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Chasing Waterfalls In Tennessee
Hello Explorers!
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Do you love waterfalls? I can not pass one by without a peek, but when I think of visiting beautiful waterfalls, I dream up exotic locations, like Maui or Thailand. However, there are fantastic waterfalls throughout the whole world, even in the central US! I have recently started "waterfall chasing," and it's incredible what you can find. You can hit four of the most famous waterfall destinations in Tennessee in under 100 miles. To help you plan, I will share the trip I took traveling from the north (Cincinnati). Let's explore!
What you need to know before traveling through Tennessee
Best time to visit Tennessee
Tennessee is fortunate to have generally mild weather for most of the year. You may want to avoid the really cold months, December through February, if you hate to bundle up and prefer a more green experience. We recommend visiting in the spring and fall. If you hit it just right you will get the spring wildflowers or the fall leaves.
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Also if you hate crowds, you may also want to avoid visiting during popular summer months as the State Parks can get very crowded with families on school break. Peak season is typically when school is out. However, if you do go in the summer just know that some additional planning is required to book a cabin or campsite.
Reservations for your road trip
The biggest issue you will run into when booking out the activities on your Tennessee road trip is reserving a place to stay. Campsites or cabins at the state parks fill up quickly, especially on weekends, so the earlier you can be when it comes to booking, the better.
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If you are looking to explore Cummins Falls, keep in mind that you will need to obtain a day-use permit reservation. The permits are generally available if you plan ahead, but if you wait until the last minute, you may be out of luck. Also, the gorge will close for any weather event, so you may be denied access even with proper planning.
What to pack
Since your adventure itinerary for this Tennesse Road trip will involve a lot of time outdoors, you will want to pack a ton of sunscreen with an SPF 30+ rating. We’d also recommend bringing lightweight towels, a waterproof phone case, a dry bag, and other sun protection like sunglasses, a hat, and a UPF sun shirt. If you are planning to get into the falls or do more hiking, a good pair of hiking shoes and some waterproof shoes or socks are a must, especially for Cummins Falls, which can get very slick.
3-4 Day Itinerary: Chasing Waterfalls in Tennessee
This Itinerary travels north to south (modify as needed)
Day 1: Cummins State Park and Edgar Evins State Park
On your first day, I recommend stopping at Cummin Falls State Park. The trail to the falls overlook is open to everyone and is an easy 0.45 mile hike. If you want to go down to the falls, you will need a premit to enter the gorge. The park issues 200 premits per day at a cost of $6.00 each. The gorge hike is closer to 1.5 miles and is considered strenuous with some degree of rock scrambling. As you approach the falls the more scrambling is required and the hike can be somewhat hazardous due to the slick rocks. Having some water shoes or footwear with decent traction is beneficial. This is not the time for flip-flops. The park recommends against bringing along children and dogs but there are always plenty of both in every video or photograph I have seen. Know the abilities of everyone in your party and plan accordingly and you will be fine.
The park offers additional hiking trails that do not require a Gorge Access Permit. For example, check out the park’s newest 3-mile Delia Bell Meadow Trail, which allows access to an overlook of the Blackburn Fork River.
Where to Stay and Eat
If you are camping or interested in a cozy cabin, head down to Edgar Evins State Park to spend the night by Center Hill Lake. Edgar Evins is a 35-minute drive southwest of Cummins Falls and offers fantastic stargazing, lake access, and a unique camping experience. The main campground offers wooden platform sites, reinforced with concrete and steel, for RVs and tents that extend out into the forest or over the lakeshore. There are also nine primitive tent sites with views of the lake. The cabins are located a short walk from the lake and can sleep up to six.
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If you prefer something a little less rustic you can head over to Cookeville, Tennessee where you can find all the various chain hotel stays. There are great options if you want use some accumulated points for a free stay. Booking.com currently rates the Townplace suites by Marriott with the highest customer satisfaction.
If you,re not camping and need a bite to eat try out World Food International Gorgery and Delicatessin in Cookeville. This homey little bistro has great food and friendly service. You will experience that smalltown welcome from this little shop.
