The Sinks — a waterfall in Sevier County, Tennessee — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Gatlinburg, about 14.5 km (9.0 mi) away (The Sinks lies WSW of town).
The Sinks is an unnatural waterfall on the Little River, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, United States. The Sinks is the most visited waterfall in the park due to the ease of access. It was created when loggers dynamited the river, due to a huge log jam. A popular swimming spot on hot summer days, there have been multiple drownings and many serious injuries. Rangers from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park recovered the body of a 61-year-old man who was kayaking above the Sinks on December 17, 2022. Cliff Jumping is a popular activity at the sinks, as well as family picnics and swimming.From the Wikipedia article “The Sinks”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At The Sinks the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 78° in summer but only 31° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:39 AM | 90° E | 7:47 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:20 AM | 60° ENE | 8:54 PM | 300° WNW | 78° | 14h 34m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:23 AM | 89° E | 7:33 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:41 AM | 119° ESE | 5:26 PM | 241° WSW | 31° | 9h 44m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
Waterfalls photograph best in soft, even light: overcast days, deep shade, or the hour after sunrise before direct sun hits the water. Bright sun on white water blows highlights and adds harsh contrast.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:17 AM | 7:44 AM | 8:23 AM | 5:07 PM | 5:45 PM | 6:13 PM | 10h 00m |
| February | 6:56 AM | 7:23 AM | 7:58 AM | 5:42 PM | 6:17 PM | 6:43 PM | 10h 54m |
| March | 7:21 AM | 7:46 AM | 8:20 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:42 PM | 8:08 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:36 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:37 AM | 7:34 PM | 8:08 PM | 8:34 PM | 13h 05m |
| May | 6:02 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:33 PM | 9:02 PM | 14h 03m |
| June | 5:49 AM | 6:19 AM | 6:57 AM | 8:15 PM | 8:53 PM | 9:23 PM | 14h 34m |
| July | 6:02 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:08 AM | 8:14 PM | 8:52 PM | 9:21 PM | 14h 21m |
| August | 6:27 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:29 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:26 PM | 8:53 PM | 13h 31m |
| September | 6:52 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:52 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:44 PM | 8:09 PM | 12h 25m |
| October | 7:16 AM | 7:42 AM | 8:16 AM | 6:26 PM | 7:00 PM | 7:26 PM | 11h 19m |
| November | 6:44 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:48 AM | 4:52 PM | 5:29 PM | 5:56 PM | 10h 18m |
| December | 7:09 AM | 7:38 AM | 8:17 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:23 PM | 5:52 PM | 9h 46m |
Local time (America/New York), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From The Sinks, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 25° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 5:23 AM – 5:53 AM | 0.5 | 15° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:28 AM – 6:18 AM | 1.8 | 22° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:28 AM – 5:28 AM | 3.0 | 25° | SE → S |
| May | 12:34 AM – 4:44 AM | 4.2 | 25° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:42 PM – 4:22 AM | 5.7 | 25° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:37 PM – 2:57 AM | 4.3 | 25° | SSE → SW |
| August | 10:00 PM – 1:00 AM | 3.0 | 25° | S → SW |
| September | 9:10 PM – 11:00 PM | 1.8 | 22° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:26 PM – 8:56 PM | 0.5 | 15° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -19° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.39 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 48% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (65%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 68 | 71 | 81 | 80 | 87 | 101 | 99 | 97 | 95 | 92 | 81 | 72 |
| Low °F | -3 | -1 | 10 | 21 | 31 | 42 | 48 | 47 | 36 | 23 | 12 | 6 |
| Precip. (in) | 4.4 | 5.3 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 5.5 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 5.3 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this waterfall
- Bracket shutter speeds: 1/8 s, 1/2 s and 2 s give very different water textures and you can choose later.
- A 3-stop ND filter lets you use slow shutter speeds even when the light is bright.
- Shoot a vertical and a horizontal frame; tall falls often work better in portrait orientation.
- Use 1/4 to 1 second for a silky look; 1/500 s or faster freezes individual drops.
- A circular polarizer cuts glare on wet rocks and leaves and deepens greens — rotate it while watching the rocks, not the sky.
- Shoot RAW to keep the most latitude for high-contrast sunrise and sunset scenes.
Season: Peak flow is usually in late spring; autumn adds color around the falls, and winter can bring ice formations at colder locations.
Suggested gear: Tripod, Circular polarizer, 3–6 stop ND filter, Lens cloth, Waterproof footwear. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of The Sinks, closest first.
Waterfall
Fire LookoutWaterfall
Ghost Town
Cave
Waterfall
Mountain Peak
Scenic Viewpoint
Mountain PeakCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion1.7 km (1.1 mi) · reservable
- Elkmont Group Camp6.9 km (4.3 mi) · reservable
- Elkmont Campground7.3 km (4.5 mi) · reservable
- Appalachian Clubhouse7.5 km (4.7 mi) · reservable
- Spence Cabin7.9 km (4.9 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph The Sinks?
What time is golden hour at The Sinks?
Where does the sun rise and set at The Sinks?
Can you see the Milky Way from The Sinks?
Do you need a permit to photograph at The Sinks?
How far is The Sinks from Gatlinburg?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.