Cool Off With These Swimming Holes Near Greenville, SC
Brasstown Falls
There's no better way to beat the South Carolina summer heat than a trip to a swimming hole tucked deep in the forest. Whether you're chasing waterfalls near Greenville, SC, looking for the best swimming holes in Upstate South Carolina, or planning a day trip into the North Carolina mountains, this guide covers our go-to spots for cooling off.
I love the natural beauty of these places — forest canopy filters sunlight overhead while water tumbles over cascades into a clear pool below. It's nature's version of contrast therapy: humid, hot summer air followed by a sweet, refreshing plunge. Venture north to places like Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Forest, where the water flows straight from mountain-top headwaters, and you'll get a true cold blast.
Fees and trail info are up to date as of July 2026. Be sure to check with the appropriate governing authority for each site before heading out for the most up to date information.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind Before You Go
Leave no trace. Pack out everything you bring with you and leave nothing behind. This is crucial to keeping these waterfalls and swimming holes clean and natural for years to come. Leave no trace isn't exclusive to trash and personal belongings — it also means avoiding things like stacking rocks, which can disrupt sensitive habitats.
Practice waterfall safety. Use caution on wet rocks, never play at the top of a waterfall, and keep a close eye on young children near moving water.
Plan ahead for poor cell service. Most of these swimming holes are in remote locations with spotty or no cell service. I recommend downloading trail maps for offline use on AllTrails and having a paper map back up for navigating back home (or to your next trailhead) when GPS isn't available due to poor cellular signal.
Here are our go-to swimming holes and waterfalls within a two-hour drive of Greenville, SC:
South Carolina
Brasstown Falls
Hike distance: 0.8 mi
AllTrails Rating: Easy
Distance From Greenville: 62 mi
Parking: parking area can accommodate 20 or so cars
Fee: Free
Cell Service: No or limited cell service
Restrooms: No
Be mindful of strong currents at the base of the falls — small children and inexperienced swimmers can get pulled into an eddy. We've personally seen this happen, and it took an adult pulling the swimmer out to safety.
While the trail is rated as easy, there are wooden steps and a ladder to reach the lower falls. A full guide to Brasstown Falls is coming soon! I'll link it here when it's live.
Check latest information and trail alerts with Sumter National Forest.
Riley Moore Falls
Riley Moore Falls
Hike distance: 2.2 mi
AllTrails Rating: Easy
Distance From Greenville: 57 mi
Parking: Small gravel pull-off, fits only a few vehicles — arrive early
Fee: Free
Cell Service: Spotty
Restrooms: No
While rated as easy on AllTrails, this hike is fully downhill on the way to the falls and a climb on the way out. Keep that in mind as you play at the waterfall.
A wide, sandy beach makes this one of the more relaxing swimming holes on the list — great for spreading out a blanket and making a day of it.
Check latest information and trail alerts with Sumter National Forest.
Long Shoals Wayside Park
Hike distance: 0.8 mi
AllTrails Rating: Easy
Distance From Greenville: 33 mi
Parking: Two gravel lots at the park
Fee: Free
Cell Service: Limited
Restrooms: No — technically there is a porta-potty, but it's not usually in great shape.
Water tumbles over a series of small rapids and shallow pools, making this a solid, easy-access option for families.
Check latest information and alerts with Pickens County.
Wildcat Wayside upper falls
Wildcat Wayside
Hike distance: 1 mi
AllTrails Rating: Easy
Distance From Greenville: 24 mi
Parking: Paved roadside area, holds about 15 cars — fills up fast on summer weekends
Fee: Free
Cell Service: Spotty
Restrooms: No
Stay on the marked trail here — this is one of the more popular swimming holes in the Upstate, and there have been fatal falls at the upper falls from people leaving the designated path. The hike is one mile total for the whole loop, but the lower falls can be seen from the road.
