Top 9 Asheville-area swimming holes for a summer of fun

Most people only share the location of their favorite swimming hole with trusted friends. That sunny spot filled with water so crystalline it looks like it never touches the ground is worth keeping secret.

Still, everyone needs a place to cool off. The swimming holes here range from the teeming to the remote. We're not revealing any closely guarded secrets, but this list will get you on the trail and on your way to finding your own secret spot if you wish. (Where there's one swimming hole, there are often others.)

Most of the spots listed here will require additional research about driving directions and trails, and that's as it should be. Cell service does not reach most of these locations, so you'll need more than your smartphone to get you where you're going.

Most pristine: Harper Creek Falls

The Wilson Creek area contains too many waterfalls and swimming holes to count. Trails, streams and rock formations criss-cross the 49,000 acres of wilderness to the northeast of Asheville, creating endless opportunities for exploration. There are several well-known swimming spots and eight major waterfalls, but it's just as easy to find a special place that feels secret.

Glynis James has worked at the Visitor Center there for 11 years, and she said newcomers to the area should check in with her before they embark on their journey — it's easy to get lost out there, and there's no cell service to call for a rescue.

"All the trails have some little something about them that a person should know about," she said. "It can be confusing if you don't come and look at the map and get your bearings straight right off the bat."

Harper Creek Falls, however, is one of the easiest places to access in the entire area. A 1.7-mile hike takes visitors down a couple of steep areas and over an old road bed to the falls. It's one of the most popular spots in Wilson Creek and sometimes hosts 100 people a day on a busy weekend, James said.

It's actually two swimming holes in one. Two waterfalls, one above the other, create swimming spots at their bases. Their crystal clear depths are seemingly bottomless, and the very brave slide down the lower falls. Shallow areas around the edges create wading areas.

"It's some of the cleanest water in North America," James said. "The water is so clear it can be deceiving. It doesn't look as deep as it is because it's so clear."

Best for swimming: Hunt Fish Falls

Several miles deeper in the Wilson Creek area, Hunt Fish Falls creates a massive, rock-lined swimming hole at its base that James called her favorite swimming hole in the area.

The pool is perfect for adults who like to swim but not particularly accommodating to waders. "It's deep right at the sides," James said. "There's no wading into it."

The hike from the closest gravel road is short — just 0.8 miles — although adventurers looking for a longer trek can plot a route that gets them more trail time, James said.

She reminds visitors to save some energy for the hike out. Although the trail is short, it is very steep.

Most relaxing: Chestnut Cove Branch Falls

This pool is smaller than the ones at Harper Creek Falls and Hunt Fish Falls, but it's more remote.

The exact level of the swimming hole, which is also in the Wilson Creek area, changes depending on rainfall, but it's usually deep enough to swim in, James said. At its shallowest, it still provides enough water for an adult to wade in waist high.

The easy 1.5-mile hike to the hole requires just enough stamina to enjoy the rocky banks and cold waters of North Harper Creek.

Best for camping: Carolina Hemlocks

The South Toe River flows through this popular campground between Burnsville and the Blue Ridge Parkway and gathers into a great place to get wet.

There are no waterfalls. The river pools into deep holes of its own volition, and large rocks line the banks, from which swimmers jump when the water is up.

This year, the water level in the river is lower than usual, according to a representative of the Appalachian Ranger District, but there's still enough water to swim.

A $5 parking fee is all that's required for day use. Campsites cost $22 per day and include access to bath houses with hot showers.

Closest to Asheville: Azalea Park

No time to drive? Azalea Park, which is maintained by the city of Asheville, leads to the banks of the Swannanoa River on the east side of town.

The swimming hole isn't official — the city doesn't recognize or maintain the water, but the land on either side is public property. And the public takes advantage. The area is splashworthy for kids and adults, and the sunny embankment is a nice place to sit waterside.

Most popular: Sliding Rock

Spend the day at Sliding Rock in the Pisgah Ranger District near Brevard, and you could make about 2,000 new friends on a busy day. It's that popular.

Swimmers accelerate down a 60-foot slick rock and land in a pool at the bottom, which is 6- to 8-feet deep. It's like a natural theme park.

"Sliding Rock is an iconic destination," said Jeff Owenby, of the Pisgah Ranger District's recreational staff. "People have been utilizing that area to cool off for a very long time."

The catch, however, is that there are lots of them — so many sometimes that there's no more parking, and the staff has to turn people away.

Owenby advises coming during slow times: weekdays, mornings and evenings. It's also good to have a backup plan in case Sliding Rock is full.

However, if there is room, a $2 entry fee provides access to the unparalleled slick rock, the chilly water — hovering around 60 degrees — restrooms and lifeguards from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Best for families: Hooker Falls

Judy Vangelis, a volunteer at DuPont State Recreational Forest near Brevard, said lots of people come into the forest's visitors center in their swimsuits. They're looking for water rather than hiking trails, and she points them toward Hooker Falls, which is just 0.3 miles from the parking area near the visitors center.

The Little River cascades over a 12-foot ledge and forms a pool for swimming and abundant shallows for wading and splashing.

Brave swimmers can make their way to the base of the falls and observe the fast-moving water, although Vangelis adds that the churning water could create a washing machine effect and suck a swimmer under if the flow is particularly voluminous.

For those who wear real shoes to the forest, Hooker Falls is surrounded by several even more impressive cascades, including Bridal Veil Falls, High Falls and Triple Falls.

Best for hikers: Lower Falls on Slickrock Creek

Way over to the west of Asheville, Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness straddles the state line. The 17,000 acres include 55 miles of remote hiking trails.

Lower Falls and the swimming hole it creates are about 3 miles into the forest on the Slickrock Creek Trail, making for a moderate 6-mile there-and-back hike. There's also a 6.4-mile loop option.

The 15-foot-tall falls drop into a deep hole that benefits from a break in the forest canopy. Sun warms the mountain water and the rocks along the bank.

An added bonus: The trailhead is near beautiful Calderwood Lake, a reservoir formed by a hydroelectric dam on the Tennessee River.

Best all around: Midnight Hole

Deep in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (but just less than 4 miles from Interstate 40), Midnight Hole combines remoteness with accessibility.

A 1.4-mile walk along the Big Creek Trails leads to the wide, clear pool at the base of a narrow 6-foot waterfall.

Lots of sunshine and smooth boulders provide places to warm up or leap into the water. The creek provides a mixture of shallow areas for wading and deep spots at the bottom of the falls.

With its clear water and giant rocks, Midnight Hole is one of the most picturesque swimming holes around.

For a longer hike with more scenery, venture on to the 45-foot Mouse Creek Falls, 0.7 miles beyond Midnight Hole.

Safety tips for swimming hole enthusiasts

Jeff Owenby, a member of the recreational staff in the Pisgah Ranger District, offers these tips for staying safe on the slippery rocks and in the clear waters of swimming holes. They may be self evident but lots of people overlook them, Owenby said.

• Know how to swim. These are swimming holes, after all.

• Keep a close watch on children. It can be difficult to gauge the depth of very clear water, so keep an eye on the little ones lest they get out over their heads.

• Tell someone where you're going. Many of these swimming holes require a hike to reach them. Even if you're in an area that has cell service, let someone know where you're going.

• Assume all rocks are slippery. You can't tell by looking at a rock what's going to happen when you step on it. Tread carefully and pay attention.

• Remain alert while taking photos. When posing for a snapshot, don't focus on your face so much that you forget about your feet. Owenby said this common mishap sends many people home in pain.

• Check the depth and currents. The water around waterfalls is often very clear, so the depth and force of the water can be hard to see. Explore carefully or ask park staff for details.