Who needs air conditioning?
Tennessee summers can get spicy than a lounge lizard on a shingle , and the oppressive humidity can sometimes make you palpate like you ’re already submersed when that ’s exactly what you ’d favor to be doing . When the heat starts bring to you and you need some fun relief , laden up the cooler , shed on a t - shirt and some cut - offs and make track to any of our favorite swimming cakehole spread across the state . ( Remember , there ’s a difference of opinion between a swimming hole and a “ lake beach . ” swim holes are usually innate creations , and lake beaches are just where a gang of mass go to party in the clay . )
Paris Landing State Park
aloofness from Nashville:95 milesThis 841 - acre state commons is located along the widest portion of Kentucky Lake , enough space for a popular 18 - kettle of fish golf game course with muckle of player comforts . The public swimming field has a arenaceous beach plus nearby piece of cake areas and restrooms so you could revel an integral day of aquatic playfulness without require to allow the country .
Ozone Falls
aloofness from Nashville:126 milesThousands of years of corrosion from a waterspout of water plunging over the 110 - foot waterfall have carved out a endearing natural amphitheater that serve as the backdrop for this popular swimming yap . The topography enamor the mist from the crepuscle , acting as natural melodic phrase conditioning for bather in the deep pool at the base of the falls . It ’s such a beautiful spot that it was used as background scene in the movieThe Jungle Book , so you’re able to swim where Mowgli did .
Blue Hole Falls
length from Nashville:305 milesTucked into the northeastern corner of the state inside the Cherokee National Forest , Blue Hole Falls is located along a somewhat furrowed hike that passes four cataracts with deep blue swimmable pools below to reward hikers for the movement .
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
length from Nashville:154 milesThis monumental refreshment area offers all sort of out-of-door opportunity , but one of the favorite , and easiest to access , is the historical Gentlemen ’s Swimming Hole where the male residents of Rugby , TN would take a dip to cool off on a raging day . Now it ’s open to both sexes and accessible by an light , short take the air down a lead to the Clear Fork River . Because the park is on the westernmost point of the Eastern Time Zone , the sun set later than anywhere else in the state to allow for more hours of daylight for swimming .
Big Soddy Creek Gulf Park
Distance from Nashville:127 milesRight off the bat , “ Soddy Daisy ” is just a delightful name for a town , and Big Soddy Creek is a marvel of nature that is reason enough to call in . feed by underground rivers , the creek feature beautiful azure “ dismal holes ” where the ulterior streams emerge through crevices in the rocks . Thanks to a rope swing and a jumping rock , the large blue hole in the park can get pretty crowded during the summertime , so be careful where you spring lest you land on another swimmer .
Dale Hollow Lake
Distance from Nashville:111 milesDale Hollow is a deep reservoir form by the damming of the Obey River for hydroelectric superpower back in the 1940s . This dam projection from the US Army Corps of Engineers also create some really prissy swimming holes at the Obey River , Lillydale Campgrounds , and Willow Grove . Each emplacement features a sandy beach and toilet facility facilities , plus the swimming area is buoyed off to protect visitant from boat traffic .
Little River and The Sinks
Distance from Nashville:206 milesTownsend bills itself as “ The Peaceful Side of the Smokies , ” compared to the tourist meccas of Gatlinburg , Pigeon Forge , and Sevierville . The Little River that flows right through the quaint downtown is often filled with visitant floating on innertubes that are available from several local outfitters who will give you a ride back to the start percentage point at the end of your otiose float . There are also swimming muddle along the agency down the river if you ’d rather stay in one smirch while enjoy the shadowy savings bank of the river . Just east of Townsend is “ The Sinks , ” a man - made waterfall produce when farseeing ago loggers dynamited a logjam and ended up with a jumbo hole that the waterfall flux into like a drain . swim close to the cataract can be very life-threatening , but there are much safer selection just downstream .
J. Percy Priest Lake
Distance from Nashville:12 milesThe designated swim domain at Percy Priest are off Anderson Rd and Cook Recreation Area , accessible for the bargain rate of just $ 5 per vehicle . you may reserve a group tax shelter online as a nursing home base to squirrel away your clobber and a little food , with available dates through the end of October . If you ’ve ever need to try out a paddle dining table , Nashville Paddle Co.rents them along with kayaks by the hour so you’re able to tool around the coves for an hour or so .
Long Hunter State Park
Harpeth River State Park
Distance from Nashville : 27 milesThe park go along 40 scenic miles of the Harpeth River , a democratic path for canoe and kayak trips , and there are several swim holes and bouldery beach place along the path . There are also numerous upstream and downstream access points for father and sophisticated kayakers . attempt the five - mile ice-cream soda with several little beaches to stop for a swim , or visit the Narrows of the Harpeth to see one of the oldest ( 1818 ) humanity - made tunnel bored to leave water system to a long - lost branding iron foundry . The 100 - railway yard tunnel is hand - carve from Harlan Fiske Stone and empties into a small swimming hole on the other side .
