Everyone knows Georgia gets HOT, especially during the summer months (the humidity is no joke either)! But you still want to get outdoors during the hot months, too, right? Normally, your first thought might be, “Oh, why not get in a pool somewhere?” or “Let’s try to go to a waterpark!” and those aren’t bad options. But you’ll probably deal with a lot of other people with the same idea!
So why not try an all-natural swimming hole? You’ll have fresh air and clean waters, and you can be fully immersed in nature! I can’t think of a better way to cool off in the summer.
In this blog, I will share 5 swimming holes in Georgia that you HAVE to add to your bucket list!
Leave No Trace Principles
Before we hop into this list of 5 swimming holes in Georgia, we must ensure we protect nature first. As amazing as being in nature can be, it’s truly up to us to protect and preserve its beauty!
Whenever you take a trip out into nature, make it a personal goal to follow the ‘Leave No Trace’ principles. I’ve added them here so that you have them handy!
- Plan Ahead and Prepare:
- Research and know the regulations and special concerns for the area you plan to visit.
- Prepare for extreme weather and emergencies, and carry a map and compass.
- Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces:
- Stick to established trails and campsites to avoid damaging vegetation and soil.
- Camp at least 200 feet away from lakes and streams to protect the bank areas.
- Dispose of Waste Properly:
- Pack out all trash and litter.
- If nature calls (you know what I mean), then dig a cathole 6 to 8 inches deep, at least 200 feet away from water, trails, and campsites.
- Leave What You Find:
- Leave natural and cultural features as you found them. This is key!
- Do not pick plants or disturb wildlife.
- Minimize Campfire Impact:
- Use a camp stove for cooking instead of making a fire, or use established fire rings.
- Keep fires small, and use only small sticks and twigs that can be broken by hand.
- Respect Wildlife:
- Observe animals from a distance and do not disturb them.
- Store food securely to avoid attracting wildlife to campsites.
- Be Considerate of Other Visitors:
- Respect other visitors and their experience.
- Yield to other users on the trail and keep noise levels down.
By following these principles, we can help preserve outdoor spaces’ natural beauty, keep them enjoyable for all, and ensure that future generations can enjoy them as well.
Now, let’s get into these swimming holes in Georgia!
1) Dick’s Creek Falls
Length: 1.2 miles roundtrip with 173ft elevation gain
Difficulty: Very easy out and back
Dogs: Allowed on a leash
Fee: Free parking at the trailhead
AllTrails Link: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/georgia/dicks-creek-falls-trail
This swimming hole in Georgia is a popular one during the warmer months but beautiful year-round. It’s located in Rabun County, GA, and is the perfect playground for your summer adventures.
There’s a decent amount of parking at the trailhead. However, sometimes, especially on the weekends, you may have to park on the side of the dirt road leading to the trailhead. I recommend going during the week if possible to avoid the large crowds!
Once you are there, you will be met with a beautiful 60-foot waterfall pouring into a crisp, cool swimming hole at the bottom. It’s pretty deep at the base, and shallows out as it flows downstream.
There’s even a rock near the base of the falls from which many people jump into the swimming hole. The jump is probably 15 feet high, but I’ve seen many people do it! Just be sure you are comfortable jumping from this distance before taking the leap.
2) Helton Creek Falls
Length: 0.3 miles roundtrip with 19 ft elevation gain
Difficulty: Very easy out and back
Dogs: Allowed on a leash
Fee: Free parking at trailhead
AllTrails Link: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/georgia/helton-creek-falls-trail
This swimming hole in Georgia is one of my personal favorites! It’s located in Blairsville, GA, and features two locations where you can get in the water.
Please note, there are two ways to access this swimming hole from the highway. One way will cause you to have to drive through creek crossings (at least 2) so you would need high clearance to ensure you will make it.
I recommend taking the route that takes you past Vogel State park on the right, or you may pass Mountain’s Crossings if the GPS takes you another way. Both of these landmarks are within a mile of the turn for Helton Creek Road, so make sure you check the GPS prior to leaving just in case you can’t search later due to service.
