LINKS
Gay Beach/Swimming Holes
Sylva and Cullowee Bear Creek Area
Sylva, NC
United States
Phone: 800 Phone: Fax:
SUMMARY:
There are several swimming holes in lakes and falls along RT 281 southeast of Sylva and Cullowee.
Directions: From Asheville, go west on I-40 about 25 miles to the Waynesville area then take RT 23/74 southwest about 25 miles to Sylva. From Sylva, take RT 107 southeast about 12 miles to Tuckasegee then turn east (left) on RT 281 and then:
BEAR CREEK LAKE: Go about 6 miles on RT 281 until you come to a sign on the right saying Bear Lake N.C. Boat Launch. Follow road down and park at parking area and walk down road to right, this will take you down to a sandy beach. This is secluded and can be regarded as clothing optional in places.
PARADISE FALLS: Continue on RT 281 about 7 miles to Wolf Creek Baptist Church on the right. Just past there is a small parking area on the side of the road. Get out and look over the edge. There's a path leading down to Paradise Falls, which has usually a low flow but falls into a beautiful gorge below. There's three tiers and 3 swimming holes - the top two can be regarded as swimsuit optional and the third at the bottom is basically nude bathers - is is a rough trail to the bottom. The water flow is controlled by a dam just upstream. TWO CAUTIONS: 1) DO NOT DIVE HERE 2) CHECK AT THE DAM UPSTREAM TO BE SURE THAT THEY ARE NOT ABOUT TO RELEASE WATER (continue on the road 1 mile more, it crosses the dam).
WOLF CREEK LAKE: Just about 100 yards past the parking area for Paradise Falls, on RT 281, is Wolf Creek Lake. Take Wolf Lake Cemetery road on the left until you see red painted trees on the left. Get out and look over the edge. There's a path leading down to a beach section, can be regarded as clothing optional.
