Blue Hole

Part of the Upper Ocoee River, Cherokee National Forest

A great place to go swimming/diving/suntanning!

Last  revised 29 June 2008

Blue Hole, seen from slightly upriver. The Centennial Olympic footbridge is in the background; the best-known underwater tunnels are just to the left out of frame; the Ocoee Whitewater Center is out of frame to the right.
This is Clip 1 from my first trip to Blue Hole in 2007, and shows the parking lot area just after arriving and buying my Cherokee National Forest pass. :)
This is Clip 2 from 2007, taken from the back steps of the Ocoee Whitewater Center.
...and this is Clip 3, taken from the vicinity of the "tourist tunnels" (aka "Swiss Cheese Rock") and the shallower area of Blue Hole.

Directions From Atlanta Things To Bring Summer 2008 Release Schedule for Ocoee #3 Dam Summer 2008 Roadtrip Plans and Diary Summer 2007 Roadtrip Diary Summer 2006 Roadtrip Diary Summer 2005 Roadtrip Diary Summer 2004 Roadtrip Diary Summer 2003 Roadtrip Diary Summer 2002 Roadtrip Diary Summer 2001 Roadtrip Diary Summer 2000 Roadtrip Diary Summer 1999 Roadtrip Diary Summer 1998 Roadtrip Diary

Photos and stuff:

Background:
Over the last few summers I've been roadtripping a lot up to Cleveland Tennessee, where my longtime friends Dirk, Randall and Gabrial live, to visit them and go swimming in the Ocoee River Gorge. There's a place called Blue Hole, part of the Upper Ocoee River, where there are underwater tunnels shallow and deep, wide and narrow; nice wide swimming holes 10-12 ft. deep; places where you can jump in or go skin-diving and look at the rocky bottom, in clear mountain water. There are easy tunnels for the whole family to swim through, and some that only kids (and skinny adults) can attempt, and some that no-one I know of has succeeded in swimming through. It's terrific fun! :) Great weather, great swimming, great company, underwater tunnels....what more could one ask for?

First, some important things to know:

