Finding Midnight Hole: A Remote Swimming Hole in the Smokies

Midnight Hole, with its gleaming emerald-green waters, 6-foot waterfalls, and jumbo boulders, differs from all the other popular swimming holes in the Smokies. This natural swimming hole deep in the Smoky Mountains requires a 3-mile roundtrip hike, making it more hidden, remote, and difficult to get to than popular ones like the Townsend Wye and The Sinks.

Since I live just 20 minutes from one of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrances, I’ve been to Midnight Hole many times. And no matter how many times I return, it never gets old.

In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know about Midnight Hole in North Carolina, including where it is (exact coordinates), how to find it, what to bring, and what to expect at the hole and on the hike leading up to it. Welcome to one of the most remote swimming holes in the Great Smoky Mountains.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on the links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own. Thanks so much for your support!

Finding Midnight Hole: A Remote Swimming Hole in the Smokies

What Is Midnight Hole?

Midnight Hole is a picturesque natural swimming hole in Big Creek. Located in the heart of the Smoky Mountains, this swimming hole features varying depths of emerald-green water, 6-foot waterfalls, a pebbly creekbed, and jumbo boulders.

Where Is Midnight Hole?

Midnight Hole is located in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, off the Big Creek Trail. The remote swimming hole is on the North Carolina side near the Tennessee/North Carolina state line.

The Big Creek area is a remote part of the Smoky Mountains. It is about an hour from Gatlinburg, TN.

Midnight Hole Coordinates: 35.73816, -83.12705

Getting to the Parking Area

The easiest way to get to the Big Creek Trailhead and Midnight Hole swimming hole would be to hop on I-40 E and take it to Exit 451. Then you’ll have access to the entire Big Creek area of the park – trailheads, campground, picnic area, backcountry campsites, etc.

Off exit 451, turn right onto Waterville Road. Take the paved curve to continue on Waterville. (The gravel road ahead is an access point to the Appalachian Trail). Cell service drops off shortly after this point.

Continue driving on Waterville Road for about 2 miles. Once you reach the intersection, you’ll continue straight to the Big Creek Entrance Road. This road is gravel and very narrow. Use caution with oncoming vehicles.

You’ll pass a ranger station and some trailhead parking within 0.3 miles. Keep going. Park at the end of the road in the large gravel parking lot.

You’ll have passed the Big Creek trailhead on your way to the parking area. After you’ve parked, head back down the Big Creek road and the trailhead will be on your left, across from the Group Camp road.

There are seasonal toilets and picnic tables right off the parking lot.

Click here to get Google Maps directions to the trailhead.

Entrance Fees

There is no entrance fee to get into Great Smoky Mountains National Park. However, you must display a parking pass. Parking passes can be purchased online or at any visitor center.

You can read all about the parking tag program in my full guide.

Hours & Closures

Access to the Big Creek area is always possible, weather permitting. Note that the restrooms, picnic area, and campgrounds are seasonal.

Know Before You Go

• Road conditions. The 1-mile road to the Big Creek trailhead is gravel and narrow, and pull-offs are extremely limited. Use extreme caution when traveling this road.
• Restrooms. The restrooms located at the Big Creek trailhead parking lot are seasonal. If you’re visiting in the off-season, use the vault toilets at the Chestnut Branch trail parking area (the first trailhead parking area you come to on Big Creek Entrance Road).
• Cell signal. There is no cell service in the Big Creek area of the park. In the event of an emergency, there is an emergency phone at the Ranger Station, located less than 1 mile from the Big Creek trailhead.
• Crowds. The Big Creek parking lot fills up quickly in the summer. To avoid the crowds, come in the off-season. Weather can still be warm in the off-season!

What to Bring to Midnight Hole

Midnight Hole is not a vehicle-accessible swimming hole like Townsend Wye or The Sinks. You have to hike to get to it. So you’ll need to pack a backpack with the 10 essentials.

Here are some essentials (and some swimming hole-specific things) you should pack in your day pack.

• Day pack
• First aid kit
• Snacks
• Water
• Map – Use code alexysabroad30 to get 30% off an AllTrails+ subscription!
• Sun protection
• Water sandals
• Swimsuit
• Packable towel
• GoPro

Finding Midnight Hole Along the Big Creek Trail

The Big Creek hiking trail is incredibly scenic. It’s an easy trail too. It has a slow gradual climb, but nothing difficult. Big Creek will be next to you then you’ll be above it, looking down on it, mountain peaks visible in the distance. (The peaks may be harder to see in the summer when the leaves are on the trees). Then you’ll be right next to the creek again.

To get to Midnight Hole, you’ll hike on the Big Creek Trail for 1.5 miles. I’d recommend downloading an offline map using AllTrails or Gaia. AllTrails and Gaia maps show the Midnight Hole, unlike Google Maps. That way, you won’t have any doubts about where exactly it is.

If you don’t have AllTrails or Gaia, here’s a good way to find Midnight Hole: look for the wooden bridges.

Roughly 600 feet after crossing the second wooden bridge, take the wide, rocky path through the trees to the left. The canopy of trees is exposed above the path, so you’ll be able to see the swimming hole from the trail.

NOTE: Just before Midnight Hole, you might see a path to Midnight Hole Falls. This is not Midnight Hole. To get to the swimming hole, continue past this point. The photos below are of Midnight Hole Falls, not the swimming hole.