The drive will take you down a long, curvy dirt road, so please take your time. There’s a small parking lot at the trailhead, but if it’s full you can park along the road here as well.
This swimming hole is so much fun for families because the first swimming hole you reach I like to call the “kiddie pool.” This is because the water is super shallow here and perfect for smaller children.
The upper falls is where the larger swimming hole is. You have to walk down pass the left side of the platform to access the water. The water is gorgeous, the water is cool… perfect way to spend a hot summer day!
3) Sweetwater Creek State Park
Length: 2 miles roundtrip and 111ft elevation gain
Difficulty: moderate out and back
Dogs: Allowed, leashes required in some areas
Fee: $5 entry fee per vehicle
AllTrails Link: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/georgia/sweetwater-creek-red-trail
Not too far from downtown Atlanta, this swimming hole in Georgia is perfect for locals and people visiting the city too! It’s located in Lithia Springs, GA, and is a great spot to spend an entire day.
While many people know of this haven for its hiking trails and lush greenery, few utilize this area for cooling off in the warm months. To get to the swimming areas, take the red trail down to the water.
I would highly consider turning this into a full day trip or even a weekend overnighter! There’s plenty of places to set up for a picnic, so bring a cooler full of food and drinks, and you can bring camping gear and book a site, or book a yurt to spend the night in.
There’s also several hiking trails around, playgrounds, and places to fish in the park too! f7f3ed
See Also: 10 Bucket List Hikes in Atlanta
4) Tallulah Gorge State Park (Sliding Rock Trail)
Length: 3.4 miles round trip with 603ft elevation gain
Difficulty: Difficult out and back
Dogs: Dogs are NOT allowed
Fee: $5 per vehicle entry fee (permit for this hike is required)
AllTrails Link: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/georgia/sliding-rock-trail-via-south-rim-trail
Now this is my absolute favorite swimming hole in Georgia! It’s located at Tallulah Gorge State Park, and is only accessible by permit. The good news, the permits are completely free, however the bad news, there are only 100 given out per day.
So I recommend either going during the week or super early (at least an hour before the Visitor Center opens) on the weekend to increase your chances of getting a permit!
This hike is definitely not for the feint of heart. You’ll start by taking the hike down to Bridal Veil Falls which is roughly 600 stairs down and you get cross a swinging bridge too!
Once you reach this platform, there will be a gate and sign that states permitted hikers can enter only. Here is where the fun begins because that creek you see below? Yeah, you’re crossing that, haha.
Now don’t worry it’s not as daunting as it sounds, but I do recommend taking off your shoes, or wearing sturdy sandals, like Teva’s, to get across.
After crossing, you will continue through the woods for another mile until you reach the sliding rock. When I tell you this place is so much fun, omg!
The rock slides down into a huge swimming hole, where you can either go down and swim around, or get out on the side and go right back down again. Easy to spend a full day here!
Just remember, you do have to climb back out, so don’t burn out too much energy swimming, haha. There is a way to loop around and not have to go the way you came to get out.
5) Panther Creek Trailhead (Upper Falls)
Length: 6.9 miles round trip with 711ft elevation gain
Difficulty: Difficult out-and-back trail
Dogs: Allowed on a leash
Fee: $4 cash parking fee
AllTrails Link: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/georgia/upper-falls-via-panther-creek-trail
Panther Creek is one of Georgia’s true hidden gems. This hike is rated as difficult, but it is totally worth the effort. You have to hike through a few creek crossings over the course of about 4 miles to the waterfall. As you get closer to the falls, there is one section where you’ll be scaling a rock with a chain rope to assist you, that seems more sketch than it is, but you will need to take your time here.
Once you reach the falls, you’ll be faced with a gorgeous waterfall, pooling into a refreshing swimming hole waiting for you to dive into! This hike isn’t traveled too often, so most of the time you should be there with very few people around!