  1. It's about an hour and 50 min. from downtown Atlanta to the Ocoee Whitewater Center and Blue Hole using the quicker route, and a bit longer via the "scenic route", assuming you travel near the posted speed limit in most areas. It's only about 80-90 minutes from Atlanta's northwestern suburbs (Cobb, Bartow, Cherokee counties), since they're closer. From my house in Auburn, Georgia, it's about two hours and ten minutes. :(
  2. Bring diving masks and fins if you have them, especially masks (buy some cheap masks or goggles at the very least). Blue Hole is ten times more interesting with a mask or a pair of goggles; there's a lot to see in the river and along the bottom. Water-shoes, sandals or an old pair of sneakers are a good idea, because the smooth, water-carved rocks lining the watercourse are "slippery when wet" -- and can also get hot under a strong summer sun. (So does the parking-lot asphalt!)
    Even with good traction, you're likely to slip, so use caution and stay low to the ground.
  3. A $3 fee applies to vehicles parking in the lower Ocoee Whitewater Center lot. This is a US Forest Service "Fee Area" and for a whole day of fun, it's a bargain for a carload of people at twice the price. Annual passes for the OWC parking lot are available also, at the info desk in the OWC, for $15. A Cherokee National Forest annual pass is only $20 after May 1st, though, and includes all of the Forest Service's 'fee areas' in the Forest, including the beaches on Parksville Lake and Chilhowee. This is now my preferred pass each year.
  4. The water level in the Upper Ocoee riverbed at Blue Hole is controlled by the Tennessee Valley Authority at its Ocoee #3 dam. Before embarking on any long trip to Blue Hole, it's always wise to call the Ocoee Whitewater Center (operated by the National Forest Service, US Dept. of Agriculture) at 423-496-5197, 9am-5pm, to ask the nice folks there if the water is low and therefore safe to go swimming: "We'd like to go swimming in Blue Hole today. Is the water too high? Is there a dam release scheduled for today?"
    Here are some reasons why TVA might be running high water through the Ocoee at Blue Hole:
    • White-water "paid for" by the rafting companies. Since TVA would normally divert the water through the mountain tunnel to Ocoee #3 powerhouse and generate power from it, the water has to be "paid for." The summer schedule is located here.
    • After the spring rains, or after extremely heavy rainfall in the Ocoee Basin
    • problems or routine maintenance can force TVA's Ocoee #3 powerhouse or the water diversion tunnel to be closed
  5. Summer schedule for the Upper Ocoee: Click here for the official TVA page.
    High water is not scheduled for weekdays at all, but as we've seen several times, conditions can change, due to heavy rains in the Ocoee basin or other less explainable causes.
    NEW! TVA has now installed a lights-and-siren warning system along the riverbed in front of the Ocoee Whitewater Center, which should be audible upriver at Blue Hole itself...but maybe not too much further upriver. According to the Center staff, the alarm will be sent if water is released and will sound at intervals thereafter. The released water would take about an hour and a half to get to the OWC part of the river.
    This improvement was long overdue, and I have to wonder if the 'Great Flood' of August 19th, 2005 was a catalyst for the change, as I complained bitterly about it to TVA and to a local county commissioner.
    Since the loudspeakers in the parking lot probably can't be heard much past Blue Hole itself, if you're further upriver you should stay close to your kids, ensure that your valuables are above the high-water mark, and cast a wary eye upriver every once in a while. Be prepared to move yourself and your belongings above the high-water mark, and onto the OWC side of the river by the path.
  6. Although the water is usually quite clear (except for about one day after the river's been high), the underwater rocks can be muddy. Don't wear something that can't be washed at home afterward. Dirt generally washes out easily, though.
  7. This is, after all, backwoods Tennessee. Since this isn't a pool, swimming in shorts, cutoffs or whatever is okay. Thongs might look a bit out of place. :) "Skinny-dipping" is not impossible, but I'd suggest heading further up the path away from civilization and the Whitewater Center, at least as far as "Little Blue Hole," before trying it.
  8. There are bathrooms at the Ocoee Whitewater Center, open 9-5pm 7 days, same hours as the visitors' center upstairs and the small gift-shop downstairs. There is a new 'waterless' restroom facility toward the bottom of the parking lot but it's basically an overgrown porta-potty. It's better than nothing but since it only seems to be emptied once every year, you might want to hold your breath inside. :)
    A Coke vending machine and a PowerAde machine are located outside at the OWC, plus there's a pay phone.

Directions From Atlanta

So you've called ahead and the water's low, and the weather looks good. There are two routes to get to Blue Hole from Atlanta. The first one is by far the more scenic route, taking you up along Parksville Lake, TVA's big Ocoee #1 dam and the Ocoee River Gorge itself. It is also slightly longer and has more two-lane roads as opposed to highways. The second route is a lot quicker since it involves more freeway-speed driving, but it's not as scenic and oddly enough, not as easy to describe.

