The Sinks
- Road
- Paved
- Permit
- Not required
- Dogs
- Allowed
Entry fee: Parking tag: $5 daily, $15 weekly, $40 annual (over 15 min). The Sinks is a river on the Little River in Sevier County, Tennessee.
Closures and warnings
NPS: visitors have drowned at this waterfall. Enjoy The Sinks from the designated viewing area only. Water recreation is not recommended park-wide. As of September 28, 2026.
Before you swim
| Swimming allowed | No |
|---|---|
| Water type | River |
| Current | Strong |
Access
| Road | Paved |
|---|---|
| Road note | Roadside waterfall on Little River Road; no trailhead signs marking the spot. |
| Parking | Small parking lot on Little River Road about 1 mile past Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area (roughly 12 mi west of Sugarlands Visitor Center, or 8 mi east of the Townsend Wye). Look for red swift-water. |
| Fee | Parking tag: $5 daily, $15 weekly, $40 annual (over 15 min). America the Beautiful passes do not replace it. |
| Hours | Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open 24 hours; roadside pullouts follow park rules. |
| Reservation or permit | Not required |
| Managed by | National Park Service (Great Smoky Mountains National Park) |
| Note | Parking and historical/interpretive information listed as amenities on the NPS place page. |
|---|
Rules
| Dogs | Allowed |
|---|---|
| Camping | Allowed |
Common questions
Common questions
Is The Sinks open?
NPS: visitors have drowned at this waterfall. Enjoy The Sinks from the designated viewing area only. Water recreation is not recommended park-wide. As of September 28, 2026. Hours: Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open 24 hours; roadside pullouts follow park rules.
Can you swim at The Sinks?
No, swimming is not allowed at The Sinks. A strong current is reported here, use caution.
How do you get to The Sinks?
The road in is paved. Roadside waterfall on Little River Road; no trailhead signs marking the spot. Parking: Small parking lot on Little River Road about 1 mile past Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area (roughly 12 mi west of Sugarlands Visitor Center, or 8 mi east of the Townsend Wye). Look for red swift-water.
Do you need a reservation for The Sinks?
No reservation or permit is required.
Is there a fee at The Sinks?
The fee is Parking tag: $5 daily, $15 weekly, $40 annual (over 15 min). America the Beautiful passes do not replace it.
What are the rules at The Sinks?
Dogs are allowed and camping is allowed.
Nearby
Camping nearby
Public land
The Sinks is inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park .
Sources
5
- https://www.nps.gov/places/the-sinks.htm (accessed September 28, 2026; backs manager / access.parking / access.roadNote / hazardNote, waterbodyName, swimmerNotes.swimmingAllowed false / current strong, swimmerNotes.waterType, access.amenities.note)
- https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/fees.htm (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.fee, access.permitRequired / access.roadSurface)
- https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/waterfalls.htm (accessed September 28, 2026; backs hazardNote)
- https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/hours.htm (accessed September 30, 2026; backs access.hours)
- https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/pets.htm (accessed September 30, 2026; backs rules.dogs, rules.camping)
More: Tennessee swimming holes