Forbes State Forest, Blue Hole

Rockwood, Pennsylvania · on Blue Hole Creek · Forbes State Forest

Verified · 4 independent sources · top-verified

WATER: creek
ACCESS: Local spot, unofficial
FEE: Yes, see below
SEASON: Best in summer

About Forbes State Forest, Blue Hole

Blue Hole is a spring-fed swimming hole on Blue Hole Creek in Forbes State Forest (Somerset County) near Rockwood, PA, formed at or near the creek's confluence with Gary Run and known locally for its clear, blue-tinted water. It is a long-popular informal swimming spot near Cole Run Falls, though as of 2025 state and watershed officials have posted advisories against water contact due to lead contamination found in testing.

The pool sits within Forbes State Forest in the Laurel Highlands, on Blue Hole Creek, an Exceptional Value-designated stream that originates near Seven Springs Resort atop Laurel Ridge. It lies close to the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail corridor and near Cole Run Falls, a roughly 15-foot cascade, and near the site of a 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps camp on Fall Run Road.

Swimming at Forbes State Forest, Blue Hole

A small, deep, spring-fed pool described by visitors as strikingly clear with a blue cast to the water, cold even in summer. At least one first-hand account calls the pool 'deep and can be dangerous,' and there is no lifeguard on site.

How to get to this swimming hole

Reachable by a short roadside pull-off at the intersection of Blue Hole Road and Grindle Ridge Road in Forbes State Forest near Rockwood; one source alternatively describes reaching the pool via the ~3-mile Cole Run Trail, which also passes Cole Run Falls.

Parking: Very limited informal roadside parking, room for only 2-3 cars.

The walk in

No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Weight of evidence points to drive-up/roadside access, not a required hike: multiple independent accounts, including the Mountain Watershed Association's own site-visit report, all describe Blue Hole as a roadside pool reached via a gravel forest road (Blue Hole Road/Grindle Ridge Road) with only 2-3 informal parking spots, matching this record's coordinates almost exactly. One outlier account instead describes reaching a 'Blue Hole' via the roughly 3-mile, 1.25-hour moderate Cole Run Trail past Cole Run Falls; this could not be corroborated by any land-manager page for 'Cole Run Trail' and may describe a different access point or pool on the same creek system, or a conflation with the nearby Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail crossing of Blue Hole Creek mentioned in the lead-contamination report. Treat the hike account as unconfirmed.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

OK with supervision

Multiple sources describe the pool as deep close to the road/bank and 'can be dangerous,' with cold spring-fed water and no lifeguard on site; fine for confident swimmers with supervision but not a shallow wading spot for small kids. As of 2025 there is also an active DCNR/watershed-group advisory against water contact due to lead contamination, which should factor into any kid-swimming decision.

Parking

Free

Informal roadside pull-off at the intersection of Blue Hole Road and Grindle Ridge Road (a gravel forest road used by cyclists, anglers, and snowmobilers per Mountain Watershed Association); room for only about 2-3 cars, no formal lot.

Restrooms

None on site

No restrooms or changing facilities at the site (confirmed by theswimguide.org); only an informational kiosk is present.

Water clarity

Clear

Described as 'crystal clear' with a distinctive blue tint by theswimguide.org (snorkeling masks recommended for underwater viewing), and as 'cool, clear water' by Mountain Watershed Association's April 2025 site visit -- though that same visit also noted pale/bleached rocks, blackened moss, and unusual foam in spots, visual signs tied to the lead contamination finding, not general turbidity.

Hours

Open 24 hours, no entrance fee (per OnlyInYourState first-hand account of Forbes State Forest access).

On the water

Blue Hole is a small, deep spring-fed pool at a creek confluence (Blue Hole Creek and Gary Run), not a navigable water body -- no evidence of kayak/canoe/paddleboard/motorboat use, and none would be practical given the site's scale (2-3 car pull-off, described as a swimming pool rather than a paddling destination).

Backstory

The nearby former Blue Hole CCC Camp (Fall Run Road) preserves remnants of a 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps camp, including a bridge over Fall Run.

Forbes State Forest, Blue Hole: FAQ

Does Forbes State Forest, Blue Hole charge a fee?

No entrance fee.

Is Forbes State Forest, Blue Hole kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Forbes State Forest, Blue Hole?

No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.

Where do I park for Forbes State Forest, Blue Hole?

When is the best time to visit Forbes State Forest, Blue Hole?

Summer is the most popular (and most crowded) time to swim; fall offers foliage/photography; winter conditions can be icy.

What are the rules at Forbes State Forest, Blue Hole?

DCNR and Mountain Watershed Association have posted signs at Blue Hole Creek warning against water contact/drinking due to lead contamination found in 2025 testing; dogs must be kept leashed.

What water body is Forbes State Forest, Blue Hole on?

Forbes State Forest, Blue Hole is on Blue Hole Creek, a natural creek verified in USGS hydrography data.