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Swimming Holes

In and Around Sapphire Valley!

A good, cold dip into an ol' time swimming hole refreshes the soul!

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silver run falls near sapphire valley

Silver Run Falls

One of the easiest to access, Silver Run Falls is a 20-25 foot waterfall about 3 miles south of Cashiers, North Carolina. The image above is also from Silver Run Falls swimming hole!
[More Info / Directions]

Silver Run Falls is a 20-25 foot waterfall about 3 miles south of Cashiers, North Carolina. A small gravel parking area on the left as you are headed south on 107 is the trail head.
After a 200 flat walk you arrive at the base of lower Silver Run Falls. This is the easiest true swimming hole to access!
There is actually a second set falls located above Silver Run. There is a rough trail to Upper Silver Run Falls on the left side at the wood line. Swimming is not available there.

DIRECTIONS:

SILVER RUN FALLS (LOWER)

Procede south on Highway 107 from the Cashiers crossroads about 3 miles. As you drive along the flat road and the edge of the Cashiers Plateau, the road will begin to drop down toward South Carolina. Just about 300 yards down will be Silver Run gravel parking area on your elft.

sliding rock near sapphire valley

Sliding Rock

Sliding Rock just south of Cashiers in Whiteside Cove  is one of the more popular swimming holes as it is easy to reach.
[More Info /  Directions]

Sliding Rock just south of Cashiers is one of the more popular swimming holes as it is easy to reach, just over 4 miles from the crossroads in Cashiers.
The Chattoga River has a very good flow year round over this 10' high sliding rock and pool area.
Directions:
From the Cashiers crossroads, travel south on 107 for 1.7 miles to Whiteside Cove Road and turn right. Travel 2.7 miles where you will cross a small bridge and see a small parking area just past this bridge and to the right. There are a couple of trails that lead from two parking areas. You'll hear the rushing water once you get out of your car.

turtleback falls near sapphire valley

Turtleback Falls

For the more adventurous, Turtleback Falls in Gorges State Park is your target! The falls is located on the Horsepasture River in the Pisgah National Forest.

The falls is usually accessed by a hike starting in Gorges State Park which passes through Pisgah National Forest property. The hike in is rated difficult but worth the trip as you will pass Rainbow Falls.
Turtleback Falls is a popular place for swimming and people frequently slide over the falls into the Chug Hole during low water. however, after heavy rain the water flow can generate dangerous currents! Do not attempt to swim below Turtleback Falls as the river flows over the 125' high Rainbow Falls and the fall would be fatal!

Directions:
Gorges State Park   976 Grassy Ridge Road  Sapphire, NC 28774  828-966-9099 
gorges@ncparks.gov
From the Cashiers crossroads, procede East on Highway 64 approximatley 10 miles and turn right on Highway 281. The Grassy Ridge Access (west side of the park) is approximately 1 mile down 281 on the left. 

Silver Run Images: John Baker, YouTube, Published on Feb 7, 2015 , and  hellifiknow11 Published on Jun 7, 2015 

Sliding Rock: Backroad Planet, Youtube Published on Jun 20, 2017

Turtleback: Turtleback 1 Chris Black Published on Sep 19, 2016

Some content: wikipedia