Chau-Ram County Park
Hike distance: 0.9-mile trail to the falls; up to 3–4 miles of trails if you explore the full trail network
AllTrails Rating: Easy
Distance From Greenville: 49 mi
Parking: About 60 spaces; parking is available right next to the waterfall
Fee: $5 per vehicle, I recommend bringing cash in the exact amount
Cell Service: Limited
Restrooms: Yes
Home to Chau-Ram Falls, a scenic spot where Ramsey Creek and the Chauga River meet. Along the river, you'll find a collection of unofficial swimming spots. The park also has restrooms, a 160-foot suspension bridge, and enough trails to make a full day of it.
Check latest information and trail alerts with Oconee County.
Lake Jocassee
Lakes
If waterfalls aren't your thing, the lakes around Greenville offer plenty of ways to cool off, including Lake Keowee, Lake Jocassee (Devils Fork State Park), and Lake Hartwell. For a full breakdown, check out my Guide to Greenville Lakes.
You'll also find small lakes with designated swimming areas inside nearby state parks, including:
Table Rock State Park ($6 per adult)
Paris Mountain State Park ($6 per adult)
North Carolina
Hooker Falls
Hike distance: 0.8 mi
AllTrails Rating: Easy
Distance From Greenville: 40 mi
Parking: Large lot with an overflow area at the Hooker Falls Access Area — fills up on summer weekends
Fee: Free
Cell Service: None
Restrooms: Yes
A short hike leads to this wide, 12 ft waterfall and one of the forest's most popular (and therefore crowded) swimming holes. Pair it with Triple Falls and High Falls (both an easy walk away) to make a longer day of it. Park rangers monitor this waterfall closely — playing on the top of the falls is prohibited and doing so will earn you a one-way ticket back to your car.
Check latest information and trail alerts with DuPont State Recreational Forest.
Silver Run Falls
Silver Run Falls
Hike distance: 0.2 mi
AllTrails Rating: Easy
Distance From Greenville: 55 mi
Parking: Small roadside pull-off, fits about 5–6 cars with a few more across the road — arrive early, it fills up fast
Fee: Free
Cell Service: None
Restrooms: No
One of the easiest waterfall hikes on this list, and a great pick for families — we've seen visitors of all ages enjoying this one. The sandy-bottomed pool makes for an easy, gentle entry, even for small kids. There were some folks jumping off logs and rocks into the cool water. I'm not the biggest fan of jumping into bodies of water where I don't know the depth, so I opted to wade in and it was still very refreshing. Pair this with a stop in Cashiers for lunch to make a day of it.
Check latest information and trail alerts with Nantahala National Forest.
Little Bradley Falls
Little Bradley Falls
Hike distance: 1.9 mi
AllTrails Rating: Moderate
Distance From Greenville: 43 mi
Parking: Free lot at the trailhead, fills quickly on weekends and holidays
Fee: Free
Cell Service: Limited
Restrooms: No
This moderate hike is one of my favorites — with multiple stream crossings, you get a taste of relief from the hot summer air before reaching the falls where a nearly 50 ft cascade tumbles into a pool below.
While open, this trail is still recovering from Hurricane Helene storm damage so you may encounter downed trees along the route.
Sliding Rock
Hike distance: 0.3 mi
AllTrails Rating: Easy
Distance From Greenville: 61 mi
Parking: Large lot, but it does fill up and temporarily close on peak summer days
Fee: $6 per person ages 6 and older, Memorial Day to Labor Day when lifeguards are on duty; reduced or no fee outside that window.
Cell Service: None
Restrooms: Yes
In my opinion, this beats any water park slide. Water flows in a thin sheet over 60 ft of natural rock, creating a slide that plunges into a cool pool below. I was surprised by the water depth at the base — about 8 ft. The site allows approved PFDs but no tubes, noodles or other inflatable floats, so visitors need to be able to swim to participate. Lifeguards and restrooms are available seven days a week Memorial Day through Labor Day. When this site is not staffed, there is no lifeguard on duty and restrooms are closed.
