The heat of the summer may leave you and your family in need of some cooling off on this year’s Gatlinburg vacation. While renting one of our cabins with their own private pool or enjoying your cabin with pool access may be an option, these cabins do book quickly for the summer months. If you’re scorched from the sun and in dire need of some refreshment, the city of Gatlinburg has you covered!
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to several rivers and swimming holes that make for the perfect summer retreats. With the water at a cooling 65 degrees in the summer months, you and your family will enjoy a refreshing swim when the sunshine becomes a little too much. Check out some of our favorite swimming holes below – just don’t forget to pack your bathing suit on your Smoky Mountain vacation!
Midnight Hole
One of the best known swimming spots in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Midnight Hole is a beautiful and refreshing retreat. Named one of the top ten natural swimming holes in the United States, you will quickly discover why when you gaze into the clear water! Located on Big Creek close to the North Carolina line, this beautiful swimming hole is well worth the drive.
Abrams Falls
You may have heard of Abrams Falls and know it’s name from the impressive twenty foot waterfall, but did you know that the pool at the bottom of the falls is ideal for swimming? Truly a picturesque location, this peaceful location is popular with both locals and tourists alike. Just remember to tell your children to avoid swimming near the falls – the undertow can be very dangerous.
Greenbrier
Located at the Greenbrier entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, there are several swimming holes along this stretch of road. The perfect place to spend an afternoon with your family and a picnic lunch, the gently flowing waters here provide plenty of cooling and relaxation. Just park your car along the road and walk down to the river to select your perfect location!
Gatlinburg Community Center
Do you prefer a pool to a river? No problem then, because the Gatlinburg Community Center offers indoor pool access to all! For the 2013 season Adult visits are only $2 dollars per person, while child visits are only $1.50. The dollar and some change will be well worth it when you and your children are splashing in the blue water!