Once you spot the wide path to the Midnight Hole swimming hole, it’s time to scramble down. The path from the Big Creek Trail down to the water isn’t long, but it is steep and rocky. If you’re bringing kids or elderly, you may need to assist them.

You’ve arrived at Midnight Hole! There are plenty of boulders and emerald water to go around.

What to Expect at Midnight Hole

Cold water. The water is freezing! However, it does feel very refreshing on a hot, summer day. The best time to swim is late morning or early afternoon when the sun is directly overhead. The trees surrounding the swimming hole block the sun in the early morning.

Shallow and deep sections. The water is very shallow near the edge of the creek, but the closer you get to the giant boulders and waterfalls, the deeper it gets.

Very rocky. There are many boulders to scramble through to get to the water. The creekbed is also very rocky, so I’d wear water sandals to avoid slipping.

Clear, emerald water. The water is crystal clear with an emerald tinge. You’ll feel as though you’ve descended into a tropical rainforest.

Crowds. While this is a popular spot to cool off in the summer months, Midnight Hole doesn’t typically get as crowded as The Sinks or the Townsend Wye. This is because there is a 3-mile roundtrip hike required to get to Midnight Hole. That being said, don’t expect to be alone, especially if you visit from May through September, 9 AM – 4 PM.

What to Do at Midnight Hole

So you made it to Midnight Hole! Now what?

Swim

The most obvious thing to do at Midnight Hole is swim! Since this is a natural swimming hole, most people first want to splash around in the emerald-green waters. The water is so enticing that you’ll find it difficult not to dive right in.

The natural hole is very shallow near the edge and very cold. The water deepens the closer you get to the giant boulders and waterfalls.

Cliff Jump

If you’re feeling extra adventurous, climb the giant boulders and plunge into the emerald waters below. Be careful – some areas are shallow and unsuitable for jumping. Always assess the water level before jumping.

Staring at the waterfall from shore, the boulder on the left is the safest to jump from. Jump away from the waterfall in the darker green section.

Sunbathe

Whether you want to dry off after a nice swim or simply catch some rays, there are plenty of boulders to go around! Select a dry one and sunbathe. Or pick one a couple of inches below the water’s surface and cool off while letting the sun warm your face.

The sun comes over the trees mid-day, so late morning and early afternoon are the best times to sunbathe. (This varies based on the time of year).

Have a Picnic

Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy a meal with a view! Remember to always pack out your trash. Never litter on the trail, in the water, or anywhere else in the park.

Leave No Trace

As always, respect the landscape by packing your trash out. NEVER litter.

Always follow these 7 Leave No Trace Principles:

1. Plan Ahead & Prepare
2. Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Others

Read more about Leave No Trace and how you can do your part to protect these natural spaces here.

What Else to Do in the Big Creek Area

Good news, there’s plenty to do in the Big Creek area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park! And you can keep your car in the same parking lot for most of it.

Hike to Mouse Creek Falls

Just 0.5 miles from Midnight Hole (along the same trail) is a beautiful 45-foot waterfall, Mouse Creek Falls! To get to Mouse Creek Falls from Midnight Hole, turn left onto Big Creek Trail (the opposite direction that you came from), and follow the trail for another half-mile.

The falls will be on the left just past the horse resting area (wooden fence).

Summit Mount Cammerer

Just a half-mile from the Big Creek Trailhead is the Chestnut Branch Trail. If you follow the Chesnut Branch Trail for about 6.5 miles, you’ll reach an epic fire tower at the summit of Mount Cammerer. Thanks to the panoramic mountain views, this is one of the most rewarding trails in the Smokies.

Note that there are many routes to Cammerer; this is just one of them. You can read all about the different routes to the summit in my full trail guide here.

Summit Mount Sterling

Hike to the 5,843-foot summit of Mount Sterling via the steep Baxter Creek Trail, just behind the Big Creek parking area.

From trailhead to summit, you’ll clock about 6 miles. Just like Cammerer, you’ll find a fire tower on Sterling with 360-degree views of the surrounding peaks and valleys.

Camp at Big Creek

With just 12 tent-only campsites, this remote campground in the Smokies is a perfect way to unplug. The Big Creek Campground has a backcountry feel with some of the amenities of a frontcountry campground.

There is also a group campsite that can accommodate up to 25 guests.

And bonus: you’ll be able to easily access Midnight Hole, Mouse Creek Falls, and the summits of Cammerer and Sterling, perhaps before the crowds arrive!

READ NEXT: Camping in the Great Smoky Mountains: Which Smokies Campground Is Right For You?

Finish Planning Your Trip to the Smokies

No matter what season you’re visiting, I’ve got a guide to help you plan your trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park!

• Smoky Mountains in the Summer: What to Expect
• Smoky Mountains in the Fall: What to Expect
• Smoky Mountains in the Spring: What to Expect
• Smoky Mountains in the Winter: What to Expect

Discover Your Next Adventure

Where to next? I’ve got some suggestions!

• Kayaking to Burgess Falls
• Cummins Falls State Park
• Gorges State Park
• Blue Ridge Parkway
• Rock Island State Park

PIN IT AND SAVE THIS POST FOR LATER!