Jackie Steffan — 0.25 mile — 15 mins — Easy — 28′ elevation gain —
Blue Hole Falls on Mill Creek is a popular swimming destination for locals in the summer. If you go on a nice sunny day and the water isn’t too stirred up from swimmers, the pool below the falls is a beautiful blue color.
Getting There
From I-26:
- Take exit 24 to merge onto TN-67 E/US-321 N toward Elizabethton
- Travel approximately 9 miles, then turn left at the light onto US-19E
- Take the exit ramp on the right onto TN-91 N
- Travel 9.8 miles, then turn left onto National Forest 202/Panhandle Rd
- Parking area is in approximately 0.9 mile on the left. If parking in the immediate trailhead lot is not available, cars are often parallel parked along the road.
The Hike
From the parking area, walk downhill on the fairly wide trail. Since this is such a highly visited area, the trail is a bit rough with roots and potential mud. The trail descends via some large steps as you near the falls. At the base of Blue Hole Falls, enjoy the view, a refreshing swim, or exploring the area around the pool including a small upper cascade. Please remember to leave the area better than you found it; due to the popularity, there is often quite a bit of trash and abandoned items.
