leads to some of the best waterfall swimming holes in the state. Come along with us as we detail three days and two nights spent tracking down and exploring some extraordinarily fun spots in the wilds of the Tar Heel State. And, to help prepare you for the journey check out our Road Trip Essentials Packing List & Guide!
While this may be the shortest road trip we've ever planned, it's certainly also be the most fun!
Let's get going! Here's a Google Map to guide your (short) travels to all three waterfall swimming holes.
Day one begins at Hooker Falls, one of the most beautiful places in North Carolina. First, you'll start the day on a trailhead accessible from a parking area in the DuPont State Recreational Forest just south of Brevard.
Pack the gear, the sunscreen, and even a picnic for a day of fun in the sun. You'll love some time in the plunge pool and the lagoon of a 12-foot waterfall on the Little River.
Because this is a busy spot, expect to share the adventure with others who have the same idea. Fortunately, the natural pool at Hooker Falls is quite large so there's room for everyone. Find a spot in the cool water when it's warm out and you'll be glad you did.
Move along at your own pace. But if you're able to devote a whole day to each of the three falls, you certainly won't tire of them. Next up, and located just a few miles up the road, is North Carolina's famous Sliding Rock.
Sliding Rock is a privately managed 60-foot waterfall slide dropping into an eight-foot-deep plunge pool. Don't worry, Mom. There are lifeguards on-site seven days a week during the busy season. Get their full schedule here.
Sliding Rock, North Carolina 28768, USA
To use the slide visitors must be able to swim. And, children age seven and under will need to go down the slide with an adult. If you want to hit a spot the locals love, don't pass up the chance to slip down the falls at Sliding Rock in North Carolina.
Because this is a privately managed attraction, you'll need to pay a $4 entrance fee for each person using the slide. Turns going down the slide are unlimited. For those who just wish to watch everyone else in the family squeal as they hit the slide, there are two viewing areas in the shade. If visiting in the warm seasons, be sure to arrive very early. It gets super busy here between noon and 4 p.m. and you'll want to make sure you get a parking spot.
Next up is another spectacular waterfall swimming hole found at the end of an easy one-half-mile trail. This one isn't far from Sliding Rock so you'll only have a bit of time between the two.
This trail is rated as easy, but do note the elevation change of 100 feet in each direction. Much of this elevation is on a set of stairs right as you arrive at the falls.
Skinny Dip Falls is another very popular spot when the weather is warm.
Skinny Dip Falls Trailhead, Blue Ridge Pkwy, Canton, NC 28716, USA
The cascading falls offer a bit of an enchanting oasis. Filled with beautiful, crystal clear wading pools, this very cold water flows from the Yellowstone Prong of the Big East Fork of the Pigeon River.
Be sure to take your time here soaking up all the fun. In fact, we love the idea of spending all day at each of these waterfall swimming holes. Bring a lunch, plenty to drink and a trash bag so you can cart off everything you brought in when you arrived. When it's time to settle in for the evening, the area is swimming (pun intended!) with campground options. There are two we love in particular:
Spend both nights here, or switch it up for the second night and migrate a few miles up the road to one of the cool treehouses at Pilot Cove.
Davidson River Campground Drive, Davidson Riv Campground Dr, North Carolina 28768, USA
Pilot Cove is in the process of building a 10-acre campground for adventure seekers, but in the meantime they offer wonderful cabins for rent. Size range from small, rustic efficiencies up to luxurious two-bedroom accommodations.
And the best part about both Davidson River Campground and Pilot Cove? They're right off the highway on the road trip mapped out above!
Pilot Cove, North Carolina 28768, USA
Love a good road trip in North Carolina? Who says they need to go on for hundreds of miles to be fun? Take this short, 31-mile road trip to three waterfall swimming holes in North Carolina this summer and watch some wonderful new memories unfold before your eyes.
Plan another weekend waterfall swimming hole adventure around a visit to Hunt Fish Falls in North Carolina, too!
Address: Hooker Falls, North Carolina 28768, USA
Address: Sliding Rock, North Carolina 28768, USA
Address: Skinny Dip Falls Trailhead, Blue Ridge Pkwy, Canton, NC 28716, USA
Address: Davidson River Campground Drive, Davidson Riv Campground Dr, North Carolina 28768, USA
Address: Pilot Cove, North Carolina 28768, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Road Trips in North Carolina
December 06, 2022
Michelle S.
What are the best road trips through North Carolina?
The best road trips through North Carolina lead to some truly fun activities, scenery and history. Here are some of our favorites:
This list of road trips should take you through each season, but if you have some time left over don’t forget to explore this road trip through the most picturesque small towns.
What are the best day trips in North Carolina?
The best day trips in North Carolina offer a great way to see the state without needing to take significant time away from your day-to-day life. And, each season offers something truly unique. In the winter, consider day trips to places like Shoji Spa and Lodge in Asheville or Beech Mountain, known as the snowiest town in the state. When the snow clears it’s time to prepare for some warmer weather daylong road trips in North Carolina. The 138-mile Outer Banks Scenic Byway is truly magnificent. For a great fall day trip try Winston-Salem Quarry Park or something even simpler like apple picking. Consider all the many fall day trip options when the leaves begin to change.
Robin Jarvis is a travel writer and editor for OnlyInYourState.com with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. She's lived in the Carolinas for nearly three decades and currently resides in Charleston. When she's not working, she loves to cook with friends and check out new adventures. General questions and FAM tours: rjarvis@onlyinyourstate.com.
