Tennessee's waterfall loop, featuring these 10 stunning sights, is perfect for spring hikes
With the annual teasing of warmer temperatures, many Tennesseans are eager to get back into nature after months of being cooped up indoors. It's easy to understand why, as the state is rich in picturesque natural resources, making it the ideal place to escape the winter blues.
Among those resources are more than 80 waterfalls, many of which are nationally recognized for their beauty and splendor.
Nestled away in southern Jackson County, about 83 miles from Nashville, lies Cummins Falls, Tennessee's eighth largest waterfall in volume of water and the starting point of Tennessee's waterfall loop. The waterfall loop will take you to ten of the Volunteer State's most stunning waterfalls and includes stops at four state parks.
Total drive time is a little under five hours; however, many hikes can take over an hour, so it is recommended to split the trip into a couple of days to ensure enough time for exploring.
Lace up your hiking boots, here's what to know about Tennessee' waterfall loop.
What will spring weather be like? What the Old Farmer's Almanac predicts
Cummins Falls one of the state's most popular, scenic swimming holes. According to the Tennessee State Park system, the park has been a beloved destination for local residents for over 100 years.
The area, however, is rugged and reaching the base of the waterfall requires some strenuous hiking, not suitable for children younger than five. Slippery rocks and wading through water will also be necessary before reaching the falls. The park system recommends people wear sturdy shoes, consider the weather when planning their visit and to remember safety first. The park is open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. in-season and until 4:30 p.m. off-season. The gorge area closes at 5 p.m. in-season.
Located at: 390 Cummins Falls Lane, Cookeville, Tenn. 38501
Are passes required? Yes, anyone wanting to enter the gorge or access the base of the waterfall will require an access permit which can be purchased online.
Just over an hour outside of Cummins Falls awaits your second destination, Ozone Falls in Cumberland County. According to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Ozone Falls is one of Tennessee's most heavily-visited state natural areas, because of its close proximity to Interstate 40.
Picturesque views await at Ozone Falls, with water that plunges 110 feet, a deep, rock-strewn pool and a rock house 'amphitheater." The area is named Ozone Falls due to the falls' "stimulating air quality" created by the mist produced by the long plunge of the water, said the department.
Ozone Falls is located in Cumberland Mountain State Park and is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. during summer and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during winter.
Located at: 24 Office Drive, Crossville, Tenn. 38555
Are passes required? No, passes are not required to enter Ozone Falls.
Less than an hour from Cumberland County is Piney Falls, an 818-acre natural area located in Rhea County. Besides waterfalls, the area is also home to creeks, deep gorges and an old growth forest. Piney Falls is recognized as a national natural landmark by the National Park Service, making it one of only fourteen national natural landmarks in Tennessee.
Piney Falls State Natural Area is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. during summer and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during winter.
Located at: 1712 Firetower Road, Grandview, Tenn. 37337
Are passes required? No, passes are not required to enter Piney Falls.
You won't need to travel far to reach the fourth destination.
The fourth stop on the waterfall loop is Stinging Fork Falls Natural Area, also located in Rhea County. The area features a creek and a 30-foot waterfall located within the Stinging Fork gorge. The Stinging Fork Falls Trail is is considered a moderate hike and will lead you to the base of the creek. There, you will also find Stinging Falls and a nearby swimming hole.
Located at: Stinging Fork Falls Natural Area is located west of Spring City and can be accessed via Highway 68, according to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. In Spring City turn onto Shut-In Gap Road and proceed five miles to the parking area on the right.
Are passes required? No, passess are not required to enter Stinging Fork Falls.
Halfway through the waterfall loop awaits one of Tennessee's largest and most visited state parks — Fall Creek Falls State Park.
You'll want to give yourself plenty of time to explore the park which encompasses over 29,800 acres, complete with cascades, gorges, waterfalls, streams and miles of hiking trails. The park is home to multiple waterfalls, including Fall Creek Falls, Cane Creek Cascades and Piney Creek Falls, so consider staying at one of the park's many campsites.
