True Choice Realty

Blue Hole is closed until next year. Here’s where to cool off near Chattanooga this summer instead. 👇

If you saw the construction signs, or saw the news online like we did, and thought “there goes summer” — don’t worry, we got you. Blue Hole is shut down all 2026 for paving and accessibility upgrades. By next year that lot’s gonna be glorious.

But that doesn’t help you in July when it’s 95 and the kids are losing it. 🥲

So here’s the list. 6 spots within driving distance, all open, all real swimming.

Under 30 min:
· Big Soddy Creek Gulf — 285 acres, multiple pools, easiest after-work move (~22 min)
· Rainbow Lake — Signal Mountain hidden gem, waterfall + a 1916 dam, short hike (~25 min)

The waterfalls (40-50 min):
· Foster Falls — 60-foot waterfall with a deep swimming hole at the base. Closest thing to Blue Hole on the list.
· Greeter Falls — spiral staircase down to a turquoise pool. The most photogenic spot. Swim and wade only — no jumping.

Worth the longer drive:
· Laurel-Snow Pocket Wilderness — two waterfalls, a blue hole, and 2,259 acres of trail. Genuinely one of the most underrated spots near Chattanooga (~50 min, Dayton).
· The Ocoee River — 1996 Olympic whitewater, tubing the lower river, swimming at Parksville Lake. A real day trip (~90 min).

🎬 Throughout the summer we’re filming a real walkthrough of each one — parking, the trail in, what to bring, what to skip.

Save this post. Follow along so you don’t miss the walkthroughs.

⬇️ Drop your favorite spot in the comments. Adding the locals favorites to the list as we go.