Which Franklin Location Made Southern Living’s List for Best Swimming Hole

Harpeth River
Harpeth River State Park

Recently, Southern Living put together a list of natural swimming holes and waterfalls in the South. With the August heat, there’s no better way to cool down than to jump in some cool water.

Included on this list, are places in Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and of course Tennessee.

Harpeth River State Park made the list. Here is what “Southern Living” had to say about the Harpeth River.

“Soak in the shadow of historic ruins or swim near the rutted lanes of the Old Natchez Trace at this 40-mile-long linear park north of Franklin. Following the meandering Harpeth River, the park contains several natural, archeological, and historic sites as well as 10 river access points where you can put in inner tubes, canoes, or kayaks. Bring your own float (or rent one from a local outfitter) and embark on a one-hour or daylong trip down the river. Then explore the Newsom’s Mill Ruins just off I-40, about 20 miles north of Franklin. Set on a bluff above the water, the historic site features the 154-year-old ruins of a stone gristmill, once the center of a small town. The tumbled-down walls now overlook a great spot to take a dip. Closer to Franklin, you’ll find another park swimming hole—complete with a rope swing—near the intersection of Temple Road and the Old Natchez Trace.”

Two other locations made the list in Tennessee – Cummins Falls and Panther Creek State Park.  To read the complete list, visit the “Southern Living” website.

If you would like to canoe along the Harpeth River, there are several access points in Franklin; Harlinsdale Park, Eastern Flank,  and Williamson County Recreation Center.

See the map below with access points created by the City of Franklin.

Harpeth River Access Points

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