The Sinks

The Sinks is one of the most powerful and photogenic waterfalls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where the Little River roars through a narrow rock chute and drops into a deep, churning plunge pool along Little River Road on the Tennessee side near Townsend. Roadside and easy to reach, it is a favorite stop for sightseers and photographers drawn to its forceful flow and beautiful setting.

Though only about 18 feet high, the Sinks channels the full volume of the Little River through its narrow gorge, creating a thundering cascade and a deep, swirling pool. The falls were shaped in part by logging-era dynamiting that rerouted the river. Beautiful as it is, the Sinks is notoriously dangerous — its powerful currents and deep pool have caused many drownings — so it is best admired from the overlook. A popular and dramatic stop on the scenic Little River Road, the Sinks captures the power and beauty of the Smokies’ mountain streams.

The Sinks is an easy, roadside stop along Little River Road, with an overlook offering views and photographs of the powerful falls and churning pool. Sightseeing, photography and watching the forceful Little River are the draws, and short trails lead along the river nearby. While some visitors swim despite the danger, the Sinks is best and most safely enjoyed from the overlook. It is one of the most popular and dramatic roadside features on the scenic drive between Townsend and Gatlinburg.

Spring brings the fullest, most powerful flow from snowmelt and rain, while summer draws crowds (and dangerous swimmers) to the popular spot. Fall frames the falls and river in color along the scenic road. Winter can ice the rocks dramatically. The high volume makes the Sinks impressive year-round, especially after rain; mornings and weekdays are quieter for photography on the busy Little River Road.

The Sinks was shaped in part during the logging era of the early 20th century, when crews reportedly used dynamite to clear a logjam and rerouted the Little River, helping form the dramatic chute and falls seen today. The falls and the scenic Little River Road are part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, dedicated in 1940. Long a popular roadside stop, the Sinks reflects both the natural power of the river and the human history of logging in the mountains.

The Sinks funnels the full volume of the Little River through a narrow rock chute — partly shaped by logging-era dynamiting — over an 18-foot drop into a deep, scoured plunge pool. The ancient, hard metamorphic rock of the Smokies forms the gorge and the basin, with the confined channel compressing and accelerating the river into a thundering cascade. The deep, swirling pool, carved by the forceful flow, is beautiful but treacherous.

The forest and river around the Sinks shelter black bear, white-tailed deer, salamanders, and a rich bird community, with the Little River supporting trout, otters and the aquatic life of the Smokies. The Salamander Capital of the World’s extraordinary biodiversity is present along the river corridor. Anglers fish the Little River for trout, and visitors should keep a safe distance from any wildlife and store food properly in this bear country.

The Sinks lies on the Little River, a renowned trout stream and a vital aquatic corridor in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most biodiverse national park in America. The powerful chute, the plunge pool and the surrounding forest form a dynamic riparian ecosystem, and the river supports native brook trout and a rich community of aquatic life. Protecting the water quality and the riverbanks sustains both the ecology and the scenic beauty of the Sinks.

The Sinks, with its powerful flow, beautiful setting and easy roadside access, is one of the most popular and photographed features on the scenic Little River Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Its dramatic cascade and the cautionary lore of its dangerous waters have made it a memorable, much-visited stop, capturing both the natural power of the Smokies’ rivers and the importance of respecting their hazards.

The Sinks is a roadside stop along Little River Road (between the Townsend entrance and the Sugarlands area near Gatlinburg) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with a parking area and overlook right at the falls. There is no entrance fee, though a parking tag is required, and the small lot fills quickly. The overlook is steps from the parking; the rocks near the water are dangerous. Check the National Park Service for parking-tag requirements and conditions.

The National Park Service protects the Sinks, the Little River and the surrounding forest within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitors help by viewing the falls from the overlook, staying off the dangerous rocks, keeping the river and banks clean, respecting the trout fishery and aquatic life, and packing out everything. Protecting the water quality and the riverbanks of the renowned Little River preserves both the ecology and the scenic beauty of this popular spot.

The Sinks is extremely dangerous despite its beauty — the powerful currents, deep churning pool and slippery rocks have caused numerous drownings, including strong swimmers and cliff-jumpers. Never swim, wade or jump at the Sinks, keep well back from the slippery rocks, and supervise children closely from the overlook. The roadside parking is busy; use caution near traffic. Admire the falls safely from the overlook — the water is deadly.

No entrance fee, but a parking tag is required. View the falls from the overlook; swimming and jumping at the Sinks are strongly discouraged and dangerous. Follow Great Smoky Mountains National Park fishing regulations on the Little River. Never feed or approach wildlife — keep 50 yards from bears. Pets are restricted. Collecting and drones are prohibited. Pack out all trash. Check the National Park Service for current requirements.

The scenic Little River Road, with its many pull-offs, the Townsend entrance — the ‘peaceful side of the Smokies’ — and the Metcalf Bottoms and Elkmont areas lie along the river nearby, with Laurel Falls and the Sugarlands Visitor Center toward Gatlinburg and Cades Cove to the west. The waterfalls, trails and scenery of the Tennessee side of the park surround the Sinks, making it an easy and dramatic stop on a scenic drive.

Stop at the Sinks for a powerful, photogenic waterfall right off Little River Road — come early or on a weekday for parking and quieter photos, and secure a parking tag. Admire the falls and pool safely from the overlook; never swim or jump, as the water is deadly. Pair the Sinks with a scenic drive on Little River Road, the Townsend area, and Laurel Falls toward Gatlinburg.