My Tully girl loves to swim.

She just waded out into the water one day and started paddling her little heart out. We joke that she truly is a fish out of water.

When it comes up in conversation with other pet parents, I often get asked: “Where do you take her to swim?”

I get it, when that North Carolina heat kicks up, we all want a place to cool off and that includes our four legged friends.

So, I have some awesome options for you inside of this blog post.

But first, we are going to talk about water safety (yes, algal blooms, fish kills, and e.coli are all a real thing, so it’s important to do your homework to stay informed and keep your dog safe).

Then, I’ll get into our top swimming spots in Raleigh and beyond that include lake and river options, plus some options for pool rentals, too.

PS. Many of the locations on this list also make incredible backdrops for our Pet Portrait experiences — especially for dogs who love water, hiking, and adventure. If you’ve been thinking about booking a Pet Portrait session for you and your pup(s), consider this your sign. Click here to learn more.

WATER SAFETY

Watch out for algae blooms, fish kills, and e.coli warnings or advisories.
In short, algae blooms are most common during periods of extended high temperatures, low rainfall, and in water that is slow moving or stagnant.
Blue-green algae blooms in particular are toxic for your dog. These blooms look bright green, blue-green, or resemble pea soup. They typically have a foul, musty smell along with surface scum and usually, but not always, fish kills close by.
If you want to read more, here is a helpful article from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University and another from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
When in doubt, do not let your dog swim or drink the water.
For North Carolina, you can utilize the NC Fish Kill and Algal Bloom Dashboard that is a free resource to stay in the know. Another resource you can check for water safety is the Haw River Assembly that tracks water quality issues and more along the Haw River and tributaries.
Obviously, there is no guarantee that any water is clean of bacteria, toxins, or algae, so arm yourself with as much information as you can and make an informed decision. Like I said before, when in doubt, stay out.
Opt for moving, open water.
Avoid stagnant or slow-moving water, especially if it looks discolored, murky, foamy, or smells off. Moving water is generally safer than stagnant water because harmful algae blooms are more common in warm, still conditions — but no lake or river is completely risk-free, so always stay alert and check local advisories, such as above.
Always carry fresh drinking water.
We never leave the house without our handy-dandy Pup Flasks that I can attach to my fanny pack or put in a backpack.
Fresh water helps keep your pup cool and hydrated safely when swimming and in the heat, but it also prevents them from drinking water that might upset their stomach or be toxic.
Use a life jacket.
If you plan to be out in the water for an extended period of time, are going to be in deeper water (such as a pool), boating, or paddle boarding, a dog life jacket (like this one) is essential. Life jackets are also beneficial for dogs who may not be the strongest of swimmers, don’t have a great recall, tire easily, or who might need extra support.
Be sure when purchasing a life jacket for your dog that it fits snuggly, has a handle on top, and is brightly colored to make it easy for them to be seen or carried out of the water if needed.

Stay connected.
If your dog is anything like mine, she doesn’t have a great recall especially when those pesky Geese or Ducks are close by. If you are worried about your dog’s recall or them swimming out too far in the water, a long line is a great option to stay connected with them while giving them freedom of movement.

You know your dog and their recall best, if there is any doubt they will take off or swim too far, keep them leashed especially in busy, public places and parks where it’s required.
Keep an eye on them.
Dogs aren’t great at tempering themselves especially when they are having fun, so if you can tell your dog is getting tired from all of the splashing and swimming, give them a break.
When the water temperatures are higher during the Summer, your dog can still get easily overheated, so be sure to help them cool off in the shade, take breaks, and provide cool, fresh water for them to drink.
Know when to avoid the water.
Rivers and lakes can seem calm after a storm, but with increased water levels and fast currents, they can be dangerous. Some other reasons to avoid the water would be posted advisories, if the water appears discolored or stagnant, or if your dog has open wounds, skin irritation, or is immune compromised.
Rinse your dog after swimming.
It’s always a good idea to rinse your dog after swimming to remove sand, dirt, irritants, or bacteria that might be on their coat, paws, and other areas. If you’ve been in the pool, this is also important to remove chlorine and other chemicals that can irritate your dogs skin.

Is there anything else we should add to this list? Shoot me an email to joanne@fivefreedomsphotography.com and I’d be happy to update it!

FAVORITE LAKES / RIVER SPOTS

Eno River

Cox Mountain Trail — Unfortunately, this isn’t one we visit often due to how far it is from us, but it’s a really nice river spot that’s relatively close to the parking lot. It will still take you about 5-10 minutes to walk down to the river.
Last I checked, the bridge crossing the river is still out from the flooding in late Summer 2025, but you can still gain access to the river on the bank closest to the parking lot. This is a very popular and busy spot especially in nice weather, so reactive dog parents be aware!
You’ll also want to check water levels before visiting; if we’ve had a lot of rain the river might be higher than normal.

