North Chickamauga Creek Gorge Blue Hole
Is it open? Closed2.2 mi round tripModerate to difficult
Beginning March 23, 2026 and lasting for approximately one year, the Blue Hole Trail, Blue Hole access, the Montlake Road entrance and the main trailhead are closed for construction. Source: Tennessee State Parks, checked October 28, 1:06 a.m.
A deep pool in North Chickamauga Creek, about 1.1 miles in on the Blue Hole Trail. The Blue Hole, its trail and the main trailhead are closed for construction from March 23, 2026 for about a year. When it's open, the park allows swimming only at its green and yellow water levels. The park warns that flash floods can happen at the Blue Hole any time it rains in the watershed.
At a glance
The walk, the climb and how hard it is.
150 ft
Climb on the way in
Our measurement with USGS lidar. The park doesn't publish a climb.
Measured by Chattanooga Falls with USGS 3DEP lidar elevation, checked October 27, 2026Moderate to difficult
Difficulty
From the park's 2026 brochure. The park's safety page calls the hike strenuous.
Tennessee State Parks, checked October 26, 2026The gorge in 3D
The pink line is the walk from the main lot to the Blue Hole, now closed for construction. Drag to turn it.
Building the 3D view…
Shaded relief: USGS 3DEP lidar. Elevation: USGS via AWS Terrain Tiles. Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors.
The water right now
Live from the National Weather Service and NOAA radar. Check again before you get in.
Flood alerts
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Recent rain
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Water level
The park's safety page points to the USGS gauge on North Chickamauga Creek at Mile Straight, downstream of the gorge.
See the latest reading on the USGS page
Source: USGS gauge list, checked October 26, 2026Good to know
The park's rules, fees and hours, each with where it came from.
- Access
- Closed: the Blue Hole, the Blue Hole Trail and the main trailhead are closed for construction from March 23, 2026, for about a yearTennessee State Parks (page 1, page 2), checked October 26, 2026
- Rules
- Swimming: allowed by the park at its green and yellow water levels when the Blue Hole is open. No swimming at purple; the gorge closes at red. Flash floods can happen any time it rains in the watershed.Tennessee State Parks, checked October 26, 2026
- Fee
- No entry fee at Tennessee state parksTennessee State Parks, checked October 26, 2026
- Hours
- 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern; leave the Blue Hole by 6:30 p.m.Tennessee State Parks, checked October 26, 2026
- Dogs
- Allowed on a leashTennessee State Parks, checked October 26, 2026
- Restrooms
- None at the park yet; one is being builtTennessee State Parks, checked October 26, 2026
Parking and directions
Directions go to the parking lot, never to the falls.
Main trailhead lot (closed for construction)
354 Montlake Road, Soddy-Daisy, TN 37379
The lot and main trailhead are closed from March 23, 2026 for about a year while the lot is paved. When open, the lot often fills and the gate closes at capacity. The park asks people not to park on the roadside.
Source: Tennessee State Parks, checked October 26, 2026. Map pin: OpenStreetMap.Weather at the falls
The National Weather Service forecast for this spot.
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Nearby spots
Open and closed labels come from each land manager's own pages.