Wild Bear Falls Water Park
915 Westgate Resorts Road, Gatlinburg, Tennessee
When the rain or snow hits Gatlinburg, there’s one place to head: Wild Bear Falls Water Park. A heated indoor attraction—though the roof is retractable for warm, sunny days—this splashy locale is fun for the whole family, with mountain-themed thrills, spills, and falls taking over 60,000 square feet (5,600 square meters). Think waterslides, a lazy river, hot tubs, and more.
Inside the Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa, Wild Bear Falls Water Park keeps 300,000 gallons (over 1 million liters) of water flowing seven days a week. While it’s certainly geared toward youngsters (think mini-sized slides, a toddler spray pad, and an interactive treehouse), adults will also find lots of ways to relax and have fun—whether that means a float down the lazy river, time in the hot tub, chilling in a private cabana, or coursing down a 350-foot (107-meter) tube slide until you’re splashed out. This is a spot for kids and kids at heart.
A room reservation at Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort does not include water park admission.
Tickets can be booked online—children under 3 are free—and walk-ups are accepted.
You’ll find a lunch spot, the Roaring Fork, on the second floor of the water park.
Water Bear Falls Water Park is just north of the Gatlinburg Parkway Bypass, practically adjacent to the Gatlinburg Visitor Center. Most visitors drive here, and since the park is at the Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort, there’s plenty of parking on-site. If you don’t have a car, you can take a rideshare or taxi.
Tickets are good for 1 day, 3 days, or 5 days, and you can arrive anytime during your ticket window—though to get the most bang for your buck, come early. While the water park is an obvious choice for rainy or snowy weather, it’s also a great respite from the heat, too.
Taking into account its location in Gatlinburg, most of the slides and rides here are Great Smoky Mountain–themed: Just like in the national park of the same name, you’ll summit Clingman’s Dome (the park’s highest tube slide), float along and through Cades Cove, and ride down the majestic Laurel Falls, among other highlights.
Travel Like an Expert with AAA and Trip Canvas
Get Ideas from the Pros
As one of the largest travel agencies in North America, we have a wealth of recommendations to share! Browse our articles and videos for inspiration, or dive right in with preplanned AAA Road Trips, cruises and vacation tours.
Build and Research Your Options
Save and organize every aspect of your trip including cruises, hotels, activities, transportation and more. Book hotels confidently using our AAA Diamond Designations and verified reviews.
Book Everything in One Place
From cruises to day tours, buy all parts of your vacation in one transaction, or work with our nationwide network of AAA Travel Agents to secure the trip of your dreams!