We’ve mentioned some of the great West Virginia swimming holes before. Here are a few more that have something special in common: they all have waterfalls! Here are some of the best waterfall swimming holes in West Virginia for a hot summer day:

1. Fortney Mills
cat/Flickr
Fortney Mills, 2746-2699, Orr Hill, Independence, WV 26374, USA
cat/Flickr
This swimming hole in West Virginia is in Three Fork Creek, under a bridge. From Grafton, take RT 50 east to Thornton. Take Iron Town Rd. (CR 7) north along Three Fork Creek. Continue to follow the roads along the creek, and the swimming hole is under one of the bridges that goes over the creek.

Disclaimer: The area is marked "No Trespassing," so get permission before swimming, but it's pretty even just to look at the water here!

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2. Holly River State Park
Holly River State Park, 680 State Park Road, Hacker Valley, WV 26222, USA
ForestWander/Wikimedia
From the entrance to the Holly River State Park, take RT 20 south about one mile to Holly River Left Fork Road and turn left. Drive 4.1 miles to the road on the right marked with a small sign for Shupes Chute and the Potato Knob Section of the park. Park and walk; follow the signs to the Upper Falls, pictured here. If you walk another quarter mile downstream, you'll find Shupe's Chute and a large swimming hole. A little further downstream will take you to smaller waterfalls and a smaller, quieter swimming hole. These are some of the best waterfall swimming holes in the state.
3. Upper Falls of Seneca Creek
ForestWander/Wikimedia
Falls of Seneca, West Virginia 26814, USA
Jeff Kulesza/AllTrails
It's a 5-mile hike to get to this swimming hole, but that just makes the payoff even better. From the Seneca Rock visitors center, go south on RT 33/28 to Riverton. Continue for two miles more to turn right (west) on CR 33-4. Continue onto FR 112. Follow FR 112 to Spruce Knob, then six miles more. Park at the Seneca Creek trailhead. Hike north on this trail about five miles to the falls. This is one of the most amazing West Virginia swimming holes you won't ever forget.

Take a look at this video by @jjnature:

Which of these waterfall swimming holes in West Virginia have you been to? Let us know!

Always use extreme caution when swimming in these natural areas. Diving headfirst is dangerous, and at times currents can get too strong for even the best swimmers. Take your trash with you when you leave to keep these beautiful places looking like almost-heaven.

Of course, there are tons of other waterfalls in West Virginia; which one will you visit next?

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Waterfall Swimming Holes in West Virginia

Tori Jane | May 27, 2022

Where is Fortney Mills in West Virginia?  

Fortney Mills is a small-ish waterfall located in north-central West Virginia. Despite its lack of enormity, the falls are truly quite striking, providing also a crisp, cool swimming hole for the humid summer months. The falls are found beneath a long bridge, often covered in graffiti art, which either is or isn’t photogenic – depending on who you ask. It’s always nice to relax and unwind on the rocky banks of the swimming hole while the falls roar on in the background; it can get quite crowded on some days, though, so arrive early and perhaps plan for a middle-of-the-week excursion. This is one of those lovely waterfalls in West Virginia that everyone’s got to check out at least once.  

What are some of the best swimming holes in West Virginia?

Some of the best swimming holes in West Virginia include:

  • The Blue Hole, near Morgantown, is actually quite famous thanks to an appearance in National Geographic.
  • Another amazing place to go swimming in West Virginia is the Blue Bend at Anthony Creek, one of those kinds of swimming holes where you’ll feel like a kid again.
  • We also love lounging in or near the Elk River, which has stunningly beautiful clear water and is nice, crisp, and cool during the hottest months.  

 

Check out more great swimming holes in West Virginia.

Which West Virginia swimming holes are the biggest?  

The swimming holes in West Virginia all vary in shape, size, and origin. Some are smaller and more quaint, like the Red Creek in Dolly Sods Wilderness. Others are large – entire lakes! - like Summersville Lake. Swimming is one of the best things to do outdoors in West Virginia, and they make for a wonderful day’s memories with friends, family, and everyone in between.  

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