Price Lake Parking Lot
Free parking lot
4.8 (113)
Blowing Rock, NC 28605
This location may be clothing-optional or adjacent to adult content. We do not display adult imagery and recommend discretion. Families should verify suitability.
Varies - See BelowNC
Boone Region Swimming Holes
By Hidden Swimming Holes Team · Record updated
Background: generated illustration, not a photograph of this location.
Separate Boone's five archived swimming references, county New River access and Julian Price hiking, without treating one pin as permission for every pool.
Swimming permission unconfirmed
Confirm the exact destination and permitted water activity with its manager. Do not use archived visits as current authorization.
Water type
Varies - See Below
Access
Swimming unconfirmed
Fee
No single admission policy applies to all historical destinations
Best season
Choose a date only after checking access, weather and current notices
Nearby towns
Boone, Blowing Rock, Sugar Grove
Water body
Winklers Creek, South Fork New River, Boone Fork And Other Historical Regional Creek References
Location
Map & Directions
Nearby towns
Boone, Blowing Rock, Sugar Grove
Place-name search
Boone North Carolina river access
Map searches for the named location. Confirm the entrance and current access with the park before you go.
Sources & checks
This is a desk-researched listing. A record update or map check does not confirm current swimming permission or water conditions.
- Swimming rules
- Current swimming permission has not been independently confirmed for this listing. Check with the land manager before entering the water.
- Access location not verified
- The recorded location has no completed source check. Confirm the entrance, legal access, and parking before travelling.
- Record updated
- · This is a data update, not a field visit.
Found an error? Send a correction with the location and a source. How we research listings.
Five historical Boone references need five separate access checks
The archive names Winklers Creek, Trash Can Falls, Snake Pit, New Hole and Hebron Rock, even though the legacy URL says area4. They involve different waterways and approaches. None shares a single verified entrance, fee policy or supervision arrangement, so the aggregate map pin has been withheld.
Do not follow old roadside clues blindly
The record includes small pullouts, a guardrail descent, cars parked on warm days and red flags on trees. These are dated visitor clues, not present parking authorization or maintained trail signs. Confirm the intended destination and manager; do not use the archive to justify crossing a busy highway or entering private banks.
Two useful planning sources, with limited scope
County access is a named river access, not every pool
Watauga County lists Castle Ford River Access at 4391 Castle Ford Road. That is a better starting point for a permitted New River outing than an unnamed put-in. It does not independently establish the archive's New Hole identity, safe depth or swimming authorization.
Plan Boone Fork as a hike
NPS describes a moderate to strenuous 5.5-mile Boone Fork loop and advises allowing at least three hours of daylight walking. Its family TRACK page describes the full loop as five miles and separates a shorter out-and-back. Use the current map to resolve your chosen route, rather than treating an old Hebron spur estimate as the whole hike.
Facilities stay with their destination
The TRACK listing includes parking, picnic tables and a seasonal restroom at Julian Price picnic area. Do not expect those facilities beside Winklers Creek, the roadside falls or Snake Pit. Trail access is not approval for sliding, jumping or swimming, and a warm forecast does not establish water conditions.
Getting There
Do not use one regional pin or the archive's roadside guardrail, parked-car or red-flag landmarks as an exact bathing route. For a separate New River access plan, Watauga County lists Castle Ford River Access at 4391 Castle Ford Road. For Julian Price hiking, use NPS current maps and conditions; neither source validates all five swimming entrances.
Quick Navigation
Access Notes
The archive names Winklers Creek, Trash Can Falls, Snake Pit, New Hole and Hebron Rock. Its roadside pullouts and spur markers date from old reports, not a unified public-access policy.
Plan Your Visit
Parking & Access
Confirm the entrance, parking arrangements, and legal access with the land manager. A map pin does not establish a public right of access. Follow posted routes and never block gates or driveways.
Regulations & Fees
Confirm the exact destination and permitted water activity with its manager. Do not use archived visits as current authorization. Public park access does not necessarily include permission to swim. Respect private property and posted restrictions.
Seasonality & Flow
Water conditions can change quickly. This listing does not provide a current safety or water-quality assessment. Check official alerts and avoid entering water when conditions or permission are uncertain.
Nearby Facilities
Nearby places from saved public map data, not necessarily facilities at the swimming spot. Confirm access, hours, fees, and amenities with the operator before you drive.