The Scenic Route to Blue Hole

  1. Take I-75 North out of Atlanta.
  2. Just north of Cartersville, take the exit for US Hwy 411. At the end of the ramp, turn right. You're now heading north on Hwy 411.
  3. You'll be on this road for about 70 miles, first passing through Fairmount, then some small places and eventually, Chatsworth. You'll dance with a well-used railway line, first to your left, then to your right. For most of the stretch your speed limit is 55 mph and there are some long open stretches where you can pass slower traffic. There are also some stretches of two-lane road. Beware speed-zones in the towns, since ticket revenue is pretty much how they pay their cops. :)
  4. After crossing the Tennessee state line it's 10-15 more miles to US 64. This will be the first highway overpass you see; railroad tracks will be on your right at this point. Take the lefthand turn before the bridge (sign says "to Ducktown, TN") and turn onto US 64.
  5. US 64 is four-lane divided at first, but goes to a well-laid two-lane road after about a half-mile. You'll pass a few touristy places: an ultralight rental place, several whitewater outfitters, etc.
  6. You'll enter the Cherokee National Forest and come to TVA's Ocoee #1 dam on your right. It's worth a stop at the overlook to gaze down upon the dam. This marks the beginning of the scenic drive, and the road curves sharply to the left. These two photos of Ocoee #1 Dam were taken from the overlook.
  7. Continuing on US 64 past the dam you'll pass the Lake Ocoee Inn on your right, and the road will become quite curvy. Parksville Lake will be on your right and you'll pass several beaches, a shooting range, etc. Keep going.
  8. The lake will narrow and so will the road, since it hugs the shoreline. The road gets really curvy and also somewhat congested during the summer rafting season, so be extremely careful and be wary of pedestrians often carrying kayaks, etc. This is a US highway and is used by 18-wheeler trucks, etc., so stay on your toes. Everyone seems to drive fast, yet I've never yet actually seen a wreck on this stretch. Amazing.... It's only a matter of time, though.
  9. You'll pass Ocoee #2 Powerhouse, a large brick TVA structure across the gorge. This is where the water falls down three green pipes from the wooden water flume and holding tanks on the ridge above. If you can snag a spot to park, this is also a great place to pull off and watch the rafters and kayakers in the river. This is pretty much the end of the Middle Ocoee rafting/kayaking segment, which you'll be driving along until you get to the next landmark.
  10. Past the Ocoee #2 powerhouse you'll see the wooden water flume on the ridge across the gorge for a mile or two, then you'll come to the diversion dam where the water is routed either down the riverbed, for whitewater sports, or into the flume, to make power. It's quite picturesque, looking like a wide waterfall during the day. Ocoee #2, with its water-flume and diversion dam, is the last remaining power-generating structure like this in the world. (!)
    This is the put-in point for rafts and kayaks on the Lower Ocoee segment. No, you can't raft or kayak over the dam itself. Well, you can, but it's a $500 minimum fine. I spoke to a guy who's done it...twice. He's been fined...once. :)
    Here is a look at the put-in ramp downstream from the dam
    Here's the dam itself. On the other side of the river is the beginning of the water flume. In the evening the gates to the flume are opened and the water flows down the flume instead of over the dam, and then through the power turbines at #2 Powerhouse. Neet!
  11. You're getting close to Blue Hole and the Ocoee Whitewater Center now. Continue past the diversion dam (Ocoee #2 Dam) and about a mile farther you'll see another powerhouse across the river, with a green pipe and water tower. This is Ocoee #3 Powerhouse, and during most of the summer the Ocoee River is routed through a 2-mile tunnel bored through the mountain and out via this single, remarkably narrow pipe. During the summer on weekends, and for special water events, TVA routes the water through the riverbed itself to allow kayakers and rafting parties to brave the Upper Ocoee. This photo of Ocoee Powerhouse #3 showing the pipe was taken from the driveway, after driving across the river on the bridge to the power station. There are some informational displays about the generator's construction, the surge-tank and the tunnel through the mountain, so check 'em out sometime if you're an engineering geek like me. :)
    Not too much farther and you'll see a brown sign saying "Ocoee Whitewater Center"; beyond this you'll see a parking lot on the right. Continue up US 64 to the Ocoee Whitewater Center itself and turn right into the parking lot. Someone may collect your user fee at the entrance and give you a stub for your dashboard and direct you downhill to the day parking lot. If not, there are small pay kiosks with stubs and envelopes located throughout the day-lot.
    Or, you can be like me and get an annual pass and just wave it to the guy as you approach, like royalty. :) An annual pass for the Ocoee Whitewater Center should be $15 or so. A pass for the entire Cherokee National Forest is $30, or only $20 after May 1st. That's a great deal, since it also includes places like Mac Point Beach, Parksville Beach, the Chilhowee Recreation Area, and all the other Fee Areas in the Forest.
    Taken from the parking lot facing downriver Facing upriver: OWC is the red building in the distance at left OWC itself, taken from the short-term parking lot
  12. Quick summary: I-75 N. to Ga 411, right on Ga 411 and go c. 70 miles to US 64; right on US 64 (left turn before the overpass) approx. 20 miles to the Ocoee Whitewater Center.