Day 2: Burgess Falls and Rock Island State Park
Burgess Falls
On day two, you're headed to check out the Burgess Falls State Park. While the largest waterfall is the park's biggest attraction, Burgess Falls is a series of waterfalls on the Falling Water River. The largest of the waterfalls, known as Burgess Falls, is one of the strongest flowing falls in all of Tennessee and stands 136 feet tall. Don't be fooled by stopping at the first waterfall you come to; a bigger, more magnificent fall awaits.
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Two trails from the parking lot lead the way to the Burgess Falls overlook. The River Trail is a natural trail that hugs the river most of the way. Taking this trail will allow you to see cascades and two smaller waterfalls upstream from Burgess Falls. The other route is a service road open to visitors that leads to the overlook. This paved road is more accessible than the River Trail but does not offer views of the river or the smaller waterfalls. If you're short on time, take the one trail in and the other trail out. The service road is easy walking while the river trail has more roots and rocks to navigate along with the distraction of the many falls. This park is a hot spot during the warmer months, so to avoid crowds, plan to arrive around one hour after the park opens.
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Burgess Falls - Main fall
Estimate to spend 1 to 2 hours at Burgess Falls. However, suppose you want to spend additional time here. In that case, there is a butterfly garden adjacent to the parking, or Window Cliffs Natural Area offers a 5.5 mile hiking trail that includes 18 creek crossings along and some large rock arches.
Rock Island State Park
Twin Falls at Rock Island State Park
When you have finished up at Burgess falls, hit the road for about 30 minutes to the south, and you will find Rock Island State Park. This park is filled with impressive waterfalls, rushing cascades, and incredible overlooks. Many short trails throughout the park offer varied views of the falls and cascades.
The most popular and accessible fall in the park is Twin Falls. The falls can be viewed with little effort from the Twin Falls parking area. If you want to explore further, you can take the Downstream Trail to the right of the parking. In addition, you can find numerous side trails that will lead you out on the rocks and to the base of the falls. According to Tennessee State Parks, the portion of the river below the TVA’s powerhouse (including Twin Falls) is very dangerous due to hidden currents, and absolutely no swimming is allowed. But, of course, during our visit, there were kayakers at the base of the falls).
Continuing up the trail, you’ll find Great Falls, a horseshoe-shaped ledge with three waterfalls spilling over. The pool below is a popular spot for swimming but remember that jumping from the falls is not allowed. If you’re not up for the rugged hike to Great Falls, don’t miss the opportunity to view the falls from the overlook next to the historic Cotton Mill building.
On the south side of the river, you can access the blue hole/blue hole trail. This is an enjoyable trail that requires some scrambling to get down. Although we were told this trail is Dog friendly, it is NOT. There are open metal staircases and sketchy metal rail bridges that our dogs refused, and we didn't feel safe taking them across. I am sure many dogs could navigate the woods on their own, but as the park requires all animals on a leash, we couldn't let them find their own way and opted to take turns going down (which is really fun).
The Blue Hole
Short but moderately difficult trail, rock scrambling required
Where to Stay and Eat
If you're traveling during peak season, you will have several dining options right outside the park. The Rock Island Tolley shop offers basic picnic boxes and all the ice cream favorites. Directly across the street is the Rocket Island Market, which offers a full menu depending on the day. Check their Facebook account for the most recent offerings and current business hours.
Your best lodging options are staying at Rock Island State Park at one of their 50 campsites or premium three-bedroom, two-bath cabins or traveling to your next destination, Fall Creek Falls, another 45 minutes down the road. ​
Day 3: Fall Creek Falls State Park
If there's one park or one waterfall you visit in Tennessee, make it Fall Creek Falls. The park itself is more than just the one spectacular waterfall; it is a "Resort State Park." So what does that mean? It means you will find all the amenities of a resort at Fall Creek Falls. You get the basics of a state park, including scenic drives, well-maintained hiking trails, campgrounds, a ranger station, a camp store, etc., but you also get a luxury hotel with a restaurant, villas, and a golf course (to name a few). It is possible to see the park's highlights in one day, but I suggest spending a few days here to take it all in. Below are my top picks:
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Fall Creek Falls, a 256' waterfall, is one of the tallest in the Eastern United States. View the falls from the overlook, or for the more adventurous; there is a 1/2 mile somewhat strenuous descent to the base of the falls.
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Cane Creek Cascades and adjacent Cane Creek Falls are located on the eastern side of the park next to the Betty Dunn Nature Center. Although these falls are not as high as Fall Creek Falls, they are just beautiful and, when viewed from the Gorge Overlook Trail, are much more impressive.
