Blue Hole Day Use Area

Bergton, Virginia

Verified · 3 independent sources · top-verified

WATER: river
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: Free
SEASON: Varies by conditions

About Blue Hole Day Use Area

Blue Hole Day Use Area is a free, U.S. Forest Service-managed natural swimming hole on the headwaters of the North Fork Shenandoah River near Bergton, Virginia, within the George Washington National Forest. It has long served as a local community swimming spot centered on a rock-lined pool reached by a short walk from a small dirt-road parking area.

The site sits at the start of the North Fork Shenandoah River in a rural, forested pocket of Rockingham County near the West Virginia border, reached via Bergton Road (Rt. 820) and a short stretch of Blue Hole Road. It is described as scenic and somewhat secluded, with a mix of sun and shade around the swimming area.

Swimming at Blue Hole Day Use Area

Swimming happens in a natural rock-bound pool rather than a beach setting; visitors access the water by walking over rocks (water shoes are recommended). A 2017 news report found the hole reduced by sediment and rock buildup to at most about 5 feet deep in places and shallower elsewhere, and signage explicitly warns against diving because submerged rocks can shift during floods. Rock jumping (not diving) is the main activity, and remnants of a former rope swing have been noted, though such swing/jump features have been removed or cut down over time.

How to get to this swimming hole

From Bergton, take Bergton Road (Route 820) to Blue Hole Road, then follow Blue Hole Road roughly 200 yards to the parking area and short walking access to the swimming hole.

Parking: Small parking area/lot on a local dirt road near the entrance; no fee.

The hike in

To the water: ~200 yards (about 0.1 mi) one-way
Time on foot: 2-5 minutes

Difficulty: easy

Trailhead: Small dirt-road parking area at the end of Blue Hole Road, reached via Bergton Road (Rt. 820) near Bergton, VA. There is no named trail, just a short access path/rock scramble from the parking area to the water.

Not a formal trail; an unnamed short walk from the parking pullout directly to the swimming pool.

The last stretch crosses rocks at the water's edge, so water shoes are commonly recommended (mycampingspot.com, bergtonfair.com).

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

OK with supervision

One aggregator (mycampingspot.com) lists it 'good for kids' and suitable for families, but the swim area is small, has a rocky/uneven bottom requiring water shoes, no lifeguard is on duty, and land-manager-adjacent signage explicitly warns against diving/jumping because submerged rocks can shift in floods. Best treated as supervise-closely rather than a hands-off kid spot.

Parking

Free

Small, first-come-first-served dirt-road parking area at the end of Blue Hole Road (off Bergton Road/Rt. 820); no fee. Space is limited, so it can fill on busy summer weekends.

Restrooms

Yes

A single vault (outhouse-style) toilet sits near the parking area, but multiple visitor accounts (mycampingspot.com, refined-travel.com) say it is frequently closed due to flood damage; one source (bergtonfair.com) reported no functioning public restroom at all at the time of that visit. Nearest reliable facilities are at Capon Run General Store, roughly 1 mile away.

Hours

No official U.S. Forest Service page for the site was found; aggregator listings (mycampingspot.com, refined-travel.com) describe it as generally open year-round, sunrise to sunset, day-use only with no entrance fee.

On the water

No land-manager or other source mentions permitted boating here, and the site sits at the literal headwaters of the North Fork Shenandoah River, a small, rocky, shallow pool and creek, not a navigable stretch. One visitor account from 2008 speculated it looked possible to launch a canoe at the recreation area and paddle downstream to the North Fork 'in minutes,' but this is one unverified anecdote with no corroboration from outfitters, rental listings, or official sources, so it is not treated as an established activity here.

What regulars say

Visitor reports consistently flag the same practical points: bring water shoes because the approach and pool bottom are rocky; the single vault toilet is frequently out of service due to flood damage, so plan accordingly; watch for snakes in the area; cell service is limited; and signage and locals warn strongly against diving or jumping because rocks below the surface shift with flooding and the pool is shallow (as little as roughly 5 ft in the deepest spots per the 2017 restoration reporting already on file).

Backstory

Blue Hole has been a popular local swimming destination for decades, with historical tire swings, rope swings, and jumping branches now largely removed. Sediment and rock accumulation from repeated flooding degraded the swimming hole over time, prompting a Rockingham County-led restoration push starting in 2017 (backed by then-Rep. Bob Goodlatte and Senators Kaine/Warner's offices) to work with the U.S. Forest Service and state/federal agencies on removing or relocating rocks to revive the site.

Blue Hole Day Use Area: FAQ

Does Blue Hole Day Use Area charge a fee?

Free, day-use only (no camping or overnight stays permitted).

Is Blue Hole Day Use Area kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Blue Hole Day Use Area?

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

Where do I park for Blue Hole Day Use Area?

Small, first-come-first-served dirt-road parking area at the end of Blue Hole Road (off Bergton Road/Rt. 820); no fee. Space is limited, so it can fill on busy summer weekends.

What are the rules at Blue Hole Day Use Area?

Day-use only; no diving (submerged, shifting rocks and shallow water); alcohol and camping prohibited; no lifeguard on duty, swim at own risk; fishing requires a Virginia license (river is stocked with trout).