The Not-Scenic But Faster Route:

  1. Take I-75 North out of Atlanta.
  2. Take the ramp for I-575 and keep going north. This is yer basic freeway with two lanes in either direction, and controlled-access exits.
  3. Stay on I-575. At Nelson/Ball Ground, Georgia, I-575 ends and becomes a four-lane divided highway (not controlled access), with the occasional traffic light and intersection. Keep going.
  4. You're now on GA Hwy 5 (among others) heading north. Put a CD in and set the cruise-control for 65. It'll be about an hour. (I recommend Green Carnation's Light of Day, Day of Darkness, which runs an hour and six seconds...and it's one long song, a progressive-metal masterpiece. :)) You'll cruise through Jasper, and then East Ellijay. You can start paying attention again as you pass through the tiny hamlet of Cherry Log.
  5. The next town is Blue Ridge. At Blue Ridge you'll come to a traffic light with a McDonalds on the opposite corner and the signs will indicate Hwy 5 makes a left turn here. Follow the sign and make a left.
  6. You're now on Hwy 5 between Blue Ridge and McCaysville, GA. This is a well-laid two-lane road with an occasional passing lane on uphills. It's about 10 miles to McCaysville. As you approach the town the road will go downhill to a river. Cross the river on the bridge. At the stop sign, where the road dead-ends, take a left. This intersection is actually located in two states, which explains why no-one's put up a traffic light yet. (!) You can see a blue dotted line on the ground which marks the state border, along with signs. As you turn left, you cross into Copper Hill, Tennessee.
  7. You'll go through two lights and cross some railroad tracks, passing a small railyard on the left and a disused copper-smelting plant on the right. After a while the road will open up into a four-lane divided highway. After you go under a railway bridge keep to the right and watch for a junction sign for US 64. The ramp will come up suddenly on the right. Take this ramp.
  8. At the foot of the ramp take a left. You are now on US Hwy 64. This intersection is located in Ducktown, TN.
  9. This part of US 64 is a wide two-lane road with some good hills. You'll go about 7 miles on it, entering the Cherokee National Forest. As you come down a hill you'll see a brown sign on the right for the Ocoee Whitewater Center, and ahead of you it looks like the road gets narrower. Slow down.
  10. There will be a left-turning lane, and you'll see a parking lot on the left in front of the building. Turn here. Parking is now free for up to 30 minutes in this upper lot, so you can stop and visit the restroom and change, buy an annual pass, or sign in on the guest register. You'll have to move your car to the lower "day use" lot afterwards.
  11. Depending on the day, there may be an attendant in the parking lot collecting the Daily Use fee. If so, pay him/her the $3 fee (or wave your annual pass like me :)). If not, see below.
  12. Continue past OWC in the parking lot and at the exit, you'll see a sharp left marked with "Ocoee Whitewater Center parking." Turn down here and park in the first non-reserved space you find.
  13. If you haven't already paid an attendant, go to one of the Daily Use fee kiosks and drop the envelope in the slot, and put the stub on your dashboard. You're there!

Things you'll see at Blue Hole

The riverbed right by the Center mostly consists of rocks, with occasional deep pools and little waterfalls. I don't usually go swimming here because there are "neeter" areas up the river, but this is a great area to take younger kids since it's not too far from the parking area; you can walk across the suspension bridge and take the concrete path down to the water. The rocks are worn smooth from millions of years of waterflow in the river basin and look neet; they are slippery, so be careful. That intentionally rusty suspension bridge marks the upriver limit of the riverbed modifications for the 1996 Olympic Games -- the parking lot is where the grandstands were located.

You'll see a set of rock stairs leading down from the Center to the path along the river; Blue Hole is about a hundred yards upriver from the bridge. You can see it easily from the bridge.

Here's a rough sketch of the area around the Ocoee Whitewater Center (from Ducktown and McCaysville, you'd enter from the upper right-hand corner on US 64; from Cleveland and Route 411 you'd enter from the left side).


From OWC, take the stone steps down to the path near the river. Walking upriver on the footpath that runs beneath the bridge, you'll cross a small stream. Beyond this to your right is Blue Hole itself, a wide deep spot in the river with good places for jumping off rocks, etc. I generally continue onward and drop my stuff near the tunnels; later I swim back down the river to enjoy the deeper part of Blue Hole.
The best-known underwater tunnels are located beyond Blue Hole, a bit further upriver. This is where I usually park my stuff and enter the river, since you can walk across the rocks and hop into the tunnels right from the shore. So, go about another 100 yards past Blue Hole on the path; you'll see an expanse of solid rock that tilts down toward the river on your right.
In the middle of the riverbed at this point are a collection of small "holes" -- you've found the tunnels!