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Gorge Overlook Trail is the most impressive trail in the park. Start at the Betty Dunn Nature Center and take the route across the suspense bridge and onto the buff. Follow the trail to the northwest (or left) along the bluff, and make sure to stop at the overlooks. If you're a hiker, continue down to the base of Fall Creek Falls for a nice loop for a nice 3-mile loop. Finally, if you only want the highlights, hike out to the Cand Creek Falls overlook (it's some work, but you will not be disappointed).
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Cable Trail, for the truly adventurous, the park offers a cable trail that allows you to scramble down into the gorge with the assistance of a cable. This looked like much fun, but I was hiking alone this day, there was a light rain, and the rocks were slick, so I didn't give it a go.
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Piney Falls can be partially viewed via a short walk along the piney falls trail. This is a pretty waterfall, but viewing during my visit, obscured by vegetation. There did not appear to be a maintained trail down to the base of the falls (at least that I could find).
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The Paw Paw Trail offers a nice peaceful walk through the woods. I wasn't impressed by the overlooks along this trail, but there was plenty of deer and other wildlife if you're hoping to encounter a few locals.
Cane Creek Falls
Gorge Overlook Trail
Where to Stay and Eat
If you're not camping and suppling your own meals or just need a break from cooking, you can grab a snack at the Snackbar Grill or enjoy a full sit-down meal at the restaurant in the new hotel-style lodge. Personally, I did not have a good experience at the restaurant. The service was terrible and the food mediocre, but I was on a camping trip (and it was raining), so I was grateful for the meal.
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Lodging at the park includes campsites, cabins or villas, and the new hotel-style lodge. Due to the rain, I spent one night at the lodge and another at the campgrounds and was impressed with both. The lodge felt like an upscale hotel, similar to a Marriott, but did not have a huge price tag. There was nice outdoor seating with gas firepits and beautiful lake views. The rooms were new with upscale finishes.
There were two types of cabins at the park. Fisherman cabins were scenically placed along the lake, and another set of cottages were available with a more wooded setting. Cabins are large here and can accommodate 8 to 10 people.
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The campground was also very large, with 222 sites (three loops). I was somewhat disappointed that many of the trees in the online booking photos appeared to have been recently removed, making the campgrounds very open. Still, the facilities were excellent, and even wifi towers were present throughout the grounds.
Optional Add On: Virgin Falls or Lost Creek Falls
If you can extend your trip beyond a long weekend, there are so many more amazing waterfalls to visit in the area. Depending on your skill level and desire, here are two more waterfalls to consider:​
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Virgin Falls - Reportedly, this beautiful waterfall and hike is "no joke." The trail is listed as a hard 7-8 miles on the Alltrials app with 1,300 feet elevation change. It's detailed with three waterfalls, two caves, and a cable crossing, but all reports say it's worth it! Unfortunately, I was so disappointed that there were serve thunderstorms the day I scheduled for this hike, and I have not been back to complete it. I hope to soon and will update my blog with more details when I do.
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Lost Creek Falls (pictured left) - An easy 0.2-mile trail from a gravel parking lot will bring you to a stunner of a waterfall. I visited between downpours on a stormy afternoon, and it was gorgeous. The waterfall is off the beaten path, but 100% worth the drive, and the county roads leading into the area are stunners too.
Additional Information
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All Tennessee State Parks are free to enter.
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Cabins at Tennessee State Parks have a two-night minimum (and may have additional minimums at peak times).
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Tennessee State Park campsites must be reserved at least one day in advance. Reservations can be made online or by calling the park.
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All parks with cabins offer camping as well.
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All campgrounds are pet-friendly, and all parks with lodging have several pet-friendly cabins and lodge rooms.
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You don’t have to own gear to go camping. Tennessee State Parks has a partnership that helps you rent outdoor equipment online such as camping, backpacking, and hiking gear.
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When visiting our parks, please remember to practice responsible recreation to reduce your impact.
Hello!
My name is Tricia and I
have been fortunate to travel to amazing destinations with my husband Jamie. If you are enjoying our travel content and would like to send us a thank you (and perhaps buy us a coffee or glass of wine on our next trip) I invite you to join our Patreon. Happy Exploring!!