Snake Pit is a popular swimming hole near Boone NC and Appalachian State University.
This spot on the Watauga River is beautiful with house-sized boulders rising over the riverbank. This area is known as Upper Watauga – as in upstream of the Watauga River Gorge.
Local fisherman like to wade waist deep into the water and fish, while college kids take turns splashing into the river on the rope swing. I would highly recommend scoping for rocks beneath the surface before jumping.
For those that enjoy rock climbing, Snake Pit has a few boulders chalked up from time to time. Some local climbing legends have several boulder problems in the vicinity. However, they are difficult and the landings are sketchy for the most part.
Expert Kayak Run along Watauga River
Watch Out for Class V Rapids
The climbs, jumps and spots I see people fishing are after the dangerous Class V Snake Pit rapids.
Once Laurel Creek flows into the Watauga River, the water starts moving. The stretch of river from Trashcan Falls to Snake Pit is deceptively hairy. You could float all the way from Valle Crucis to the U.S. 321 Bridge, probably hours of floating, with barely a care in the world.
But that soon changes after floating beneath the bridge.
Consider what the American Whitewater, a river conservation non-profit funded by paddlers, says about the 3.75-mile kayaking run from U.S. 321 Bridge to Guy Ford Road, which includes the Snake Pit rapids.
“Be aware of a ‘mandatory’ portage 1/4 mile into the run called the Clog. After the first set of shoals and rapids, where the Laurel Fork joins the river from the left, the river pools up above the Clog. This is a difficult class V rapid that terminates in a narrow slot that feeds a huge undercut rock that is stuffed with debris such as plywood, logs, etc. Portage the whole thing on the right.
Take out as far down as you can go before the rapid begins to minimize walking on private property. There is an old road at the top of the bank. We need to be EXTRA LOW-PROFILE as there are rumors of property owners not being happy about boaters in or near their yards.
Everything else is boat-scoutable.”
To hammer this point home, people have died attempting to traverse this dangerous stretch of river.
Death at Snake Pit in 2003
In the summer of 2003, Nathan Raymer, 24, died here.
Raymer’s hometown paper, the Salisbury Post reported he was part of a group of eight people attempting to float through Snake Pit on individual rafts. Nobody was wearing life vests, and it’s unclear what type of rafts they were using, whether kayaks or inflatable rafts.
The paper reported that the river was high and “almost all the rafts” flipped over at Snake Pit.
“One of the girls was stuck against a rock and couldn’t get loose,” said Franda Raymer, his mom. “The kids just had their hands full. Two kayakers came along and tried to help.”
A former lifeguard, Raymer was a strong swimmer. However, he was the only one not to emerge to the surface right away. His body was eventually found 200 to 300 feet downstream. He was knocked unconscious, likely hitting his head on a rock in the rapids, according to Watauga County officials.
Directions, Parking and River Access to the Snake Pit Swimming Hole
Snake Pit is downstream of Trash Can Falls (aka Laurel Creek Falls) and the river access adjacent to the U.S. 321 Bridge on Watauga River Road in Sugar Grove. It’s about a 15-minute drive from Boone.
The map above will get you to Trash Can Falls.
No parking signs exist directly above Snake Pit, where a dozen cars at most would be able to park. This area used to be blocked off by short 6×6 beams.
The access trail to Snake Pit is located about 50 yards or so downstream from the Trashcan Falls pull-off or 100 yards from the paved parking lot near the U.S. 321 Bridge. These parking areas fill up quickly. If you park on the highway shoulder, the State Highway Patrol will tow your vehicle.
The main trail into Snake Pit includes two 10-foot ropes tied to trees to help descents into the gorge. It is steep. Walk carefully. I would recommend wearing shoes for the trek.
Be careful and have fun at the Snake Pit swimming hole.
Check out more waterfalls and swimming holes on the Watauga River and near Boone NC here.