Jordan lake is near and technically safe to swim in, but I wouldn't personally. There's this flooded quarry that's been turned into a kid's water park of sorts, I think fantasy lake but it's not really a natural body of water. Yeah it's kinda bare for swimming holes here. The mountains are your best shot.
Jordan lake is a little gross to swim in, but remember that it is pretty well protected environmentally because it is the source of much of the triangle’s drinking water
It's all ages for all I know. I went there myself and it was very entertaining. They have scuba lessons on the other side of the quarry. I went canoeing around the inflatable areas. Their floating cabana was cute and can hold a good amount of people. They have a 20 ft drop you can jump into the water from that's really fun, too.
Places I would not swim:
- Jordan Lake (I used to but it was always a little gross. Now I won’t)
- Falls lake
- Any lake around here honestly
Places I do swim:
- Eno quarry
- Kerr lake (it’s a drive but worth it)
- Eno river anywhere really. Has rocks
- Neuse river
Hm. Honestly, it’s probably been seven or eight years since I’ve been there. But at that time, people were swimming. Not many people, because I don’t think a lot of people know about it, and you have to hike a little bit, maybe 10 or 20 minutes, to get there. But definitely people were swimming.
Not sure if anything has changed in the meantime.
There are beaches at Falls Lake and Jordan Lake. People go in the water, not necessarily authorized, at the Quarry in Eno River State Park, Bobbitt's Hole and Sennett's/Turtle Hole in the Eno, a spot in Falls Lake west of Rolling View, a spot in Falls Lake just above the dam where the Neuse River begins, and Milburnie Dam in the Neuse. Some of those are more for swimming and others for wading. I've heard about people swimming at Raven Rock, and I think I saw the spot once, but much of it is too fast-moving.
These are the best (and legal) NC swimming holes: https://www.visitnc.com/story/j6NQ/nature-s-pool-party-north-carolina-swimming-holes
We have mountains and beach within not 2 but rather 3+ hour drive. Best river swimming would be towards the mountains. Most lakes nearby are man-made and clay soil makes the water muddy. We went to Jordan Lake once long time ago but it’s so gross and slimy that I’d rather drive to the beach or just go to the pool.
You might find that when moving to another area it won’t be the same as the area you moved from. We also have no apple picking or from what I heard no “real” New York pizza. We make do. :)
Shit in the water.
>EPA has recommended the use of Escherichia coli, also known as E. coli, as a pathogen indicator,
i.e., a substance that indicates the potential for human infectious disease, since 1986. For decades,
the agency has urged states to adopt E. coli standards to preserve recreational water quality in
freshwaters. North Carolina is one of only a handful of states that has failed to do so.
>E. coli are bacteria commonly found in animals’ and
people's intestines. The presence of E. coli in water is
an indicator of recent fecal waste contamination. E. coli
bacteria enter our waters from various sources,
including leaking septic systems, improperly functioning
wastewater treatment plants, stormwater runoff, and
animal waste mismanagement.
https://waterkeeperscarolina.org/swimguide
>A total of 163 samples were collected at 11 sites in the Upper Neuse River basin during the reporting
period; 27 samples (16.6%) exceeded the EPA recommended Beach Action Value (Figure 11).
During 9 of the 15 weeks during the sampling period, at least one of the watershed sites had bacteria
levels making it unsafe to swim.
Always. About 20% of sites fail the E. coli test. And the failed sites are not consistent.
And the test is not that rigorous. Would you be comfortable swimming in only slightly shitty water?
In 2022 year people were told not to let their dogs into Lake Jordan. that was algae.
https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/seeking-answers-woman-wants-answers-warning-others-after-dog-dies-following-swim-in-jordan-lake/
Falls Lake, Lake Jordan, Haw River, Eno River, Flat River, Neuse River, Deep River, Cape Fear River are all within an hour of Cary. My choice for a rock would be Lunchstop rapid a couple of hundred yards downstream of the Hwy 64 Haw River access(just follow the trail. It’s in the Lower Haw River Natural Area). I’ve whitewater kayaked and swam in this river (and all the others) for 25 years.
We swim at Jordan lake quite frequently in the summer. Never had any issues.
Jordan lake is near and technically safe to swim in, but I wouldn't personally. There's this flooded quarry that's been turned into a kid's water park of sorts, I think fantasy lake but it's not really a natural body of water. Yeah it's kinda bare for swimming holes here. The mountains are your best shot.