If you step carefully across the rocks toward the holes, "The Throne" is one of the first holes you come to from the path -- it's almost perfectly circular and about two-and-a-half feet across. You can recognize it because if you look down into it, you can see out the side into the next hole; you'll also see that a handy rock "shelf" extends across the bottom. This is where I usually enter the water since it's easy and not prone to slipping or sliding. It's really just big enough for one person and standing here kinda makes you feel One With the River, like you're the lord of all you survey, hence I call it "The Throne." :)
The Throne is that black hole to the left. Yes, there's water in it just out of view!

If you duck your head under you can exit from The Throne into the next hole, which is irregularly-shaped and wider. Here the bottom shelves down to about 7 feet deep. Angling off to the right is an underwater opening that leads you to a multiway underwater intersection. You can veer right and come out the "Main Entrance," you can go upward through an opening, or you can veer left and go thru a smaller tunnel into a wide, circular hole about big enough for four people. From this hole you can continue out through one of two exits into open water (perhaps five ft. deep) on the opposite side of the riverbed from the path.

None of these tunnels is more than 3 or 4 feet long, making them safe for most kids and nearly all adults, as long as you can swim. They can be done with or without diving masks or goggles, although masks or goggles make it a lot more fun and a bit safer.
This is the narrowest tunnel (recommended for skinny kids and adults only) as seen from c. 5 ft. past the Throne From the same spot, this is the passageway to the left. A kid in the foreground (left leg visible) has just gone up thru the narrow opening; in the background is someone snorkeling in the "wide circular hole" mentioned above From the "wide circular hole" here are the two exits out to open water on the other side of the riverbed. And facing back, here's the pebbly bottom of the wide circular hole from one of the exit tunnels.

If you go back out to the path, further upriver about a 12-minute walk you come to an area we call "Little Blue Hole." This area tends to be a bit less crowded with casual tourists and whitewater-rafting parties and can be a more pleasant place to suntan, etc. We've gone "skinny-dipping" here before, when it was otherwise deserted.

Here's a view from midriver a bit downstream from the tunnels looking back at the "main entrance," from which the kid has just emerged.
From the same spot, here's a view looking downstream. In the background is the suspension bridge. On the right is a large boulder with a smaller boulder in front of it; there's a long crevice between the two that can be swum through (stay near the bottom). Past the kids just right of center is a tilted rock in the distance -- there's an excellent tunnel running underneath it. Just to the right of the large tilted rock (left foreground) and to the left of the rocky "peninsula" (middle distance, center) you can see all the way to the far side of Blue Hole itself. The wide swimming hole seen here is actually the smaller, more distant swimming hole seen in this image from the bridge, facing upstream.

If you go up to Blue Hole this summer or any summer, be sure to drop me a note in email if you have any comments or suggestions. It's a great place to go swimming or snorkeling!

Here's a couple of photos of me at Blue Hole....
Standing on the ledge in the Throne -- no, I haven't lost my hair, it's just catching the Sun :)
Here I'm sitting near the Throne facing downstream. No, I don't have big sideburns either; my hair got plastered to my face! :)

