Here is my personal guide to some waterfalls in Tennessee that you might want to explore if you’re seeking for less popular but still incredibly beautiful cascades.
It’s crucial to keep in mind Leave No Trace ethics, a set of guidelines designed to help everyone enjoy outdoor areas while minimizing long-term effects on these priceless resources, whenever you visit Tennessee’s waterfalls.
15. Northrup Falls
The beating heart of Fentress County’s 165-acre natural area, Colditz Cove, is Northrup Falls. It descends into a thin gorge on Big Branch Creek, more than 60 feet down a rock shelf. A loop trail that is about 1.5 miles long allows hikers to get to it. It bears the name of the family who lived there and ran a mill above the falls in the nineteenth century.
14. Burgess Falls
Found in Cookeville’s southwest, Burgess Falls lives in a 217 acre natural area. The Falling Water River has created three waterfalls, beautiful bluffs, and a variety of forests within the park. One of the most striking waterfalls in Tennessee in this region is Burgess Falls, which crashes more than 130 feet into the gorge at the riverbed. To see the waterfall, walk the 1.5 mile River Trail loop. Do some Kayaking to the base of Burgess Falls with a guide service like “Kayaking Adventures of Tennessee” for an even more amazing experience.
13. Cummins Falls
Standing at a height of 75 feet, Cummins Falls ranks the eighth of all waterfalls in Tennessee in terms of water volume. It is situated in the 306 acre Cummins Falls State Park on the Blackburn Fork State Scenic River, around nine miles north of Cookeville. It should be noted by tourists that getting to the base of the waterfall requires a Gorge Access Permission.
The base of the waterfall is only accessible on days with nice weather because the gorge is vulnerable to rapid floods. Get ready for a 1.5 mile challenging hike into the gorge, which may involve swimming or wading through the water and rock scrambling.
12. Laurel Run Falls
One of the most beautiful waterfalls in Tennessee is located in Laurel Run Park, which is found on the Holston River.
Mel Gibson and Sissy Spacek starred in the 1984 movie The River, which was filmed there as well. It’s in Churchill, which is immediately west of Kingsport. If you travel it in the springtime, you will find Laurel Run Falls to be about 1.8 miles back and forth, with lots of wildflowers along the journey.
11. Piney Falls
As one of the nation’s best preserved examples of significant biodiversity and geological features, Piney Falls Natural Area spans 818 acres and is designated as a National Natural Landmark. Piney Falls plunges about 80 feet in total, 40 feet from its base and 80 feet into a pool from its highest point.
There is a 1.8 mile path to the waterfall on the hike. There are also historic forests in the area, with trees that are over 100 feet tall and have a circumference of over 40 inches.
Related: 15 Amazing Waterfalls in Oregon You Must See
10. Abrams Falls
Tucked away just outside of Townshend, Tennessee, is the starting point for Cades Cove, an 11 mile loop path that offers beautiful views, prairies, and preserved agricultural properties. The average hiker will love the 5 mile back and forth path, which only gains 675 feet of elevation. Even though the falls are only 20 feet high, they have a beautiful view as they descend into a huge pool.
9. Jericho Falls
The Falls of Jericho, which border Tennessee and Alabama, are said to have been a hunting spot for David Crockett. Going on hikes and horse pathways allows you to discover the 8,900 acre property. The hike is downhill and covers about 3.5 miles in one direction. It is advised that travelers pack lots of snacks and water for a full day spent exploring this stunning Tennessee property, as the return route is primarily uphill.
8. Conasauga Falls
You need to be aware when walking the 1.2 miles downhill to Conosauga Falls because the return trip is all uphill. Only a few individuals are likely to visit this remote area while hiking to the falls. You can hike the path from April through October. This is great for a fun weekend activity, so don’t forget to pack something to eat.
7. Spruce Flat Falls
Spruce Flat Falls can be reached after a 1.8 mile hike within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Although the path is short, there are a few steep parts and plenty of roots and stones to be careful of. Although Spruce Flat Falls is still a favored waterfall hike in the Smokies, it’s usually more peaceful than some of the other famous trailheads in the park, like Laurel Falls in my opinion.
Hikers can find symbols indicating the trail near the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont close to the parking area, even though it is not marked on the official park trail map.
6. Lost Creek Falls
It’s a simple and quick quarter mile walk to Lost Creek Falls. Situated in Sparta’s Lost Creek State Natural Area, the waterfall is roughly 1.5 hours east of Nashville. One of Tennessee’s biggest caves is located in this natural area. You can go to the cave across from Lost Creek Falls, which has a waterfall within it.
Keep in mind that the federally protected Indiana bat population that resides there hibernates and swarms during the times when the cave is closed to the public. In other seasons, admission to Fall Creek Falls State Park requires a free permit obtained from the Nature Center.
Related: 11 Best Waterfalls in Georgia You Must See
5. Slave Falls
Slave Falls is found in the National River & Recreation Area of the Big South Fork. It’s a fairly simple hike, about 3 miles complete trip. You will be able to witness Needle Arch, a naturally occurring arch formation, alongside the 60 foot waterfall. Prepare to go see the falls earlier in the time of year for the greatest flow, as there might not be much water flowing over them in late summer and early fall. Still, the hike is lovely all year round.
4. Black Canyon Falls
Black Canyon Falls is an attraction in South Cumberland State Park’s Grundy Forest Natural Area, which is close to Tracy City. Hiking Fiery Gizzard Trail 1.8 miles back and forth will get you to this amazing waterfall in Tennessee, which has a 15 foot drop. Observing the waterfall’s flow firsthand is key, since the lighting can occasionally make photos difficult.
3. Twin Falls
Twin Falls can be found in Rock Island State Park, an 833 acre natural area at the meeting point of the Collins, Rocky, and Caney Fork rivers, at the source of Center Hill Lake. The Caney Fork River was dammed to create the waterfalls, which cascade out of the gorge’s walls rather than over the edge.
Twin Falls is fairly easy to access. From the parking lot, it’s just a brief hike down a short set of steep stairs. Keep in mind that if the floodgates at Great Falls Dam are opened, the area could experience a rapid rise in water level. Avoid swimming or wading in that area, and pay attention to the dam’s alerting sirens.
2. Ozone Falls
Ozone Falls, which plunges 110 feet over a formation of sandstone cap rock, appeared in several scenes from the Jungle Book film. Approximately 15 miles east of Crossville, the waterfall stands in a 43 acre natural area near Interstate 40. It’s reachable by hiking 0.3 miles round trip.
1. Greeter Falls
Greeter Falls is located in Savage Gulf State Park, which has become Tennessee’s latest state park as of September of 2022, adding the state’s overall number of national parks to 57. Savage Gulf State Park is roughly 45 minutes northwest of Chattanooga. This hike, which is approximately a mile round trip, passes alongside sandstone cliffs and through hardwood forests, and you’ll get to see both upper and lower falls.
What To Know Before Visiting Waterfalls in Tennessee
With our list of Tennessee‘s top waterfalls, we hope you can start taking pictures of some of the state’s most breathtaking scenery.
Leave all other things, such as rocks, flowers, and branches, exactly as you found them, and make sure you take out any waste or other stuff you brought.
This guarantees that future generations will be able to appreciate these stunning waterfalls as well.
Although seeing waterfalls is enjoyable all year round, springtime is the best time to visit because of the region’s increased precipitation and melting snow, which increases the flow of the falls.
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