Falls Lake

Beaverdam Access Area — It’s been a long time since I’ve been here personally, but Google suggested this location given that the area only permits non-motorized boats, making the coves and shorelines much calmer and safer for dogs to splash around. Plus, there is a dedicated swimming area and public restrooms as well. It’s a very popular spot for pets and their people during the Summertime.
Falls Lake Dam — Another great option that allows your dog to wade directly from a pebble peach right into the water is the Falls Lake Dam area. While you might run into some people fishing on the docks or sunbathing in the open grass, outside of being on the trails, I don’t generally run into too many people with dogs in the wooded areas. Obviously that will be dependent on time of year and time of day.
Rolling View Access Area from the Mountains To Sea Trail — You’ll have to hike into the Rolling View Access area from the MTS Trail access point, but once there, you’ll find some rocky areas to climb, which lead down to quiet coves and sandy beaches perfect for pups to splash and swim around in.
There is also a direct swimming area at this access point, but I haven’t been there to see if it’s for humans only or pets and people.

Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve

We love Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve in North Raleigh for both portrait sessions and swimming. It’s kind of a hidden gem that I find a lot of people don’t know about it. River access is about a 10 minute walk from the car and is dependent on how high the river is. There is quite a steep embankment to climb down to gain river access as long as the water is low enough.

Whenever we’ve taken Tully there in the early morning or later in the evening, it’s nice and quiet. You generally won’t run into too many people especially on the wooden trails. But, do be careful, we have run into a few off leash dogs here over the years.

Jordan Lake

Seaforth Beach — A really pretty beach spot for your dog to swim (as long as they don’t mind the waves!) is Seaforth Beach at Jordan Lake. If you take a peek, you might notice this is where I love to photograph my ever-popular SPLASH! Sessions.
One thing to note about Seaforth Beach is that it is very busy during the Summer and nicer weather, like Autumn. Oddly enough, this is actually one of my favorite places to visit during late Autumn, Winter, and early Spring before temps bring out the crowds.
This spot does charge a $10 entry fee daily during peak season (May to September usually), so just a heads up there if you plan to go often.

Sniffspots

I’m also surprised when a pet parent doesn’t know about Sniffspot. Sniffspot is like the AIRBNB for people’s properties and backyards! Renting a Sniffspot for your dog(s) is a great option especially if you don’t have a yard, have a reactive or high energy dog, or just want to give your dog new spaces to explore —leashed or off leash depending on the spot.

From small backyard options to wooded trails with creeks to fields with a private pond and even pool spots, Sniffspot is a great resource for finding private places to keep your dog cool during the Summer.

Upon writing this, I was trying to pull some options for you guys to explore, but their website was being glitchy and wouldn’t allow me to search spots.

Teamworks Training Pond

I’ve personally never been, but the Teamworks Training Pond in Youngsville has been recommended to me a ton of times. It’s available for rent both on Sniffspot (early morning times) and through the Teamworks Training direct website for other time options.

Depending on where you live, it can be a bit of a drive, but if you have multiple dogs, a pack of friends who love the water, or have a dog that is a fish and loves to be in the water, it’s a much safer option designed specifically for dogs.

Umstead Park

Reedy Creek Entrance, Company Mill Trail — This one is quite a long hike down to the Neuse River compared to some of the options. It’s a easy to moderate “hike” depending on your fitness level, so be prepared for the time and fitness investment.
Once you get to the bridge, you can keep walking along the shoreline down to the water or cross the bridge and gain access from the other side. Either way, there is relatively shallow, moving water (depending on the time of year) for your dog to run and play in.
The major downside to this location is that it’s generally busy no matter the time of year or time of day. It’s a popular trail running spot for avid runners and local high schools, so as long as your dog(s) don’t mind a ton of people and other dogs on a tight trail, it’s not one to miss.

Have a favorite swimming spot for your dog in the Raleigh area that you don’t see listed here? Email me at joanne@fivefreedomsphotography.com and I’ll get it added to the list!

POOL RECOMMENDATIONS

Tully isn’t a big fan of the pool, however, if that’s more your speed, we do have some recommendations of places we’ve been and spots we have yet to try but know of.

Indian Creek K9 Acquatics

Located about an hour outside of Raleigh in Goldston, NC, Indian Creek K9 Acquatics offers seminars for beginner dock divers, dock diving events, and more throughout the year. Follow their Facebook page for information.

Sliding G Ranch

From hourly rentals of the pool to seminars to Dock Diving events, Sliding G Ranch offers a wide array of services for those looking to keep cool with their pups or try something new.

Sniffspot

If public rivers, lakes, and ponds aren’t really your thing, there are a number of Sniffspots who offer private pools just for you and your pet! Let us know which pools on Sniffspot are your favorite and we will share them in this list.

Swimbly

A service similar to Sniffspot, Swimbly is the AIRBNB of pool rentals. Not all pool rentals allow dogs, so you do have to do a bit of digging to find the right fit like this one in Wake Forest.

Teamworks K9 Dock Diving Pool

Like many of the other Dock Diving pools, this one from Teamworks is also available for rent as long as you have an orientation session prior to renting. So, if you plan on going frequently, then that would make the most sense for you. To schedule your orientation, book swimming lessons, or rent the pool, read on and learn more at their website.