ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) —
With summer officially starting Thursday, many people are looking for places to go and things to do to keep cool on hot days. Some of the mountains’ greatest treasures are the swimming holes just mere steps off the beaten path.
Check out this list of some popular (free) spots near Asheville that are ideal for a quick cooldown or an all-day outing.
Asheville
Azalea Park is a great spot when you don’t want to spend time on a drive. The public park sits on the banks of the Swannanoa River, and several beach areas provide places to get in and cool down.
Transylvania County/Brevard
With about 250 waterfalls from which to choose, there’s no shortage of places to swim.
Looking Glass Falls is easy to get to, which makes it a popular — and crowded — swimming hole. The 60-foot waterfall is off Pisgah Highway outside Brevard.
DuPont State Recreational Forest has miles of trails and some of the most beautiful waterfall hikes near Asheville. The 12,500-acre state forest may be accessed off Staton Road in Cedar Mountain outside Brevard.
Hooker Falls, a 12-foot waterfall in DuPont State Forest, has a large pool in which to play. Its easy access means it can get crowded.
Fawn Lake and Lake Julia are great swimming spots in DuPont State Recreational Forest.
Several spots along Davidson River are perfect for a swim. The Coon Tree Picnic Area is just off U.S. 276 is one popular spot and Whaleback Swimming Hole, named for a rock that looks like a whale breaching, is another.
Tubing
If a lazy float or paddling trip is more your idea of cooling off on a hot day, there are plenty of places for those, too.
The Green River in Polk County has many stretches that are great for tubing, kayaking or canoeing. Click here to find access points.
The French Broad River can be crowded with tubers during the summer. There are numerous access points in Buncombe, Henderson, Transylvania and Madison counties. Click here to learn more.
The Upper Catawba River Trail, which extends from Black Bear Access on Lake James to Lookout Access on Lake Lookout Shoals, has numerous places from which to launch. Click here to learn more.
