Sliding Rock Near Brevard (Everything You Need To Know!)

Published by Christina. Last Updated on August 8, 2024.

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Sliding Rock North Carolina is a naturally sliding waterfall in Pisgah National Forest, near Brevard and also, Asheville. It’s known for thrilling rides, icy cold water, and amazing memories.

Over the years, the waterfall has grown into a popular attraction and draws thousands of visitors each summer. Before you slide down, you can watch the falls from a platform.

The water cascades over a smooth 60-foot rock into a refreshing pool at a fast pace. Since you’ll likely be dealing with crowds and a hurried pace of getting to Sliding Rock Falls, we want you to be as prepared as possible before visiting.

Here’s how we’ve organized this guide to ensure you don’t forget anything:

About Sliding Rock
Where is Sliding Rock?
Hours and Admission
Lifeguard Hours
Safety Tips
Sliding Down
Nearby Picnic Spots
More Nearby Places to Go

About Sliding Rock Falls NC

As we mentioned, The Sliding Rock Recreation Area is an extremely popular natural water slide. The rock itself is a 60-foot sloping boulder. According to the park service, 11,000 gallons of water flow across Sliding Rock per minute.

Add those two together and you have a fast, exhilarating ride!

Read More: The North Carolina Bucket List

Where is Sliding Rock in NC?

Parking Lot Address: Highway 276, Pisgah Forest (Google Maps Pin)
Official Website

Sliding Rock sits about eight miles from Brevard and is an easy day trip from Asheville.

It lies along US-276 and that section of road is also known as the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway, a wonderful scenic road. We’ll share more about that in our “Nearby Places” section below.

Cell reception at Sliding Rock, Brevard NC, is spotty, so keep that in mind if you need directions for your next destination. Here’s a quick breakdown of what lies to the left or right:

A right turn will take you back toward Brevard, which is 7.6 miles away. The Pisgah Ranger Station is about 6 miles away. When open, you can use its visitor center and restrooms. WiFi is also available here.
Left will take you further along the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway. You’ll also be able to join the Blue Ridge Parkway (Milepost 412) after a 7.5-mile climb. We’ve mentioned nearby Blue Ridge Parkway Highlights in our “Nearby Places” section.

Hours and Admission

While you can visit Sliding Rock in NC all year, there is a $4 fee per person during the spring and summer months when the lifeguards are on duty. Admission is free during the off hours when there are no lifeguards.

Before entering the recreation area, you will approach an entrance gate to pay. Cash and credit cards are accepted.

There are also changing rooms and restrooms available when a lifeguard is on duty. If you visit during the “off” times, they will be closed, so plan accordingly.

The parking area fills rather quickly in the summer so get here early!

Lifeguard Hours

Lifeguards are on duty from 10 AM to 6 PM on these dates:

April 4 to May 17: Saturdays and Sundays
May 22 to September 30: 7 days a week
October 1 to 31: Saturdays and Sundays

Safety Tips

Children are welcome to slide down Sliding Rock, but they must be able to swim. If they are under 7 years old, the child must slide with an adult.

We recommend that children wear lifejackets while in the water. Lifejackets are available for rent during the season.

Proper gear is also helpful for visiting Sliding Rock near Asheville. Water shoes can help protect your feet against sharp rocks and give you a better grip. Swimwear that is well-fitting and durable is recommended because it’s a rough slide down the rock.

Sliding Down Sliding Rock

There are often long lines in the summer, but the thrill of sliding down the rock is totally worth the wait! It’ll take you just a few seconds to slide down and you’ll land in an 8 foot deep pool.

From there, you’ll only need to swim a couple of feet to reach the shore. Onlookers tend to watch and cheer you on from the observation decks at the base and top of the falls.

The water temperature is known to be extremely cold, averaging about 55 degrees in the summer.

But don’t worry—there are plenty of rocks and sun for you to warm up on while you wait for your next turn to slide!

Ready to Visit Sliding Rock?

The thrill and exhilaration of visiting Sliding Rock is perfect for summer memories! After you slide down the 60-foot rock face and plunge into icy cold weather in the hot North Carolina sun, we guarantee you’ll be saying, “Let’s do it again!”

If you’ve gone down Sliding Rock, we’d love to hear your stories! Let us know here in the comments section or in our Facebook Group. Photos and videos of your times there are welcome.

Nearby Picnic Spots

Picnicking and alcohol are not allowed at Sliding Rock. Picnickers have plenty of options nearby, though. You can go to nearby Pink Beds, just four miles away and there are plenty of riverside tables along US 276.

More Nearby Places to Go

Sliding Rock is in a Pisgah National Forest sweet spot, surrounded by some of our favorite waterfalls near Brevard and Asheville, too!

Forest Heritage Scenic Byway Highlights

Moore Cove Falls Brevard NC — Moore Cove Falls.

As we mentioned, Sliding Rock lies along US-276, also known as the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway. It forms an upside-down V shape for 65 miles and follows along three major roads, including the already mentioned US-276, NC-215, and US-64.

Some highlights on this road include Looking Glass Falls and Moore Cove Falls, both within a few miles of Sliding Rock. The Pink Beds Campground is another on the US-276 portion of the road.

On the NC-215 side is the trailhead to Courthouse Falls, easy-to-reach Dill Falls, the roadside Sunburst Falls, and the combo of French Broad Falls (Mill Shoals) and Bird Rock Falls.

Nearby Blue Ridge Parkway Stops

After turning left, you’ll also meet the Blue Ridge Parkway. That iconic road is about 8 miles from Sliding Rock and you’ll enter at Milepost 412. Nearby highlights include some epic overlooks (Cradle of Forestry for starters), the Pisgah Inn, and Mount Pisgah to the North.

Head south and you’ll reach the Looking Glass Rock Overlook (MP 417), which is across the road from the Skinny Dip Falls Trailhead. Another mile south is Graveyard Fields (MP 418.8), an awesome waterfall hike!