This Waterfall Swimming Hole In West Virginia Is So Hidden You’ll Probably Have It All To Yourself
By Geoff Foster
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Published August 09, 2018
With all the streams and creeks in West Virginia, there is always somewhere to find a great swimming hole that is fairly secluded and not filled with people. You just have to look for it.
Camp Creek State Park and Forest, located in Mercer County, is a 6,000-acre park filled with rivers and streams running through a thick, lush forest.
The park has 14 trails, for a combined distance of 35 miles, but you don't have to travel that far to take a dip. This park has not one, but two swimming holes you can visit.
Both of the waterfalls are fed by the streams and creeks that run through this large park, so that the water flows clean and fresh without becoming stagnant.
The Turkey Loop Road and Trail will lead you to Campbell Falls. Although this particular trail is an 8-mile loop, the falls are very close to Blue Jay Campground, which of course is accessible by car.
Campbell Falls offers a large swimming hole with a wide waterfall deep in the woods. Here you can relax and take a refreshing swim under the cool canopy of the forest.
Sometimes you may find fishers there, because all the streams and creeks are stocked regularly with trout. Though many people may fish at several different access points, the waterways at this park welcome fishing at the falls as well.
Like most waterfalls, the flow depends on the amount of recent rainfall, so after a heavy rain, it will be dangerous to get under the falls themselves, but the pool is big enough that you still have plenty of room to swim.
If you are in the mood to switch it up, or if you arrive at the fall to find it occupied by other people and prefer solitude, Mash Fork Falls might be a better bet for you. It is accessible by hiking the 0.8-mile Farley Ridge Trail, which connects to the one mile Mash Fork Falls Trail. The falls are adjacent to the Marsh Fork Campground.
The flow there is slightly less impressive that its sister falls, but it also tends to be more secluded. Like Campbell Falls, a thick forest canopy shades you from the heat of the day for a cool refreshing swim that allows you to enjoy the beauty of nature. Both falls, depending on the flow, offer a natural water massage as only nature can provide.
So, if you are looking for a swimming hole that is secluded, try taking a trip to Camp Creek State Park and Forest. While there, you can also go hunting, geocaching, horseback riding, biking and camping.
Camp Creek State Park and Forest is located at 2390 Co Hwy 19/5 in Camp Creek. VIDEO
To learn more about the park, check out their website here .
Have you ever been to this hidden swimming hole? What other ones would you recommend? Feel free to comment below and join the discussion.
These are by no means the only swimming holes in West Virginia. To discover more, check out these 10 swimming holes that area must visit.
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