Fort Dickerson Park Quarry
A scenic flooded Civil War-era quarry turned swimming hole, just minutes from downtown Knoxville.
Swimming Holes
Carmac Falls
A lesser-known waterfall and swimming spot near Smithville, in the region bordering the Cumberland Plateau.
Chickamauga Creek (“Blue Hole”)
An unofficial “Blue Hole” and other swimming spots along Chickamauga Creek near Chattanooga.
Conasauga River
Unofficial swimming and snorkeling spots on one of the most biodiverse rivers in North America, straddling the TN/GA line.
Hiwassee River
A cooler, gentler alternative to the Ocoee for tubing and swimming, with several public access points near Reliance.
Elrod Falls
An unofficial, lesser-known falls and swimming spot near Sneedville in far northeast Tennessee.
Blue Hole Falls (Elizabethton)
A lesser-known falls and swimming hole near Elizabethton mentioned in regional “secret swimming hole” roundups.
Laurel Fork / Laurel Falls
A series of swimming holes along Laurel Fork creek, reached via an Appalachian Trail hike to Laurel Falls.
Rock Creek (Bristol/Johnson City area)
A managed creek-fed swimming pool within a US Forest Service recreation area near Erwin.
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.