America's Best Natural Swimming Spots To Try This Summer

Make a splash

Want to make a splash in the USA? America's very best swimming spots include thundering waterfalls, natural waterslides, and diving holes, and some offer the chance for water-based adventures such as tubing, kayaking, or paddleboarding too.

Click or scroll through this gallery to find your next favorite spot to cool down in with our pick of the very best natural swimming spots in the USA. 

Remember to heed advice such as no-diving rules and safe times to visit, and leave no trace. Note that some sites require permits.

Firehole River Swimming Area, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Surrounded by tall rocks and dense woodland, Firehole River Swimming Area is one of the most blissful places in which to make the most of the sun. Located in Yellowstone National Park – known for its geothermal hot springs – it’s found along the Firehole Canyon Drive, a scenic route punctuated with an impressive waterfall. It’s worth knowing that there aren’t any lifeguards here (even during the busy summer months) and no food, toys, or jumping are permitted.

Madison Blue Spring, Madison County, Florida

A canopy of hardwood and pine trees shelter you as you swim through the ultra-blue waters of Madison Blue Spring, located in the Florida state park of the same name. Waters flow over limestone boulders and into the river, making it a popular spot for cave diving, paddleboarding, and swimming. This spot has been known to close periodically for crowd control or, sometimes, due to poor water visibility. Check the website for the most up-to-date visitor information.

Diana’s Baths, Bartlett, New Hampshire

Follow the rocky Moat Mountain Trail to the picturesque small pools and cascades tucked away at Diana’s Baths. Summer's the best time for swimming but, out of season, the water levels reach their peak flow and Mother Nature puts on a spectacular show. 

Blue Hole, near Santa Rosa, New Mexico

Take your swimming to the next level at Santa Rosa’s Blue Hole. Scuba divers across the country practice and train in the sapphire-blue waters and it's a solid option for thrill seekers too. You can cliff jump, dive, or ease yourself in with steps into the water, which maintains a year-round temperature of roughly 62°F. There aren’t any lifeguards and you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the diving rules and requirements first.

Chena Hot Springs, near Fairbanks, Alaska

Chena Hot Springs could just about double for Iceland's Blue Lagoon. This hot-spring-fed lake stays around 106°F throughout the year, but if you come in winter or fall you might even catch a glimpse of the ethereal Northern Lights. Go all-out and treat yourself to a romantic stay overnight at Chena Hot Springs Resort.

Peekamoose Blue Hole, Sundown, New York

Part of the Rondout Creek and protected by the Catskill Forest Preserve, Peekamoose Blue Hole is a popular natural swimming spot in the secluded Sundown Wild Forest. You’ll need a permit to visit, but once you’re here, there’s a rope swing and areas of water deep enough for diving. Downstream there are quieter spots too. 

Blanchard Springs, Fifty-Six, Arkansas

This spot offers some epic views: follow the paved trail and see Blanchard Springs' impressive tiered waterfall before taking a dip. When it comes to swimming, there are shallower and deeper parts, with areas plunging up to 12 feet – there's also a nearby campground if you want to make a vacation of it. Note that lifeguards aren't on duty here.

Devil’s Punch Bowl, Aspen, Colorado

Several waterfalls gush into the Devil’s Punch Bowl in Aspen, which is boxed in by towering rocks. Cliff jumping is the most popular way to enjoy the ice-cold waters; there aren’t any lifeguards and you're advised to keep your body tight and dive feet first. Many of the surrounding rocks have smooth surfaces that you can chill out on instead. 

Sliding Rock, near Brevard, North Carolina

In Pisgah National Forest you’ll find the fun Sliding Rock, where people of all ages take turns to whizz down a 60-foot flat boulder into an eight-foot-deep pool. It’s open year-round, with lifeguards on patrol between May and September, but to beat the crowds avoid going between noon-4pm on the weekends. Avoid going when water levels are high. 

Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park, Missouri

With landscapes created by volcanic activity and billion-year-old rocks, Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park has a series of different pools to explore on a fun day out. There are red, yellow, and green flags, which indicate the water levels; check the website to find out safe times to visit. 

Little River Falls, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Alabama

Alabama's Little River Canyon National Preserve, which is spread out atop Lookout Mountain, is blessed with a bounty of natural swimming spots. A favorite is the Little River Falls area (better known as Hippie Hole) – here a 45-foot waterfall feeds a gorgeous natural swimming hole. There's also a boardwalk trail if you don't fancy getting wet. 

Carlon Falls, Groveland, California

Hike along the south fork of the Tuolumne River to reach Carlon Falls. There’s a 30-foot-tall waterfall and swimming area open year-round, although it occasionally closes during droughts. Bask in the serene surroundings of staggeringly tall ponderosa pine trees and a variety of wildflowers. 

Brandywine Creek, near Wilmington, Delaware

Brandywine Creek offers tubing rides along tree-lined paths, and canoeing and kayaking trips. You can still swim here, but there aren’t any lifeguards. However you choose to enjoy the genteel Brandywine Creek State Park, you can embrace the open meadows, rare native plants, and wildlife including deer and delightful songbirds.

Bridal Veil Falls, Tallulah Falls, Georgia

There are several dreamy swimming spots in Tallulah Gorge State Park and this one is among the most popular. Locals and tourists alike bask on the sun-baked rock which curves down into a pool, fed by a 20-foot waterfall. You'll need a permit to visit (it’s worth heading down early as permits are limited to 100 per day) and it's especially pretty in fall, when the surrounding trees are a riot of color.

Meadow Run Natural Waterslides, Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania

The Meadow Run Natural Waterslide is one of several swimming spots in Ohiopyle State Park. Sit in the creek bed and be whooshed along by two natural waterslides, formed by 300-million-year-old sandstone channels which feed into the Lower Youghiogheny River. Visit during the summer, as the stronger currents in the spring and winter months can be dangerous. 

Warren Falls, Warren, Vermont

Found along the Mad River, which flows through Green Mountain Forest, Warren Falls is one of the most popular swimming holes in Vermont. Swimmers jump from various heights around the pool (always be cautious) and splash into the green-tinted waters lined with hulking gorge walls. There's a car park nearby, so it's easy to get to, but it gets busy quickly, particularly at the weekends.

Havasu Falls, Arizona

This magical swimming spot is best visited in the cooler months, with soaring temperatures (over 115°F) and flooding often causing temporary closures between June and August. Havasu Falls requires a lot of advance planning as it’s part of the Havasupai Reservation, so you’ll need to buy a permit from the Havasupai Tribe. Due to its remoteness (it’s a challenging eight-mile hike to the falls) you should stay overnight in Supai Village. Check official sources for updates on how to visit.

Hamilton Pool, Austin, Texas

This natural area is well worth the day trip from Austin. Hamilton Creek cascades over craggy limestone outcrops to create a 50-foot waterfall, which can be admired as you dip in the refreshing waters that pool into the box canyon. There aren’t any lifeguards (and swimming isn’t always guaranteed), but life vests are provided. And for nature lovers, there's also rare flora to discover here, including the chatterbox orchid. You'll need a reservation to visit the preserve. 

Rutledge Falls, Manchester, Tennessee

Rutledge Falls is a secret you might not want to share. These refreshing waters are actually reached via privately owned land, but thankfully the proprietors permit visitors. With that in mind, public parking is hard to come by, but half the fun is finding the place. Go for a dip – the waters are ice-cold, so you’ve been warned – and watch the water cascade down the tiered rocks.

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