Blue Hole
Near Bethel, Virginia · on Passage Creek · George Washington National Forest
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- creek
- ACCESS
- Local spot, unofficial
- FEE
- Free
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Blue Hole
Blue Hole is a natural swimming hole on Passage Creek within the Elizabeth Furnace Recreation Area of George Washington National Forest, near Fort Valley in Shenandoah County, Virginia. It is one of several informal swimming spots along the creek and is reportedly marked as 'Blue Hole' on USGS topographic maps.
The spot sits along Passage Creek in the Fort Valley area of the Massanutten Mountain range, within the Elizabeth Furnace Recreation Area, surrounded by mixed deciduous forest. The broader recreation area also contains historic iron furnace/mining ruins and a developed campground and picnic area along the creek.
Swimming at Blue Hole
Described by a regional outdoors publication as one of the deepest spots on Passage Creek, suitable for a plunge or dip in a forested creek pool; a rope swing hangs from a tree on the far bank at the site.
How to get to this swimming hole
From the Rt 55 intersection, head south on VA Route 678 (Fort Valley Road) about 2 miles; a small dirt pull-off on the east (left) side of the road marks the spot, with a rope swing visible on the far bank of the creek. It can also be reached via a short hike from the Elizabeth Furnace Recreation Area campground.
Parking: Small informal dirt pull-off along Rt 678 (Fort Valley Road); no developed lot at the swimming hole itself.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. No named hiking trail leads specifically to Blue Hole. Most sources describe simply parking at the dirt pull-off on SR-678/Fort Valley Road and walking down to the creek where the rope swing marks the deep pool. One regional article separately describes reaching the same pool via 'a short hike' from the Elizabeth Furnace campground, but does not give a distance for that route either.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Blue Hole is described as one of the deepest spots on Passage Creek with a rope swing hanging from a tree on the far bank, and is an informal, unstaffed swimming spot (no lifeguards). Regional press coverage of the area's swimming holes advises checking water depth and the creek bottom before jumping; a nearby hole on the same creek (Buzzard Rock Hole) carries an explicit warning about hidden submerged rocks. No source states the entry at Blue Hole itself is shallow or gently sloped, so young/non-swimming kids should be watched closely rather than allowed to wade in freely.
Parking
Free
Access is via a small, unmarked dirt pull-off on the east (left) side of Fort Valley Road (SR-678), about 2 miles south of the VA-55 intersection - not a developed lot. A larger free parking area exists at the Elizabeth Furnace day-use area/campground a few miles away, from which the spot can also reportedly be reached on foot.
Restrooms
Yes
Vault toilets are available year-round at the Elizabeth Furnace day-use area and campground (roughly 2-3 miles from the Blue Hole pull-off); flush toilets and showers there operate seasonally, May through October. There is no restroom at the Blue Hole roadside pull-off itself.
Hours
Elizabeth Furnace Recreation Area (the surrounding USFS site) is open sunrise to sunset daily with free day-use admission; the Blue Hole roadside pull-off itself has no posted gate or hours.
On the water
Passage Creek at Blue Hole is a small, shallow mountain creek suited to wading and swimming; no source describes kayaking, canoeing, tubing, or paddleboarding at this spot. Nearby commercial paddling is on the North Fork Shenandoah River and the mainstem Shenandoah River, which are separate waterways, not Passage Creek itself.
Rentals nearby
Kayaks, canoes, tubes, rafts, stand-up paddleboards, and fishing kayaks for trips on the Shenandoah River (not Passage Creek)
Prices: Tubing from about $32/tube; half-day paddle trips from about $41/vessel
8567 Stonewall Jackson Hwy, Front Royal, VA - roughly a 15-20 minute drive from Blue Hole · Weekdays 9am-5pm, weekends 8am-6pm, seasonal (mid-March to early November)
Canoes, kayaks, rafts, and tubes for trips on the Shenandoah River, plus shuttle service for private boats
884 Indian Hollow Rd, Bentonville, VA - roughly a 30-40 minute drive from Blue Hole
Backstory
The broader Elizabeth Furnace area is named for a historic 19th-century iron furnace, with a Pig Iron and Charcoal interpretive trail and furnace ruins nearby, though these relate to the recreation area rather than the swimming hole itself.
Blue Hole: FAQ
Does Blue Hole charge a fee?
No fee for day use of the surrounding Elizabeth Furnace Recreation Area (USFS); no separate fee mentioned for the swimming hole itself.
Is Blue Hole kid friendly?
Blue Hole is described as one of the deepest spots on Passage Creek with a rope swing hanging from a tree on the far bank, and is an informal, unstaffed swimming spot (no lifeguards). Regional press coverage of the area's swimming holes advises checking water depth and the creek bottom before jumping; a nearby hole on the same creek (Buzzard Rock Hole) carries an explicit warning about hidden submerged rocks. No source states the entry at Blue Hole itself is shallow or gently sloped, so young/non-swimming kids should be watched closely rather than allowed to wade in freely.
Do I need to hike to reach Blue Hole?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Blue Hole?
Access is via a small, unmarked dirt pull-off on the east (left) side of Fort Valley Road (SR-678), about 2 miles south of the VA-55 intersection - not a developed lot. A larger free parking area exists at the Elizabeth Furnace day-use area/campground a few miles away, from which the spot can also reportedly be reached on foot.
What are the rules at Blue Hole?
General Elizabeth Furnace Recreation Area rules apply: no alcoholic beverages, dogs must be leashed (max 6 feet), quiet hours 10 PM-6 AM. No swimming-specific regulations found.
What water body is Blue Hole on?
Blue Hole is on Passage Creek, a natural creek verified in USGS hydrography data.
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