Swimmingholes.info

Swimmingholes.info

BLUE POND (BLUP)	NO PHOTO TO STATE MAP TO HOMEPAGE A Family-Friendly Walden's Pond Road Trip Dip
TOWNS	ANDALUSIA, CAROLINA
LAT, LON [N83/W84]	lat=31.1125, lon=-86.55278(source:Topozone) (accuracy:exact)
STATE	AL
WATER	Blue Pond
TYPE	Spring
DESCRIPTION	A clear, cool spring-fed pond in a Conecuh National Forest Recreation Area with sandy beach and (perhaps) lifeguards in season? Hiking trails and camping nearby.
AREAS	Conecuh National Forest Recreation Area
SANCTION	Official
FEE	Unknown
FACILITIES	Unknown
ACTIVITIES	Swimming
PHONE	Unknown
CAMPING	Nearby at the Open Pond Recreation Area
BATHING SUITS	Required
DIRECTIONS	From Andalusia (in south central AL) go south on RT 29/15 toward the Conecuh N. F.. Turn south (left) on RT 137 near the entrance to the N.F.. After about 5-6 miles, look for signs to the Blue Pond Recreation Area on the east (left) side of RT 137. THe swimming place is in Blue Pond.
CONFIDENCE	Very confident
VERIFIED	No
DATE UPDATED	2/20/2003

Swimmingholes.info

BLUE SPRINGS S. P. (BLUE)	PHOTO TO STATE MAP TO HOMEPAGE A Family-Friendly Walden's Pond Road Trip Dip
TOWNS	DOTHAN, CLIO
LAT LON [N83/W84]	lat=31.66158, lon=-85.50742(source: DeLorme) (accuracy: exact)
STATE	AL
WATER	Blue Spring
TYPE	Spring
DESCRIPTION	A clear, cool spring is led into a concrete-sided pool with a natural bottom. This from a visitor in 2007:"The spring area is divided into two sections, the upper & lower sections. The upper section is between 4 to 20ft.deep and the lower section is 3.5ft. to 5ft. deep. There is a nice clean wading area where it flows to the river that is about 2ft. deep for small children." Very nice water and swimming. The spring empties immediately into the Choctawatchee River but there is no apparent swimming place in the river itself. Blue Springs is very similar to some springs in Florida, like DeLeon or Juniper Springs.
AREAS	Blue Springs State Park
SANCTION	Official
FEE	$3.00 per person (2007).
FACILITIES	Full facilities in State Park
ACTIVITIES	Swimming
PHONE	(334)397-4875 (State Park)
CAMPING	At site (334)397-4875
BATHING SUITS	Required
DIRECTIONS	From Dothan, take RT 431 N to Abbeville, then RT 10 NW to Blue Springs S. P.. (There was a detour on RT 10 in 5/2000, a bridge is out- this adds about 8 miles to the distance.)
CONFIDENCE	Very confident
VERIFIED	Yes
DATE UPDATED	5/16/2000

Swimmingholes.info

Swimmingholes.info

Swimmingholes.info

Swimmingholes.info

CHICKASABOGUE PARK (CHIC)	NO PHOTO TO STATE MAP TO HOMEPAGE A Family-Friendly Walden's Pond Road Trip Dip
TOWNS	MOBILE, CHICKASAW
STATE	AL
WATER	Chickasaw Creek (?)
TYPE	Creek
DESCRIPTION	The following description thanks to R. Jones, Parks & Wildlife Manager, Mobile County: "Chickasabogue Park is a 1200 acre Mobile County, Al outdoor recreation facility with a very nice cold, clear but dark water stream (tannic color) with sugar white sand bars. It is one of the few streams in this part of the state that remain cool and refreshing even in the dog days of summer. There is a roped off swim area popular with locals in the summer and large white sand bars upstream and downstream from there reachable by canoe or boat for a more private swimming experience. The Park rents canoes for $5 per hour and $20 all day." WEB SITE.
AREAS	Chickasabogue Park
SANCTION	Official
FEE	$1.00 admission
FACILITIES	Full facilities
ACTIVITIES	Swimming
PHONE	251-574-2267
CAMPING	At site
BATHING SUITS	Required
DIRECTIONS	From Mobile, go north a few miles on I-65 to exit 13. Follow signs to the park.
CONFIDENCE	Very confident
VERIFIED	Verified by operator
DATE UPDATED	6/3/2008

