In PA, south of Boiling Springs are two swimmable lakes that are a lot of fun: Laurel and Fuller. They're in the Pine Grove Furnace State Park, and I spent a lot of summers as a kid swimming there.
In PA, south of Boiling Springs are two swimmable lakes that are a lot of fun: Laurel and Fuller. They're in the Pine Grove Furnace State Park, and I spent a lot of summers as a kid swimming there.
If you take a side trail to Chimney Tops and hike to Chimney Tops trail head you can jump/swim here...
After the swim you would have a good chance of getting a ride back into town as well.
Midnight Hole is also a great place to swim but is HAR off the AT, but if you are taking a few days off in the Smokies it could be worth it.
"... I know it is wrong, but I am for the spirit that makes young men do the things they do. I am for the glory that they know." --Sigurd Olson, Singing Wilderness.
AT '12, LT '13, CT '14, PCT '15
Maryland--Potomac River where the AT follows the C&O Canal towpath between Weverton and Harpers Ferry. Do not try to swim if the water is high and swift. Many have drowned here under those conditions. Great riding the current downstream if water levels are normal to low. Wear something on your feet!
Pennsylvania--Pine Grove Furnace State Park has free swimming at Fuller Lake.
"Are we there yet?"
+1 to Little Rock Pond in Vermont........ it has a not-so-little rock that you can leap off of, into the crystal clear and cool waters of this beautiful higher-elevation (for vermont at least) lake.
Be careful about cliff jumps, check the pool for rocks, they are the #2 reason for spinal injuries. Don't turn yourself into a quadraplegic.
Just a short slide downhill from the Fontana Hilton- the end of Fontana Lake was warm and luxurious in August.
maybe a mile heading nobo out of Sages Ravine in that little river there, (i dont know what it's called) but it had some pretty deep pools. i woudln't dive in it, but definitely a nice place to refresh yourself if you were so inclined. IDK if that's illegal there or not, but when i filtered water, it was cold and the air was humid and hot so uh, yeah. i "fell in"...
Your hot tired muscles can "not work " when immersed in cold water. A phenomena that can drown you.
AT thruhiker Parkside drowned in Pierce Pond in 2012
Waterfalls and slippery rocks are visible hazards
But they arent the only ones
Last edited by MuddyWaters; 09-07-2018 at 19:06.
5 mile south of Bland Va. you cross a bridge and below that bridge is a great pool with a nice waterfall feeding it. Not icecold but not warm either, just refreshing.
I need to find some in the Denver area