French Broad River (Newport area)
Warmer, wider river swimming alternative to the cold mountain creeks, near Newport.
Tennessee
The Sinks (Little River)
Popular, powerful swimming hole created inadvertently by early-1900s logging operations; deep pool below a cascade.
Big South Fork NRRA – Burnt Mill Bridge & Gentlemen’s Swimming Hole
Multiple swimming spots along the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River within this NPS-managed river gorge.
Abrams Falls swimming hole
One of the most impressive swimming holes in the Smokies; a wide (~100 ft) pool beneath Abrams Falls in Cades
Greenbrier (Little Pigeon River)
Deep sections of the Little Pigeon River near the Greenbrier entrance, good for both swimming and sunbathing.
Blue Hole – Ocoee River
Deep, clear pool on the Upper Ocoee near the 1996 Olympic whitewater venue; popular for jumping and snorkeling.
Baby Falls (Tellico River)
Popular 15-foot waterfall and swimming/tubing spot along the scenic Tellico River.
Backbone Rock (Beaver Dam Creek)
Small but scenic swimming hole on Beaver Dam Creek beside the Backbone Rock tunnel landmark on the TN/VA line.
Rock Creek (Bristol/Johnson City area)
A managed creek-fed swimming pool within a US Forest Service recreation area near Erwin.
Laurel Fork / Laurel Falls
A series of swimming holes along Laurel Fork creek, reached via an Appalachian Trail hike to Laurel Falls.