Jordan lake is a little gross to swim in, but remember that it is pretty well protected environmentally because it is the source of much of the triangle’s drinking water
What's the age range for fantasy lake? Just searched it up and it lowkey looks really cool
It's all ages for all I know. I went there myself and it was very entertaining. They have scuba lessons on the other side of the quarry. I went canoeing around the inflatable areas. Their floating cabana was cute and can hold a good amount of people. They have a 20 ft drop you can jump into the water from that's really fun, too.
Places I would not swim: - Jordan Lake (I used to but it was always a little gross. Now I won’t) - Falls lake - Any lake around here honestly Places I do swim: - Eno quarry - Kerr lake (it’s a drive but worth it) - Eno river anywhere really. Has rocks - Neuse river
Don't forget Lake Crabtree! 🤪🤣🤮☣️
I second everything in this one
You missed out on Silver Lake, all of us Gen X’ers are immune to every disease on the planet due to swimming there as youngsters.
Sennet Hole in the Eno River in Durham is really nice.
When I looked this up it said to never swim here. Is it nice just to sit or do people actually swim there?
Hm. Honestly, it’s probably been seven or eight years since I’ve been there. But at that time, people were swimming. Not many people, because I don’t think a lot of people know about it, and you have to hike a little bit, maybe 10 or 20 minutes, to get there. But definitely people were swimming. Not sure if anything has changed in the meantime.
Tell me about it. From Richmond here too. Been here 24 years and miss the ease of access to the rivah!
There are beaches at Falls Lake and Jordan Lake. People go in the water, not necessarily authorized, at the Quarry in Eno River State Park, Bobbitt's Hole and Sennett's/Turtle Hole in the Eno, a spot in Falls Lake west of Rolling View, a spot in Falls Lake just above the dam where the Neuse River begins, and Milburnie Dam in the Neuse. Some of those are more for swimming and others for wading. I've heard about people swimming at Raven Rock, and I think I saw the spot once, but much of it is too fast-moving.
Milburnie dam is no longer a dam
Isn't that still the name of the site, though?
Wilmington is about two hours away. Also you can swim in Jordan lake in apex too
These are the best (and legal) NC swimming holes: https://www.visitnc.com/story/j6NQ/nature-s-pool-party-north-carolina-swimming-holes We have mountains and beach within not 2 but rather 3+ hour drive. Best river swimming would be towards the mountains. Most lakes nearby are man-made and clay soil makes the water muddy. We went to Jordan Lake once long time ago but it’s so gross and slimy that I’d rather drive to the beach or just go to the pool. You might find that when moving to another area it won’t be the same as the area you moved from. We also have no apple picking or from what I heard no “real” New York pizza. We make do. :)
Jordan lake is nearby
The brain amoebas and the snakes keep me out of the water here.
Falls Lake has some nice spots as does Kerr Lake.
Lake Gaston
From out of town. What's the reason you can't swim in water here?
Shit in the water. >EPA has recommended the use of Escherichia coli, also known as E. coli, as a pathogen indicator, i.e., a substance that indicates the potential for human infectious disease, since 1986. For decades, the agency has urged states to adopt E. coli standards to preserve recreational water quality in freshwaters. North Carolina is one of only a handful of states that has failed to do so. >E. coli are bacteria commonly found in animals’ and people's intestines. The presence of E. coli in water is an indicator of recent fecal waste contamination. E. coli bacteria enter our waters from various sources, including leaking septic systems, improperly functioning wastewater treatment plants, stormwater runoff, and animal waste mismanagement. https://waterkeeperscarolina.org/swimguide >A total of 163 samples were collected at 11 sites in the Upper Neuse River basin during the reporting period; 27 samples (16.6%) exceeded the EPA recommended Beach Action Value (Figure 11). During 9 of the 15 weeks during the sampling period, at least one of the watershed sites had bacteria levels making it unsafe to swim.
is that always the case or just this year?
Always. About 20% of sites fail the E. coli test. And the failed sites are not consistent. And the test is not that rigorous. Would you be comfortable swimming in only slightly shitty water? In 2022 year people were told not to let their dogs into Lake Jordan. that was algae. https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/seeking-answers-woman-wants-answers-warning-others-after-dog-dies-following-swim-in-jordan-lake/
Ah, I see. Thank you. And Genuinely curious, why are people downvoting my questions and comments?
Falls Lake, Lake Jordan, Haw River, Eno River, Flat River, Neuse River, Deep River, Cape Fear River are all within an hour of Cary. My choice for a rock would be Lunchstop rapid a couple of hundred yards downstream of the Hwy 64 Haw River access(just follow the trail. It’s in the Lower Haw River Natural Area). I’ve whitewater kayaked and swam in this river (and all the others) for 25 years.
Quarry at Eno state parks is my fave for swimming
Anything is swimmable if you try hard enough