📷 USDAgov, Public domainSliding Rock
Brevard, NC
A 60-foot natural waterslide of smooth rock on Looking Glass Creek, ending in a cold pool, with lifeguards and a fee in summer. The parking lot is small and closes when full; wear old shorts.
Sliding Rock is a natural waterslide on Looking Glass Creek in Pisgah National Forest near Brevard, North Carolina. The water glides over smooth rock for about 60 feet (18 m) into a pool roughly 6 to 8 feet (2 to 2.5 m) deep; Wikivoyage, by contrast, gives the slide as about 100 feet (30 m). Wikivoyage calls the pool icy cold and the spot the most visited natural attraction in western North Carolina. It lies about 5 miles (8 km) farther up US 276 from Looking Glass Falls.
To slide you must be able to swim and tread water; non-swimmers need an approved life jacket. Lifeguards are on duty in peak season between Memorial Day and Labor Day and on weekends early and late in the season; otherwise you slide at your own risk. According to Wikipedia a fee of 5 US dollars applies in peak season; please check beforehand.
The site closes during high water, dangerous weather or when thunder is detected nearby. The large parking lot above the rock, on US 276, is temporarily closed when it fills.
- Nearest town
- Brevard, NC
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 35.3113, -82.7881
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July–August and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
.jpg){kind=link}
Campsites nearby
- Davidson River CampgroundCampsite4 mi from Sliding Rock · 144 pitchesTentsCaravans
- Mount Pisgah Campground - Milepost 408.6Campsite7 mi from Sliding Rock · 70 pitchesTentsCaravansToilets
- Sunburst CampgroundCampsite10 mi from Sliding Rock · 9 pitchesDrinking water
- Rutledge Lake Rv ParkCampsite17 mi from Sliding RockCaravans
- Gorges State Park CampgroundCampsite18 mi from Sliding RockTentsCaravansDrinking waterShowersToilets
- Palmetto Cove RV ParkMotorhome stopover19 mi from Sliding RockMotorhomes
All campsites in North Carolina · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Sliding Rock?
Sliding Rock is in Brevard, NC, at GPS 35.3113, -82.7881. It is about 18 mi from Jones Gap State Park.
Can you camp near Sliding Rock?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Buckhorn Gap Shelter and Campsite, about 3 mi away; within 25 mi there are 71 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Sliding Rock?
Sliding Rock is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Pisgah National Forest: the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway.
What is there to see near Sliding Rock?
Places worth a stop nearby: Looking Glass Falls (1 mi), Cradle of Forestry in America (3 mi), Graveyard Fields (3 mi) and Mount Pisgah (7 mi).
When is the best time to visit Sliding Rock?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July–August and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)