💦 Waterfall Plunge Pool
🟡 Moderate GSMNP Parking Tag required ($5/day or $15/week)
🌊 About Midnight Hole (Big Creek)
One of the most famous swimming holes in the Smokies — an emerald pool between boulders fed by a small cascade, right on the TN/NC line.
📋 Visit Details
Entry Fee
GSMNP Parking Tag required ($5/day or $15/week)
Water Temperature
💧 Cold, mountain-fed
Best Season
📅 Late spring–fall; deep enough to swim nearly year-round
Water Type
Creek plunge pool below small waterfall
Managed By
National Park Service (Great Smoky Mountains NP)
County
Cocke (TN side) / Haywood (NC) County, Tennessee
Access Difficulty
🟡 Moderate
🗺️ Getting There
Address / Access Point:
Big Creek Trail, Great Smoky Mountains NP (accessed via I-40 exit 451)
Access Notes:
1.4–1.5 mile hike in on Big Creek Trail, look for tree with painted white circle
✅ Before You Go — Checklist
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Check current water conditions — especially after recent rain
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Save GPS coordinates offline before leaving — cell service may be limited
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Bring cash or card for entry: GSMNP Parking Tag required ($5/day or $15/week)
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Pack reef-safe sunscreen, dry bag, water shoes and plenty of drinking water
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Tell someone where you are going before heading to a remote location
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Pack out everything you bring in — leave no trace