Things You Should Bring

 (Listed in approximate order of importance)
  1. $3 for the day-long parking fee. Or just get an annual pass once and enjoy the whole summer. :)
  2. Mask, snorkel and fins. If nothing else, bring a mask, or at the least some goggles for your eyes. Blue Hole is ten times as much fun when you can see where you're going, and there's a lot to see on the bottom. Besides, then you won't have to borrow a mask from me! :) Fins aren't necessary, but they're helpful mostly for the wide, deep part of Blue Hole.
    Some of the tunnels are easier if you go through them upside-down, so a mask is better than goggles since they keep your nose clear. Snorkels are especially good for the shallower area between the tunnels and the deep part of Blue Hole.
  3. Shoes, preferably water-shoes or old tennis shoes. On a hot summer day, the rocks in the riverbed can get pretty warm, and shoes become really important. The rocks are also slippery when wet so choose something with decent wet-traction.
  4. A bathing suit. Note how this is listed below money, masks and shoes? :) You can also go swimming in shorts or cutoffs, and I've seen passersby, and locals on the way home from work, take a quick dip wearing long pants...and sometimes well-disguised underwear.
  5. A hat. That Sun can bake yer brain. :)
  6. A disposable underwater camera. Not a necessity but hot damn, they work pretty well and on a clear day with sunshine you can get some awesome shots, as you can see on these pages. Fuji's underwater disposable is the best I've seen, but Kodak's is okay too.
  7. Tanning lotion, preferably the allegedly-waterproof kind. I tend not to wear it but I probably should. :)
  8. Towel and/or blanket. --Especially if you're suntanning.
  9. A wetsuit, or something warm to wear if the water's a bit chilly. It can be chilly early in the season, when the water is flowing a bit higher than normal due to rainfall in the basin, or when the wind is really blowin'. Wearing a shirt over longer shorts, or bike-shorts under cutoffs, etc., can help.
  10. A reasonably empty belly. For two reasons: it's a pain in the butt to walk back to the OWC to use the bathrooms there, and for you underwater swimmers and tunnel-explorers, you can hold your breath longer on an empty stomach. :)
  11. A cooler with drinks and stuff. If you picnic near Blue Hole, please save your trash and dispose of it properly...and give others hell if they don't. :)

If you'd like to make it an overnight trip, the closest motels are in Ducktown, TN; you passed them if you came via McCaysville and Copper Hill. The second-closest motel is the Lake Ocoee Inn on US 64, on the lake not too far from Ocoee Dam #1, but it's probably pricier. There are also various lodges, campgrounds and cabin-rental places in the Cherokee National Forest. Thunder Rock Campground, across the river near TVA's Ocoee #2 powerhouse is only about 3 miles from Blue Hole. Apparently no permit is required for "primitive" camping up in the mountains within the National Forest, but there are bears and stuff.
In the event I can't stay with my friends in Cleveland, TN, I generally get a room in town there, traditionally at the Heritage Inn, but there are several inexpensive ($35-$45) options there.
If you'd like to picnic at Blue Hole, a bridge by the lower "day" parking lot leads to a small picnic area across the river from the parking lot. These tables are first-come first-served.

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2008 Summer Roadtrip Schedule

Dates Plans Comments
June 3rd and 4th Tuesday and Wednesday roadtrip made! First trip of the season, and boy am I sunburnt! My friend Ripper rode along and had an okay time despite being saddled with an infected abscessed tooth. Good weather both days and no rain, but the water -- particularly in the shallow part but past where the 'swiss-cheese holes' are -- was often quite clousy. Not sure why, but since it was clear when we arrived earlyish on Wednesday, we're assuming it's due to people stirring up the bottom. Still, it got pretty bad amazingly quick.
June 18th and 19th Wednesday and Thursday roadtrip made! A cold front had come through the night before, so the air was probably around 82F at the warmest and there was a sometimes-chill wind blowing. Had lots of fun and met some cool new people (Kyle, Chris, etc.) and some old friends(ASa, and his son). Took several underwater videos with my new Pentax Optio W30 and also six photos with it, posted here! Blazing sun, too, so again I got pretty well sunburnt!
July 1st and 2nd Tuesday and Wednesday roadtrip now firmed up! Email me if you're interested in riding up or meeting up at Blue Hole!
July 16th and 17th Wednesday and Thursday roadtrip planned! Email me if you're interested in riding up or meeting up at Blue Hole!
July 31st and August 1st Thursday and Friday roadtrip planned! (Maybe the weekend also.) Email me if you're interested in riding up or meeting up at Blue Hole!
August 13th and 14th Wednesday and Thursday roadtrip planned! Email me if you're interested in riding up or meeting up at Blue Hole!
September 10th and 11th Wednesday and Thursday roadtrip planned! If the weather is warm enough, I've requested vacation time for these two days. Email me if you're interested in riding up or meeting up at Blue Hole!

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1998 Roadtrip Diary | 1999 Roadtrip Diary | 2000 Roadtrip Diary | 2001 Roadtrip Diary | 2002 Roadtrip Diary |
2003 Roadtrip Diary | 2004 Roadtrip Diary | 2005 Roadtrip Diary | 2006 Roadtrip Diary | 2007 Roadtrip Diary |
2008 Summer Roadtrip Diary |

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