Swimming Holes in Tennessee
109 natural swimming holes
Tennessee has 109 natural swimming holes in our directory — waterfalls, rivers, lakes scattered from the backcountry to roadside favorites. Favorites include Cummins Falls State Park, Burgess Falls State Park, Ozone Falls State Natural Area. Every listing includes location details, fees, reservation info, and safety notes where known. Conditions change with weather and seasons, so always verify before you go.
All Tennessee swimming holes
- Baby Falls - Tellico River
- Bald River Falls
- Blue Hole - Greeter Falls Trail
- Blue Hole - North Chickamauga Creek
- Blue Hole - Rock Island State Park
- Blue Hole Falls - Dennis Cove
- Burgess Falls State Park
- Cane Creek Cascades - Fall Creek Falls State Park
- Cane Creek Falls - Fall Creek Falls State Park
- Cummins Falls State Park
- Elkmont Swimming Hole
- Foster Falls - Fiery Gizzard State Park
- George Hole - Fall Creek Falls State Park
- Greeter Falls - Savage Gulf State Park
- Hiwassee River - Reliance
- Horsepound Falls - Savage Gulf State Park
- Machine Falls - Short Springs State Natural Area
- Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park
- Ozone Falls State Natural Area
- Rutledge Falls
- Savage Falls - Savage Gulf State Park
- Sycamore Falls - Fiery Gizzard State Park
- The Sinks - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Townsend Wye - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Twin Falls - Rock Island State Park
- Virgin Falls State Natural Area
- Abrams Falls - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Anderson Road Day Use (Percy Priest Lake)
- Benton Falls
- Big Creek
- Big Ridge State Park - Norris Lake
- Bridal Veil Falls (Sewanee)
- Buffalo River (Metal Ford)
- Buffalo River - Linden
- Busby Falls (Short Springs State Natural Area)
- Calfkiller River
- Caney Fork River (Sligo Bridge)
- Chickasaw State Park - Lake Placid
- Citico Creek
- Clear Creek (Obed Wild and Scenic River)
- Clinch River - Kyles Ford
- Collins River
- Conasauga River
- Cove Lake State Park
- Cumberland Mountain State Park - Byrd Lake
- Daddy's Creek (Obed Wild and Scenic River)
- Dale Hollow Lake (Obey River Park)
- Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park (Nolichucky River)
- Defeated Creek Park (Cordell Hull Lake)
- Denny Cove Falls - South Cumberland
- Doe River - Roan Mountain State Park
- Duck River - Henry Horton State Park
- Edgar Evins State Park (Center Hill Lake)
- Falls Branch Falls
- Fancher Falls - Center Hill Lake
- Frozen Head State Park - Emory Gap Falls
- Gee Creek Falls
- Great Falls (Caney Fork River)
- Greenbrier (Little Pigeon River)
- Grundy Forest (Fiery Gizzard Trail)
- Harpeth River State Park (Narrows of the Harpeth)
- Hatchie River
- Honey Creek (Big South Fork)
- Jackson Falls - Natchez Trace Parkway
- Jacobs Creek Recreation Area (South Holston Lake)
- Johnsonville State Historic Park (Kentucky Lake)
- Laguardo Recreation Area (Old Hickory Lake)
- Land Between the Lakes (Hillman Ferry, Kentucky Lake)
- Laurel Falls - Hampton
- Laurel Falls - Laurel-Snow State Natural Area
- Leatherwood Ford - Big South Fork
- Lost Creek Falls
- Margarette Falls
- Metcalf Bottoms (Little River)
- Middle Prong Little River (Tremont)
- Montgomery Bell State Park - Acorn Lake
- Mousetail Landing State Park (Spring Creek)
- Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park (Eva Beach, Kentucky Lake)
- Nolichucky River - Erwin
- Normandy Lake (Barton Springs Recreation Area)
- Norris Dam State Park - Norris Lake
- North River
- Northrup Falls - Colditz Cove State Natural Area
- O&W Bridge (Big South Fork)
- Obed River - Nemo
- Ocoee River (Whitewater Center)
- Old Hickory Beach (Old Hickory Lake)
- Paint Creek - Cherokee National Forest
- Panther Creek State Park - Cherokee Lake
- Paris Landing State Park - Kentucky Lake
- Pickwick Landing State Park
- Piney Falls State Natural Area
- Port Royal State Historic Park (Red River)
- Ragland Bottom Recreation Area (Center Hill Lake)
- Red Fork Falls
- Roaring River Park (Cordell Hull Lake)
- Rock Creek Falls
- Sequatchie River
- Shelby Park (Cumberland River)
- Standing Stone State Park (Standing Stone Lake)
- Stillhouse Hollow Falls State Natural Area
- Stinging Fork Falls State Natural Area
- Stones River (East Fork, Walter Hill)
- Sycamore Shoals State Park - Watauga River
- Tims Ford State Park (Tims Ford Lake)
- Warriors' Path State Park - Fort Patrick Henry Lake
- Watauga Lake (Watauga Point Recreation Area)
- Wolf River (Bateman Bridge)
- Wolf River - Ghost River Section
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of swimming holes does Tennessee have?
Our directory lists 109 swimming holes in Tennessee: 38 waterfalls, 33 rivers, and 27 lakes. Every listing shows its water type, location, fees, and safety notes so you can pick the right one.
When is the best time to visit swimming holes in Tennessee?
The most commonly listed season across our Tennessee spots is may-september (60 of 109 spots). Late spring through early fall is generally prime swimming season — spring runoff can make rivers and creeks dangerously high, so check local conditions.
Do Tennessee swimming holes require reservations?
Yes — 1 of the 109 Tennessee spots in our directory list a reservation requirement. Book those ahead, especially on summer weekends, and check the official park link on each listing before you go.
Are Tennessee swimming holes free?
Some are — 62 of the 109 Tennessee spots in our directory report free entry. State parks and popular preserves often charge a day-use or parking fee; each listing shows reported fee info where known.
Are natural swimming holes in Tennessee safe?
Natural water has real risks: no lifeguards, submerged rocks, strong currents, and cold water. Never dive headfirst, check depth, and supervise children closely. Spots with known hazards carry safety flags on their listing.