Trash Can Falls is a well-known swimming hole with cascading falls in a small rocky ravine, some small rock jumps, an actual rock water slide and water 7-10 feet deep with a sandy bottom.

About a 20-30 minute drive from Boone, take HWY 421 north from Boone and turn left on HWY 321 at the Skate World Roller Rink. Drive through Sugar Grove and just after you cross the watauga river bridge, you'll see a parking area on the right. Across the street is a small trail that heads up into the woods. Walk several hundred yards and you will see the falls.

Snake Pit Swimming Hole is practically across the road from Trash Can Falls. Keep driving a little farther north on HWY 321 to the long guardrail on the right. You can park at either end of the rail,  but the trail is down to the right where the guardrail starts.

A somewhat steep incline is made easier with a knotted rope to help guide you down. The trail pops you right out at the big open swimming hole. This spot has a few rock jumps as well, and it's a great place just to hang out and take in the sun on the nice flat rock areas. The sun hits this spot for most of the afternoon in the summer, the swimming hole is plenty big and the current is not strong.

Hebron Rock Colony is another good spot. There is a long slope of giant rocks, and you can run, jump, climb or crawl in and around these huge boulders that fill a lovely ravine. The water cascades down the rocks, creating numerous small waterfalls in between all kinds of little swimming holes.

Hebron is about 20 minutes away from Boone. Take HWY 105 south from Boone and turn left onto Old Shull's Mill Road. The road turns left; follow it by staying on Old Shull's Mill Road. After passing a church on the left, take a right onto Old Turnpike Road. This is a gravel road. Drive for about 5 to 8 minutes and when the road comes to a hairpin turn to the right, the trail goes down into the woods to the right. Park here. Walk for about 10  m inutes to reach the river.