Fall Creek Falls, for which the park is named for, cascades down 256 feet and is one of the tallest single vertical drop falls east of the Rocky Mountains, said the park system. The Fall Creek Falls loop will take you to the base of the falls, before reaching an overlook and then continuing for several miles. The hike is six miles in length and is considered moderate in difficulty, according to AllTrails.
The park is open 24 hours with the road leading to the falls being locked at dark. All day use areas close at sunset.
Located at: 2009 Village Camp Road, Spencer, Tenn. 38585
Are passes required? Passes are not required to visit the falls, however reservations are required for any on-site accomodations.
The next stop at Fall Creek Falls State Park is Cane Creek Cascades.
If you're looking to hit all the high points of the park, recommended trails include the nase of Falls Trail, the Cane Creek Falls Trail and the Gorge Overlook Trail. According to AllTrails, the tour will take you to some of the most breathtaking spots in the park — Fall Creek Falls, Rocky Point Overlook, Cane Creek Gorge Overlook, and Cane Creek Falls Overlook.
The trail tour takes an hour and a half to complete and is nearly three miles in length.
Located at: 2009 Village Camp Road, Spencer, Tenn. 38585
Are passes required? Passes are not required to visit the falls, however reservations are required for any on-site accomodations.
The final stop on the Fall Creek Falls State Park excursion is Piney Creek Falls.
The hike to the Piney Falls Overlook and Suspension Bridge is brief but rewarding, offering stunning views of the falls. The trail is less than a mile long and takes just 20 minutes to complete, according to AllTrails.
Located at: 2009 Village Camp Road, Spencer, Tenn. 38585
Are passes required? Passes are not required to visit the falls, however reservations are required for any on-site accomodations.
It's time to leave Fall Creek Falls State Park, but the waterfall loop continues on to Great Falls, located at Rock Island State Park. The 30-foot waterfall can be found within the Caney Fork River Gorge, an area known for its rugged beauty and popularity for hiking and swimming.
While beautiful, the gorge can also be risky, due to its close proximity to Great Falls Dam. According to the park system, large releases of water from the dam can cause the entire gorge to quickly become flooded, making conditions extremely hazardous.
Located at: 82 Beach Road, Rock Island, Tenn. 38581
Are passes required? No, passes are not required to enter Great Falls.
Don't get in your car just yet, the waterfall loop continues to Twin Falls, also found at Rock Island State Park.
A recommended trail is Twin Falls and Downstream Trail which offers spectacular views of the waterfalls, streams and river. The trail is considered easy and takes just under an hour to complete. If you'd still like to catch view of the falls, but prefer something much shorter, try the Upstream Trail which offers views of both Great Falls and Twin Falls. The trail takes less than 20 minutes to complete and is considered moderate, according to AllTrails.
Located at: 82 Beach Road, Rock Island, Tenn. 38581
Are passes required? No, passes are not required to enter Twin Falls.
The final stop on the waterfall loop will take you to Burgess Falls State Park and Natural Area in southern Putnam County, which features four stunning waterfalls that cascade down from over 250 feet in elevation.
Swimming is not permitted at Burgess Falls, but that doesn't take away from its allure. Hiking, fishing, and wildlife and wildflower viewing are popular, and there is even a butterfly garden for visitors to enjoy. The Burgess Falls Trail takes just 30 minutes to complete and is considered moderate, according to AllTrails. The trail ends at the overlook and offers various viewpoints throughout, making it the perfect hike for families and hikers of all ages.
The park is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., during summer hours (March 1-Oct. 31) and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. during winter hours (Nov. 1-Feb.28/29).
Located at: 4000 Burgess Falls Drive, Sparta, Tenn 38583
Are passes required? No, passes are not required to enter Burgess Falls.
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee waterfall hikes: This loop takes you to 10 beautiful falls
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