Sliding Rock Insider's Guide

At Sliding Rock each summer, thousands of children and adults slip and slide down this favorite natural mountain waterfall in Pisgah National Forest, near Brevard and Asheville, North Carolina. Sliders patiently line up and wait their turn as, one by one, they ride the chilly water (50-60 degrees!) down the 60-foot flat, sloping boulder. They make a splash in an eight-foot-deep pool, swim a few strokes to the shore, get in line, and do it all over again.

This natural water slide, located eight miles from Brevard, is fueled by 11,000 gallons of water flowing down the rock each minute. It is extremely popular on hot summer days, so be patient! There are plenty of areas to relax on rocks or watch from observation decks.

While you can slide year-round during daylight hours, lifeguards are on duty, and changing rooms/restrooms are open 7 days a week from 10 AM-6 PM from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. This area is heavily used between the hours of 12 noon and 4 pm, so make sure to stop by early!

The cost to enter the recreation area is $5 per person when staff members are on duty (cash or credit card). Children 3 and under are free. It is free to visit during "off" hours (but restrooms are closed, and donations are encouraged). Do not slide during high water or thunderstorms.

Tips for Sliding Rock

• There are several observation areas to watch the sliders. So, it's a great place to visit even if you don't want to get wet.
• $5/person. Credit cards are now accepted.
• The pool at the bottom of the falls is eight feet deep. So you must know how to swim!
• Children under 7 years must slide with an adult.
• Life jackets and children's puddle jumpers are the only flotation devices allowed.
• Water shoes are recommended for sliding on the rock (and rugged shorts/swimsuits since you are sliding across a big rock!).
• The parking area fills up and closes periodically on summer weekends. For a more enjoyable visit, avoid peak visiting hours of 12-4 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. The parking area also fills up on some weekdays in July.
• Slide in a sitting position only.
• Bring drinking water to stay hydrated on the hot summer days. 
• Don't expect Wi-Fi or even mobile phone reception.
• No alcohol is permitted.
• Pets are allowed in the area, but they must be on a leash and cannot slide.
• To avoid congestion in the parking lot, no picnicking is allowed. Picnic at nearby Pink Beds, four miles away. And find riverside tables nearby along US 276.
• The nearest food is at the Cradle of Forestry Cafe—turn left from Sliding Rock and go four miles. Or turn right and go eight miles to Brevard for many options for food, ice cream, breweries, and more (read about Brevard).

Driving Directions
Note: GPS is often not accurate and gets you lost in this area! And cell service is limited. Use these directions! From Asheville (38 miles from downtown), drive I-26 East to Exit 40 for Highway 280 (and the Asheville Airport). Take a right onto Highway 280 West and go 16 miles toward Brevard. As you enter Brevard, watch for a big shopping center on the right (with Wal-Mart). Just past the center, turn right onto US Highway 276 North (Forest Heritage Scenic Byway) to enter the Pisgah National Forest. Go 7.6 miles to a parking area on the left. From the Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 412, take the US 276 South, about 7.5 miles.

Nearby Waterfalls & Hiking
Sliding Rock is located along the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway in Pisgah National Forest, with plenty of other things to see and do nearby, including roadside Looking Glass Falls and hikes to Looking Glass Rock, Daniel Ridge Falls, and Pink Beds. The Cradle of Forestry has family-friendly trails and many historic buildings and activities for kids (4 miles away). For more, see our Pisgah Forest Waterfall & Hiking Map.

More Swimming Holes
Find other swimming spots in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC.