About Upper Midnight Hole
Upper Midnight Hole is a deep, green pool at the foot of a small cascade on Big Creek, in the northeast corner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is about 1.5 miles up the Big Creek Trail from the trailhead near Waterville, North Carolina. The drop is only a few feet, and the draw is the pool.
The trail
The Big Creek Trail follows an old logging railroad grade, so the walk is gentle and wide, with the creek close by. Midnight Hole is about 1.5 miles in, and Mouse Creek Falls, a 41-foot cascade, is about half a mile farther. After Hurricane Helene the Park Service closed the trail beyond the first two miles, so these stops mark the end of the open section; the closures page has the current status.
Swimming
The pool is popular for swimming in summer, but the Park Service does not recommend water recreation in the park because of cold temperatures, hidden currents and slick rock. If you go in, stay out of the current above the drop, do not jump from rocks, and keep children within reach. See the water safety page.
Getting there
Take I-40 to exit 451 near Waterville, then follow signs to the Big Creek Picnic Area. Entry to the park is free, but any vehicle parked more than 15 minutes needs a parking tag ($5 daily, $15 weekly, $40 annual). Federal passes such as America the Beautiful do not replace it, and the tag must be displayed in your vehicle. The picnic area has seasonal restrooms, and the Big Creek Campground has 12 tent-only sites.
When to go
- Summer: The swimming season; the lot fills by mid-morning on weekends.
- Spring: Higher, colder and faster water.
- Fall: Good color and fewer people.
- Winter: Ice on the trail and rocks.
Dogs are not allowed. Black bears are common here, so keep food sealed. Cell service is poor.
Good to know
- How tall is Upper Midnight Hole?
- Upper Midnight Hole drops about 6 feet.
- How far is the hike to Upper Midnight Hole?
- It is about 1.5 miles each way, rated easy.
- Can you swim or climb at the falls?
- Please don’t climb on or around waterfalls. Wet rock and algae are extremely slick, and falls from waterfalls are a leading cause of death in the Smokies. Enjoy the view from the trail.
- Do I need a parking tag?
- A Park It Forward parking tag ($5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year) is required for any vehicle parked more than 15 minutes inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Entry is free, and federal passes such as America the Beautiful do not replace the tag.
