Guide to Experiencing Sliding Rock

Sliding Rock is a 60 foot waterfall that you can physically slide down in North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest. How cool is that? Don’t worry there are lifeguards on duty, and it is relatively safe. Just be prepared for the cold-water entry at the bottom of your slide! Welcome to your guide to experiencing Sliding Rock.

Attraction: Sliding Rock

This is a pay to play entry. $5 per person no matter if you slide or not. It goes to the lifeguards on duty and to keep the public bathrooms clean. Well worth it!

Their busy time is from 12-4pm. Which means less parking and longer lines to slide. Which isn’t so comfortable when you have just plummeted into the cold pool below, brr!

We planned to get to the waterfall right at 11. The high the day we visited was right at 78 degrees. We wanted to let the air warm up, but also avoid the crowds. The timing was perfect. When we left about an hour later the parking lot was close to being full and the line to slide was building.

They will close the entry once the parking lot gets full and will only let in a car as a car leaves. Do not plan to picnic here to be respectful of others that want to slide. There are many pull offs close by that will provide a gorgeous backdrop for your lunch.

Sliding Rock could temporarily close due to heavy rainfall, lightening, or high water levels. You can follow them on Instagram for all closings. Lifeguards are on duty Memorial Day through Labor Day, 7 days a week. During the off season this area is an “enjoy at your own risk”.

What to Wear?

Though you can just wear a regular bathing suit I suggest wearing a sun shirt and shorts. While I was busy getting everyone else packed up and I forgot my own bathing suit. Who can sympathize there mommas?! However, it worked out perfectly as I just wore my long sleeve shirt and my husband’s bathing suit, mercy smh!

Shorts in general will help protect your bum and keep things in place as you plunge into the pool. I was also much warmer than my daughter, who was just in a bathing suit. So don’t forget their extra clothes too!

Water shoes are a must. You can get some inexpensive ones like these on Amazon or you can invest in Chacos.

Young Swimmers

Children under 7 must go down with an adult. I suggest to go down the first time by yourself before you take a little up there. You will appreciate the acclamation. Also, it will be nice to know what to expect before adding in the extra responsibility of your little person.

You must be able to swim to go down the rocks, however they will permit lifejackets and puddle jumpers. I recommend putting this on young swimmers or non-strong swimmers, better safe then sorry. You feel a sense of shock when you hit the water. A couple of times Brenner stoved up on me, and I had to help him along. I meant to bring his lifejacket, but alas it was back with my bathing suit! C’est la vie

Takeaway

You keep talking about how cold the water is, was it worth it? 1,000% YES! If you can’t tell I love experiences and adventure. How awesome is it to say you have slid down a waterfall before? Your kids getting to tell their friends about the experience, priceless!! Is it really that cold? Umm equally 1000% yes ma’am! The water temp in the summer is 55 degrees…that is COLD! You just got to get those big girl panties on and do it! You will not regret it. Need a little pep talk? This reel will help you get pumped up to experience this adventure. Not to be cliche’ but YOLO my friends!

* Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that are at no additional cost to you, If you purchase I may earn a small commission. 

Want More?!

I hope you have enjoyed your guide to experiencing Sliding Rock. I will have more content coming on Pisgah National Forest and the surrounding area shortly. In the meantime, check out some of my other adventures on the travel blog.