Old Hickory Lake
Distance from Nashville:29 milesOld Hickory Lake is a 22,500 - acre man-made lake created by the Old Hickory Dam on the Cumberland River . There are three designated expanse for swimming : Old Hickory Beach , Cedar Creek , and Laguardo . submission fee is $ 5 per vehicle , and node can hike along the Old Hickory Lake Nature Trail , or grill out at the picnic shelter by the beach . If you ’ve got a brother with a boat , pilot yourself to a shallow Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin measure known as “ Two Foot Cove ” where 12 of party barges drop anchor day by day for some aquatic summer fun and water volleyball . JoinTwo Foot Cove ’s Facebook groupto see who ’s design to chit-chat on any given day .
Montgomery Bell State Park
length from Nashville:35 milesThe beach on Acorn Lake is free , and open day by day through Labor Day weekend . If someone in your party is n’t into lake swimming , there ’s also an outdoor kitty tight by the beach . There are 94 bivouac useable for nightlong trips , 19 miles of tramp trails , and three lake for fishing , boat , canoeing , and kayak .
Cummins Falls State Park
Distance from Nashville:84 milesOne of the most scenic swim holes in Tennessee , Cummins Falls State Park is a 211 - acre daylight park , featuring an impressive 75 - foot waterfall . You ’ll postulate toreserve a $ 6 Gorge Access Permit in advance , and then a fairly arduous 2.5 Swedish mile ( orotund - trip ) hike bring you to the free fall , which empty into a thick gorge that ’s arrant for spending a mean solar day swimming and sunning on the rock music . The descent into the esophagus is steep , so use care and remember you ’ll have to climb back up at the remainder of the day .
Rock Island State Park
Distance from Nashville:85 milesRock Island State Park offers both a natural sand beach ( located off Center Hill Lake ) and several swimming holes throughout the 883 - acre ballpark . The lakeside is decorated with courtly honest-to-goodness family line homes and clique , which make it look like the set for the Tennessee version ofDirty Dancing . Great Falls is a 30 - invertebrate foot , shoe - shaped falls , and Caney Fork Gorge feature scenic overlooks , waterfalls , and deep swimming pickle .
South Cumberland State Park
Distance from Nashville:92 milesSouth Cumberland State Park stretches across more than 25,000 acres and three separate county . The Grundy Lake area has a valet de chambre - made beach with plenty of room for recreation just four miles from the visitors center . There are several falls that provide safety from the heating system with year - orotund cold water . No jumping here though , because the pool are pretty shallow . However , they ’re perfect for swimming and lounging . Greeter Falls is an splendid post in the Savage Gulf area and is only a one - nautical mile hike to the falls .
Grundy Forest State Natural Area
aloofness from Nashville:95 milesAs raise go , the Grundy Day Trail and Fiery Gizzard Trail are somewhat well-heeled to handle . Sure , there are some Hill to climb , but your effort is honour with several secret natural pools , some with gentle waterfalls plunge from springs . crowd are sparse , so you may even have your piffling oasis all to yourself .
Foster Falls
Distance from Nashville:108 milesFoster Falls is n’t the sort of falls where you ’d want to digest directly under the cascade , as the 60 - cliff of the water supply would pretty much outfox you senseless . ( You would terminate up nicely exfoliated , though . ) Instead , enjoy the deep coolheaded pool around the falls and take in the endearing scenery that surrounds the falls . you may even stay overnight nearby at a bivouac that features a bathing machine with heated showers to warm up after your plunge .
Fall Creek Falls State Park
Distance from Nashville:123 milesLocated in the most visited Department of State ballpark in Tennessee , the 256 - foot Fall Creek Falls is one of the biggest waterfalls in the easterly United States . Other waterfalls within the park are Piney Creek Falls , Cane Creek Falls , and Cane Creek Cascades – with deep natural pools for swim . There ’s also a swinging bridge over the swim yap where locals like to dive into the water .
length from Nashville:127 milesConveniently off Interstate 40 , Ozone Falls is such a picturesque locale that it was choose as a filming website for the latestJungle Bookmovie . Dropping into a innate amphitheater , the fall plummet more than 100 ft into a deep jolting pool and then disappear into an belowground natural spring before emerging again a brusk distance downstream . It ’s a flake of a rugged hike to get to the bottom of the falls , so project consequently .
North Chick Blue Hole
Distance from Nashville:130 milesAs if the chance to visit a town named Soddy Daisy was n’t reason enough to score the road , this popular swimming hole make big crowds to delight the deep blue water of the main pool , a rope swing , and stony platform to take the dip from . A caution : The beautiful azure piddle is in reality part of an underground cave organization , so the water is pretty chilly all year around .
Cummins Falls At Cummins Falls State Park|Jim Vallee/Shutterstock
Flickr/Michael Hicks
Flickr/Joel Kramer
Flickr/Steve Harwood
Kayak ramp at Harpeth State Park|Brent Moore/Flickr
Old Hickory Lake|KennStilger47/Shutterstock
Rock Island State Park|Flickr/Michael Hicks
South Cumberland State Park
Flickr/mikerhicks
Ozone Falls Area
