Sugar Creek Named Indiana’s Top Wild Swimming Spot

While swimming laps in a municipal pool is all well and good – apart from the smell of chlorine and the rowdy kids – there’s just something about diving into a wild, untouched swimming hole. Think open-air swimming spots which are at one with their environment – nestled in a forest, carved into a canyon, or tucked behind mossy rocks – which offer a refreshing sense of adventure. Out in the fresh air, away from the pollution of a city, you come into contact with water which is only warmed by the sun. Yes, it’s probably freezing, but it will surely wake you up, and the silence of your surroundings can almost feel meditative. All in all, it’s downright good for the soul….

To celebrate the quieter side of summer, a new survey of 3,015 respondents by Mixbook <https://www.mixbook.com/>  – the #1–rated photo book company – asked locals to share their favorite places to swim across the U.S.. And the answers will make you want to hop on a bike or jump in a car, train or plane immediately to experience this incredible range of spring-fed rivers, lava tubes, slot canyons and plunge pools that you can only reach by hiking, paddling, or sheer persistence.

And while some pretty cool places made the top of the list, three Indiana watering holes made the list — topped by Montgomery County’s coolest body of water, Sugar Creek!

Here are the Indiana wild swimming spots, followed by the best in the U.S.:

#46. Sugar Creek, The Narrows

Just outside Turkey Run State Park, a narrow limestone gorge called The Narrows along Sugar Creek holds a secret swimming pocket. At the east side of the creek just downstream of the covered bridge, a faint unpaved pull-off leads to a shaded channel with pool-worthy water. The creek flows deep enough here for cautious swimming when water levels are moderate, and the limestone setting gives it quiet charm.

#105. Crooked Lake Nature Preserve

Seeming miles from public beaches, Crooked Lake is tucked within a quiet preserve and offers crisp, deep water and clean shoals. The hiking trail reveals hidden alcoves along the shore where you can slip into pristine water surrounded by old-growth forest. The lake is shallow in parts and deep in others – ideal for floating, wading, or a secluded alpine-style swim in mid-Indiana.

#114. Hutchins Creek Wilderness Pools

Far off marked routes in the Bald Knob Wilderness, Hutchins Creek pools lie in a shaded hollow reached via trail and further hiking through rough undergrowth. Wade carefully through nettle patches until you arrive at cool, isolated pockets of water deep enough for a dip. Few ever come here, making it feel both wild and quietly refreshing.

 The top 5 nationally were as follows:

 #1. Uluwehi Falls, Kauaʻi,  Hawaii

Unsurprisingly, the natural beauty of Hawaii hides plenty of alluring wild-swimming spots across its islands – no wonder it features heavily on the list. And in prime position are the Uluwehi Falls, which remain among Kauaʻi’s most secluded treasures. You have to really want to get here, as this place is accessible only by kayaking up the Wailua River and hiking two miles through rainforest. But when you finally arrive, you’re rewarded with the sight of a delicate cascade which empties into a polished green pool surrounded by palm trees and mossy boulders. Because of the somewhat tricky river approach and deliberate lack of signage, you’ll often have the place to yourself – picture it: just you, the tumbling waters, and the moss-covered rocks around it. Sheer bliss.

#2.  Keanalele Waterhole, Hawaiʻi Island, Hawaii This stunning freshwater pool can seem a little daunting at first; it sits deep inside a lava tube which opens beside the ocean. You have to climb down a small ladder through a crack in the lava into what initially seems like a dark, cave-like chamber… but then you’re rewarded with dappled, natural light which filters in through openings in the volcanic roof above. Nothing beats jumping into that fresh, inviting water when it’s boiling hot outside – yes, the initial shock is bracing, but next thing you know, you’re floating serenely, soundtracked by the distant waves.

#3.  Potem Falls, Shasta National Recreation Area, California This idyllic spot is reached off-trail into a thick forest; after you’ve gone about half a mile, you come upon Potem Falls, a 70ft cascading stream which tips into a glass-like grotto pool. The area is enclosed by towering granite walls, which has the effect of making it feel even more isolated. The large flat rocks give you the option of diving into the cool waters, or perhaps you prefer to just lying back and float.

#4.  Kalauao Falls, Oʻahu, Hawaii

This is not somewhere you’re going to stumble across during a casual stroll – Kalauao Falls only reveal themselves when the rains storm in. Getting there is anything but a piece of cake – think gnarly, muddy trails, and splashing across creeks and rivers like something out of an Indiana Jones movie. Your reward is a beautifully-secluded waterfall which drops into a deep pool up to nine feet deep, surrounded by tropical foliage which creates a wild, otherworldly feel. 

#5. Rock Springs Run, Kelly Park, Florida If you’d rather not fight for space at the better-known, bustling Kelly Rock Springs near by, Rock Springs Run is the answer. Think water gently flowing past thick, green forest, spilling into a series of deeper pools. The best way to experience it? Grab an inflatable inner tube and let the current pull you along, passing turtles and otters along the way, then plant yourself in the shallow waters as a respite from the humid Florida heat. Afterwards, hike around the forest; it’s wonderfully free of tourists.

“Americans are gradually re-connecting with the joys of wild swimming,” says Leslie Albertson, Director of Brand and Creative at Mixbook <https://www.mixbook.com/> . “For many it is not just about cooling off when the weather is sweltering – it’s the ritual involved in getting there, the solitude, and often the sense of stumbling upon a hidden gem. But always be mindful – these spots are beautiful because they’re untouched, and that means swimming is very much at your own risk.”