Swimmingholes.info

COLDWATER CREEK PARK (COLD)	NO PHOTO TO STATE MAP TO HOMEPAGE A Family-Friendly Walden's Pond Road Trip Dip
TOWNS	BIRMINGHAM, ANNISTON, OXFORD
STATE	AL
WATER	Coldwater Creek
TYPE	Creek
DESCRIPTION	Long time swimming hole that has been turned into a public park where people regularly still play in the creek. Mostly very shallow, deeper near the bridge. Lots of families hang out here.
AREAS	Coldwater Creek Park
SANCTION	Official
FEE	Unknown
FACILITIES	Unknown
ACTIVITIES	Swimming
PHONE	Unknown
CAMPING	None at site
BATHING SUITS	Required
DIRECTIONS	From Birmingham, go east on I-20 to exit 179 (Coldwater Creek) then go north to RT 78. Turn right onto RT 78 and take the first left (Scott Drive) down into the park's parking lot. The swimming hole is between Cecil Drive and RT 78. Very public.
CONFIDENCE	Very confident
VERIFIED	No
DATE UPDATED	1/23/2008

Swimmingholes.info

DESOTO S. P. (DESO)	PHOTO TO AREA MAP TO STATE MAP TO HOMEPAGE A Family-Friendly Walden's Pond Road Trip Dip
TOWNS	ANNISTON, GADSDEN, CHATTANOOGA (TN)
STATE	AL
WATER	West Fork Little River
TYPE	River
DESCRIPTION	Desoto State Park is a "resort" park, with lodge, restaurant and other amenities. Nearby is Desoto Falls, which are awesome, with a huge pool at the bottom of the falls but no apparent easy way to get to the bottom and no apparent safe place to swim. However, behind the State Park lodge, there is a network of trails that lead quickly down to the West Fork Little River and there are several nice swimming places here with large flat rocks to sun on and swim from. To get there, follow the "white" trail behind the lodge, down to the "yellow" trail which goes along the river. Follow the river upstream and look for large, flat ricks with deep places in the river below.
AREAS	Desoto State Resort Park
SANCTION	Unofficial
FEE	None
FACILITIES	Full facilities at the lodge.
ACTIVITIES	Swimming
PHONE	(205)845-0051 (State Park)
CAMPING	At site (205)845-5075
BATHING SUITS	Customary
DIRECTIONS	From Gadsden, I-59 NE about 35 mi to Ft. Payne. From Ft. Payne, follow RT 35 east to the top of Lookout Mtn. Then north (left) on RT 89 to Desoto S.P.. See area map.
CONFIDENCE	Very confident
VERIFIED	Yes
DATE UPDATED	5/15/2000

