Swan Pond Spring
Swan Pond Spring emerges at 72°F from a low-elevation site at just 460 feet in Jefferson County, West Virginia. Located 66.9 meters from Hollida Lane near Shepherdstown, the spring flows 16.9 degrees warmer than the 55.1°F average air temperature in this Shenandoah Valley location. The modest thermal differential reflects the spring's position near the eastern edge of West Virginia's thermal spring distribution.
The spring occupies the lower Shenandoah Valley landscape where gentle hills transition to the broad valley floor. At 460 feet elevation—among the lowest for thermal springs in West Virginia—the setting features agricultural land interspersed with hardwood groves and residential development. Annual precipitation of 43.4 inches with 24.4 inches of snow supports mixed deciduous forest in uncultivated areas. The nearby Potomac River and its tributaries drain this limestone valley terrain. Milder temperatures than mountain locations to the west characterize this transition zone between Appalachian highlands and Atlantic coastal plain.
Limited historical documentation exists for Swan Pond Spring compared to more developed West Virginia thermal features. The name suggests a historic pond or wetland feature associated with the spring discharge, though current conditions remain undocumented. No evidence of commercial development or resort use appears in available records. The spring likely served local domestic purposes during settlement periods but avoided the resort boom that transformed other regional thermal waters.
Visit during spring or fall when temperatures are moderate; summer can be humid at this low elevation. The nearest public camping at Rohrbach Group Campground 11.4 km away serves only Scout and civic groups, not general public. The 72°F water provides minimal thermal effect in a region with relatively warm ambient temperatures. Consider combining with visits to historic Shepherdstown or Antietam National Battlefield for a regional tour.
Is Swan Pond Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Easy day trips
- Overnight camping trips
Overview THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC CAMPGROUND. ONLY SCOUTS AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS MAY USE ROHRBACH CAMPGROUND.Antietam National Battlefield is the site of the bloodiest one day battle in American history. After twelve hours of savage combat on September 17, 1862, 23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing. The Battle of Antietam ended the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia's first invasion into the North and led to Abraham Lincoln's issuance of the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. R...