Map data retrieved 2026-06-15
Boone Fork Parking Area
Tourist attraction
4.7 (104)
100 Blue Ridge Pkwy, Seven Devils, NC 28604
Public parking deck
Electric vehicle charging station
3.8 (10)
333 Wallingford St, Blowing Rock, NC 28605
Glen Burney Falls Trail
Hiking area
4.6 (359)
243 Laurel Ln, Blowing Rock, NC 28605
Bass Lake Trail
Hiking area
4.9 (596)
1 Bass Lake Dr, Blowing Rock, NC 28605
Flat, tree-topped walking trail circling a small lake, with connections to other paths.
Boone Fork Trail
Hiking area
4.9 (112)
Boone Fork Trail, Blowing Rock, NC 28605
Julian Price Campground
Campground
4.4 (267)
Blue Ridge Pkwy, Blowing Rock, NC 28605
Buffalo Camp & RV Park
Campground
4.5 (31)
151 Harding Dr, Blowing Rock, NC 28605
Public restroomRestroom
Frequently Asked Questions About Boone Region Swimming Holes
How many places does the historical record name?
Five: Winklers Creek, Trash Can Falls, Snake Pit, New Hole and Hebron Rock. The area4 slug is retained for continuity.
Can one map pin guide the whole region?
No. These are separate places with different roads, managers and access questions.
Is the old roadside parking confirmed?
No. Pullout, guardrail and parked-car clues are historical, not current parking permission.
Where does the county list Castle Ford access?
At 4391 Castle Ford Road. That named river access does not independently verify the archive's New Hole bathing entry.
How demanding is the full Boone Fork hike?
NPS hiking guidance calls it moderate to strenuous and lists 5.5 miles, while a TRACK page says five miles. Use the current map and budget at least three hours of daylight walking.
Do picnic-area facilities apply to every swimming spot?
No. Julian Price picnic-area parking, tables and seasonal restroom are specific to that destination.
Highlights
Five historical names retained despite area4 legacy route
Named county access distinguished from bathing permission
Full Boone Fork hiking effort clarified
Location & Area Map
Safety Information
Important Safety Tips
- Do not jump, dive, slide down waterfalls or use unverified rope swings
- Stay out of closed areas and do not judge depth, current or water quality from photographs
Cultural & Historical Context
Historical Background
The historical directory record is retained as evidence, not proof of present access or a verified cultural account.
Photography Guide
Photo Opportunities
No exact historical swimming-entry gallery approved; use only authorized public viewpoints.
Conservation & Ethics
Protect This Place
Respect private boundaries and signs, use authorized paths and pack out waste.
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Check water quality before swimming
Use this safety guide before entering any natural water.
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At a Glance
Best Time to Visit
Choose a date only after checking access, weather and current notices.
Difficulty Level
NPS calls the full Boone Fork loop moderate to strenuous and lists 5.5 miles on its hiking page. A different family TRACK page calls the full loop five miles; plan using the current map. This is not a verified Hebron swim-spur distance.
Fee
No single admission policy applies to all historical destinations
Facilities
NPS TRACK listing identifies picnic tables, parking and a seasonal restroom at Julian Price picnic area. These services do not apply to the other four archived places.
Activities
Authorized hiking and destination-specific recreation; jumping, diving and rope swings are not recommended
Phone
Safety & Access Notice
This information is for general planning only and may be incomplete, outdated, or inaccurate. Access rules, closures, water levels, currents, hazards, and legal restrictions can change at any time. Always verify current rules with the land manager or official source before visiting.
You are responsible for your own safety and for following all posted signs, laws, and local regulations. Read the full disclaimer.
Camping Information
Julian Price campground is a separate managed destination. Check reservations and current operation; a campsite does not confer access to every regional creek.
Loading weather data…
Safety & Access Notice
This information is for general planning only and may be incomplete, outdated, or inaccurate. Access rules, closures, water levels, currents, hazards, and legal restrictions can change at any time. Always verify current rules with the land manager or official source before visiting.
- Do not swim where swimming is prohibited, unsafe, or not clearly allowed.
- Follow posted signs, local regulations, closures, and private-property boundaries.
- Assess conditions on site. Water flow, depth, temperature, and underwater hazards change quickly.
- Never jump or dive without personally confirming depth and underwater obstacles.
- Swim with a buddy and consider flotation for weak or non-swimmers.
- Pack out all trash; respect wildlife and fragile environments.
You are responsible for your own safety and for following all posted signs, laws, and local regulations. Read the full disclaimer.
J
Joshua Havens
Founder & Editor, Hidden Swimming Holes
Joshua Havens created Hidden Swimming Holes to make it easier for people to find — and safely visit — natural freshwater swimming destinations across the United States. He researches access conditions, water quality resources, and land management rules so you don't have to start from scratch. He holds a strong belief that good outdoor recreation information should be accurate, honest about its limitations, and freely available.
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