Swimmingholes.info

LITTLE RIVER CANYON AREA [6 PLACES] (LITT)	LINK TO PHOTO OF LITTLE RIVER GORGE TO AREA MAP TO STATE MAP TO HOMEPAGE
TOWNS	CHATTANOOGA (TN), FT. PAYNE (AL) (TN)
STATE	AL
WATER	Little River
TYPE	River
DESCRIPTION	Little River Canyon is one of the deepest gorges East of the Mississippi. It is very beautiful but hiking trails are not yet well developed. Much of the canyon is very hard to access. You can drive the 22 mi scenic road (RT 176) along the west rim of the canyon and, while there are several viewpoints, the road is very high above the river and there are few apparent points to hike down. See "directions" below for several swimming places. Here's an email we got in 8/02 "My friend and I just went to the Little River Canyon gorge in Alabama, and swam in three places named in your reviews. It was WONDERFUL!! In the southernmost one, we had 3 kids for company. In the Lower 2-Mile one, we had opportunity to skinny dip. We also had some little fish for playmates when we were just sitting on a rock, dangling our feet. What a blast! And you can swim up under the actual waterfall (once you get to it) when the water is low in summer. " NOTE: Swimming anywhere in Little River is NOT SAFE at high water levels - use caution and do not swim if water levels are high.
AREAS	Little River Canyon National Preserve (Nat'l Park Service)
SANCTION	Unofficial
FEE	None
FACILITIES	Toilets at parking area near Little River Falls and at Canyon Mouth Park.
ACTIVITIES	Swimming
PHONE	None
CAMPING	Nearby at Desoto S.P. (205)845-5075
BATHING SUITS	Possibly optional; some places are very isolated, see above descriptions
DIRECTIONS	From Gadsden, take I-59 northeast about 35 mi to Ft. Payne. From Ft. Payne, follow RT 35 east to signs for Little River Canyon. (See local area map for details). Some possible swimming places are (in order from North to South in gorge): LITTLE RIVER FALLS [LITF]: (See local area map) The falls are spectacular and beautiful and you can swim at the bottom WHEN WATER LEVELS ARE LOW! Park at the falls parking area off RT 35 and follow the paved walkway to a well travelled trail on the left. The trail leads to the bottom of the falls. LITTLE RIVER FALLS PHOTO , SWIMMING AT LITTLE RIVER FALLS . LAT, LON [N83/W84] lat=34.3950, lon=-85.627(source: Topozone) (accuracy:approximate) LINK TO GOOGLE MAP. (If the kids just want to play in the water where it is not very deep and there is no hike, from the main parking lot at the falls, take the walk down to the falls and walk up the river a safe distance from falls. Alternatively, from the over flow parking lot on the other side of the road, follow signs that say “to falls” and when you get under the bridge that is the area.) Pretty confident. Not verified. Updated 1/29/2008. HIPPIE HOLE [HIPP]: (See local area map) This description by a visitor:" A swimming place known by locals as the Hippie Hole. Leaving the Little River Canyon Falls parking area turn right and just up the road on the right is another gravel parking area. Park there and follow the gravel trail which will lead to a rock path that ends at the Hippie Hole. The gravel trail is approximately 1/4 mile and then the rock path down to the hole is about 200 yds... It took us about twenty minutes to get there from the car. It was a bit difficult to hike back out but the swimming was awesome. Plenty of spots to jump... " This from a visitor in 8/2008:"Directions were right on. The swimming is great. Plenty of people, but also plenty of space to lay out and swim. There are 3 places to jump, a 7’ jump, a 12’ jump and the main cliff in the photo is 20-25”.Watch the locals before jumping or swimming. High water levels are very dangerous here. The 200 yd. hill when leaving will have you panting for air. I don’t recommend this place for children under 10." PHOTO 1 , PHOTO 2 , PHOTO 3 . LAT, LON [N83/W84] lat=34.38942, lon=-85.62139(source: DeLorme) (accuracy:approximate) LINK TO GOOGLE MAP. Pretty confident. Not verified. Updated 1/29/2008. UPPER HOLE [UPPE]: (See local area map) This description by a visitor in 8/2008: "There is a spot on the other side of the road (across from Hippie Hole) with a rope swing and no difficult hills. (This is above the falls.) This spot is great for anyone that can not climb the hills. PHOTO . The directions are, leaving the main (paved) parking area from Little River Canyon Falls make a right and go for about a ¼ mile. Watch for a dirt road on the LEFT that cuts back to the left at a sharp angle. Take this road about 200 yds. to a small parking area at the dead end. The river is right there with the rope swing. (If you get to the big gravel parking lot on the right for Hippie Hole, you just passed it up.) When water levels are low in later summer, the river above the main falls is a great place for young children to splash and play. The river is very wide with many small shallow pools. There were many couples with young children here in Aug. 08." LAT, LON [N83/W84] lat=34.395306, lon=-85.621186(source: DeLorme) (accuracy:approximate) LINK TO GOOGLE MAP. Very confident. Not verified. Updated 10/2008. LOWER TWO MILE [LOWE]: (See local area map) About 3.1 miles from the north end of the canyon rim parkway (RT 176), you will see a small pull out (partially hidden due to a sharp curve in the road, and easy to miss) and sign. The sign says "Lower two-mile" and gives boating advice. This is apparently a canoe put-in, although the trail, which begins at the sign, is very steep, but thankfully not too long. Follow this trail to the river and there is a huge, deep swimming place, with a sandy beach and large rocks to sun on. You may well have this place all to yourself and bathing suits may well be optional here. LAT, LON [N83/W84] lat=34.36397, lon=-85.65264(source: DeLorme) (accuracy:approximate) LINK TO GOOGLE MAP. LOWER TWO MILE PHOTO. Very confident. Verified. Updated 1/29/2008 EBERHART POINT [EBER]: (See local area map) A few miles from the south end of the canyon rim parkway (RT176), you will see a major pull out and sign. The sign says "Eberhart Point" and has pictures of the river below. There is a trail which begins here and goes down to the river and there are apparently swimming places there. LAT, LON [N83/W84] lat=34.34997, lon=-85.67297(source: DeLorme) (accuracy:approximate) LINK TO GOOGLE MAP. Unknown how long or strenuous this trail is. Pretty confident. Partially verified. Updated 1/29/2008 CANYON MOUTH PARK [CANY]: (See local area map) There is a park, with rest rooms and picnic tables and boat ramp, at the south end of the Little River Canyon, called Canyon Mouth Park. Here the Little River emerges from the canyon and there is a large, deep, clear swimming place, easily accessed and with sandy bottom. It is very near where RT 15/273 meets the canyon rim parkway (RT176). LAT, LON [N83/W84] lat=34.28814, lon=-85.68161(source: DeLorme) (accuracy:approximate) LINK TO GOOGLE MAP. CANYON MOUTH PARK PHOTO. Very confident. Verified. Updated 1/29/2008. Family-Friendly Walden's Pond
CONFIDENCE	Pretty confident
VERIFIED	Partially - see above
DATE UPDATED	1/28/2008

Swimmingholes.info

Swimmingholes.info

Swimmingholes.info