There's no designated swimming area here outside the landing zone, so if you want to hang out and swim longer, pair this stop with time on the Davidson River. More ideas on where to get in the river just a short drive from Sliding Rock below.
Check latest information and trail alerts with Pisgah National Forest.
Davidson River
Davidson River
A few good access points include Coontree and Sycamore Flats, both of which offer picnic areas alongside a crystal-clear river to wade or float in. Both picnic areas have restroom facilities available.
For a lazy-river experience, park at the Art Loeb trailhead and walk up the Davidson River Exercise Trail (between the river and the campground, opposite side from Highway 276) as far as you like. Find a spot to put in, ride the current down to the campground bridge, then walk back up and repeat as many times as you want. Bring your own tube — none are available for rent on-site.
Check latest information and trail alerts with Pisgah National Forest.
Graveyard Fields
Hike distance: 0.6 mi
AllTrails Rating: Easy
Distance From Greenville: 80 mi
Parking: Large parking lot
Fee: Free
Cell Service: No cell service
Restrooms: Yes
Located along the Blue Ridge Parkway, this is one of the more scenic, high-elevation stops on the list. Access the swimming hole via the Lower Falls trail. It's an easy walk that does include stairs down to the base of the falls. Here, you'll find shallow, crystal-clear swimming holes and flat rocks that are perfect for sunbathing. In season, you'll also find wild blueberries!
Check latest information and trail alerts with Pisgah National Forest.
What to Pack For a Swimming Hole Day:
Water shoes (Chacos or Tevas are my pick since you can hike in them too)
Water
Snacks or a picnic lunch
A paper map and some old-school navigation skills — you'll likely have GPS to get there, but without cell service, a cellular map won't load to route you back home. Plan ahead accordingly.
More Greenville Guides
Local’s Guide to Visiting Greenville
Most Beautiful Waterfalls Near Greenville
Guide to Travelers Rest
FAQs
Can I swim in the Reedy River?
Falls Park in downtown Greenville is stunning, but local officials advise against swimming in the river there due to high contaminant levels. Great progress has been made cleaning it up since the days when mills dominated local industry, but it's still not considered safe for swimming.
How can I check the water quality to know if it is safe to swim?
Swim Guide and How's My Waterway are both great places to check before heading out.
When is the best time to visit these swimming holes?
Many of these spots have limited parking that fills up fast on summer days. If you can, visit on weekday mornings to have them mostly to yourself. If weekdays aren't an option, stick to early weekend mornings — we consistently see crowds start rolling in around noon. All of these waterfalls, rivers and lakes are equally as stunning in late spring and early fall, though you probably won't find me swimming in those cooler temps.
Are dogs allowed at these swimming holes?
Regulations regarding whether dogs are allowed varies by each site. Dogs are not permitted on Sliding Rock or to swim in lakes at South Carolina state parks.
For most other sites, dogs are permitted and must remain on leash.
Is it safe to swim after it rains?
Oftentimes yes, but it would be worthwhile to see if there is up to date information on the status of the waterway at one of the resources listed above. After heavy rains and storms, use caution as there may be debris in the water, or rocks may have shifted in the riverbed.
Do I need a park pass or annual pass for these spots?
Park passes are not required for any of the swimming holes marked as “Free.” Chau-Ram County Park offers day-use as well as an annual pass for local residents. South Carolina State Parks offer day-use and annual passes if you plan to visit multiple parks throughout the year.
Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina offer ample opportunities to beat the summer heat from a clear swimming hole to a lazy river without ever stepping foot in a public pool. What's your favorite swimming hole near Greenville?
Hi, I’m Jess
I’m here to help you plan epic adventures. If you’re looking for authentic travel guides that mix luxe lodging and incredible dining with out of this world hikes and adventures, you’re in the right place.
