Swim at Panther Falls
Details
Distance
0.7 miles
Elevation Gain
-100 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Added by Kenton Steryous
From good ol' fashion creek wading, to jumping off large and medium boulders, this is one Blue Ridge swimming hole that must be on your Summer 'to do' list.
From Lexington or Buena Vista, Virginia, take Rt. 60 east for several miles. As soon as you pass under the Blue Ridge Parkway, look for a gravel road on your right marked Panther Falls Road. This is a fairly bumpy gravel road, so take it easy. Follow Panther Falls Road down the mountain for just over 3 miles and park at the small parking lot on the left. The parking lot has an information kiosk right at the trail head for Panther Falls. From there it's a short hike down to the falls and swimming area.
There are a couple large boulders at the top of the falls area with a nice deep pool to jump into, and a not-so-intimidating jumping area for the kids further down. All in all, a great place to chill with your buddies, or take the family to make some great memories. Just be careful as the rocks get slippery once wet.
There are also a couple of campsites along the trail if you wanted to turn it into an overnighter.
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Reviews
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Summertime gem
This is a summer-must thats fun for everybody. Don't let the cold water surprise ya! Go on a hot day.
5.0
Panther falls
First time to panther falls this spring did not disappoint! I plan to go back many more times! Water is cold but totally worth it!
5.0
10/10
Such a fun swimming hole, definitely cold but totally worth it. Super easy to find and wasn’t too crowded when I went.
5.0
Chillin
This place is awesome!!! Swimming, camping, and mountains. It has it all!!! And it's 100% free!!!
5.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on.
