Get back in touch with nature on these Nashville waterfall hikes.
Most of Tennessee lies on a huge ledge of prehistorical limestone which act as a natural filter for piddle that flows over and through it . That ’s why our whiskey is so sound . Limestone also tends to fleece into sharp shelf after century of water erosion , and when creeks and rivers tumble over one of those shelves , you get spectacular waterfalls across the area . And that ’s great intelligence for you . If you ’re an avid waterfall hunting watch or just want to get out into the swell outdoors to enjoy a little natural beauty , check some of these dramatic Cascade Mountains off of your to - do listing .
Walls of Jericho
BelvidereThis is n’t an excursion for the passing tramper , as it ’s an eight - mile rotund trip from the Tennessee trailhead to this remarkable rude organisation , that is in reality in Alabama . But it ’s deserving it when you get to bask in the splendor of this bowl - form box canyon with 200 - fundament tall walls and a Turkey Creek - fed cascade streaming from midway down the wall . The remoteness of the location means that you ’ll probably spend most of your hike alone in pristine nature . Make certain to check sunset time in advance and bequeath yourself plenty of time to get back to your fomite , because this wilderness is no billet to wind around in after wickedness .
Ozone Falls
CrossvilleThanks to comfortable admittance from nearby Interstate 40 , this 34 - Akko natural area get a portion of foot traffic , but it ’s more than convenience that suck up so many visitors . Ozone Falls cascades more than a hundred feet over a sandstone shelf , disappearing into an surreptitious cavern before emerging again as Fall Creek a little further downstream . The name of the falls comes from the constant mist that hang around the landing pond , and it act like natural aviation conditioning when the atmospheric condition is oppressive .
Ruby Falls
ChattanoogaEven though it is a niggling touristy , Ruby Falls has a lot going for it as a destination . There ’s no need to go traipsing through the wood to find it ; Ruby Falls has a free parking lot and a Methedrine - look elevator that will channelise you the 260 feet down to the foundation of the cavern deeply within Lookout Mountain where you ’ll disembark at an prosperous path through the limestone shaping to the free fall . The dramatically get down cascade plunges through a cakehole in the side of the cave into a pool below , and even if it has n’t rained in a while , the attraction operators can recycle that body of water inside the cave to keep the thunderous spectacle roll .
Greeter Falls
AltamontGreeter Falls is part of the Savage Gulf trail system and the South Cumberland State Park . The declension themselves are telling with a fifty - foot plunge over a limestone shelf into a pool below , but it also volunteer the bonus that the 1.6 - mile loop trail to reach it is dog - friendly . Take your pooch on a reasonably easy hike , but keep them on a leash .
Old Stone Fort
ManchesterOld Stone Fort is a riveting archaeologic internet site to chat , home to ancient structures build by indigenous resident way back when the calendar flipped from BC to AD . It ’s also a waterfall lover ’s delectation , home to multiple fall . The three largest ones , Steps Falls , Big Falls , and Blue Hole Falls can be see along an light loop lead that measure a little less than three miles long . Park once and check three impressive falls off your inclination .
Rutledge Falls
TullahomaAlthough it can be a small hard to find , even with the help of GPS , the campaign is deserving it for the probability to take a myopic hike from the parking lot to this bucolic waterfall . create by a wide serial of limestone ledges where the water from two creeks joins up to catch on down the rocky stairsteps , Rutledge Falls is dramatic after a good rainfall and good-tempered when the flow is low . Make certain your phone is file , because you ’re go to desire to take a lot of exposure .
Fiery Gizzard
Tracy CityIf you wish unretentive falls that offer secluded swimming gob chance , it ’s tough to beat the Fiery Gizzard Trail , part of the South Cumberland State Forest in south central Tennessee . In one easy 3.3 - mile eyelet , you could experience five different falls , two of which unload into fantastic outdoor syndicate . Blue Hole Falls and Sycamore Falls are both only 10 - 12 feet tall , but they offer plunge pools filled with a never-ending menstruation of coolheaded , crisp mountain urine . Even if it ’s not quite warm enough to float , the rise along Fiery Gizzard Creek is a pleasant diversion .
Fall Creek Falls
SpencerThe crowing papa of Tennessee cataract is actually the tallest innocent - fall falls east of the Mississippi River . The sentiment of the 256 - foot fall is great from the top , but a unforesightful hike down to the plunge pool below really gives visitant a better thought of the power and volume of the flow . Just remember that you have to hike back up to the parking batch afterward .
Horsehair Falls
SequatchieWhile it ’s not quite as visually stunning as its neighbor , Foster Falls , Horsehair Falls offers a little lagniappe for visitant to the larger waterfall . Take a myopic hike along the lead extending from the Foster Falls overlook , and you ’ll get beautiful view of both torrents . Foster Falls has more water intensity , but at 80 - feet - marvellous , Horsehair Falls is a good 20 feet taller than its more well - known counterpart .
Cummins Falls
CookevilleDespite the invite dip pool below , this beautiful multi - level falls is well take in from above where the overlook is just a short amble through the Wood from the parking lot . Acrophobes may have a little difficulty with the steepness of the viewing political platform , but they will be pay back for their courage . Descending into the vale below involves unconscionable descents down unimproved trails and crossing the river , so think twice ( or thrice ) before assay the slip .
Twin Falls
Rock IslandTwin Falls is strange in that it was create by the damming of the Caney Fork River in the 1920 ’s which make two stream to flow out of the side of a gorge , seeping from the walls about forty feet below the edge of the drop-off into the river below . Several easy - to - restrained trails conduct to different views of these remarkable gloam , but how closely you could actually get to them depends on the generation docket of the dam . Stay zippy because the water levels can rise promptly .
Suter and Horsepound Falls
Gruetli - LaagerFirst of all , the chance to visit the flyspeck Swiss residential district of Gruetli - Laager is deserving a trip , because you ’ll end up doing your full Swedish Chef impression all day after take how to say “ grooohtly - lahhger . ” These two fall are about two Roman mile aside on the same bouldery trail , so you ’ll also get a feeling of accomplishment if you take them both in on the same trip-up . Suter Falls flow over the lip of a huge slab of limestone , make a diaphanous mist as the brook freefalls to continue its mode down the oesophagus . Horsepound Falls is shortsighted and wider , offer a striking surge of tumble water instead of the soft wisp of its sister falls .
Foster Falls
SequatchieIf you ’re sense froggy , you’re able to reach this gorgeous 60 - foot tall waterfall by extending the easygoing perambulation through Fiery Gizzard to add a straining twenty-four hours ’s Charles Frederick Worth of hiking for another nine Swedish mile — rather than taking the sidereal day loop track . However , the falls , and the inviting swimming hole below , are also accessible as a much easier two - knot boost which includes a cool swinging bridge across the creek below the falls . Do n’t block to make your way to the bottom of the gorge to hitch a bonus view of Horsehair Falls .
Piney Falls
GrandviewPiney Falls is actually a pair of Cascade Mountains along Little Piney Creek on the Cumberland Plateau . Upper Piney Falls flows over a cliff to a puddle 80 animal foot below before taking another fall of 40 human foot at Lower Piney Falls . you’re able to actually walk behind the tack of water at Upper Piney ’s landing zone and walk along a shelf to peer over the ravine to see where Lower Piney returns to the creek bed .
Burgess Falls
SpartaThe accurately named fall Water River guide over four falls within Burgess Falls State Park , but the waterfall that gives the park its name is the most impressive for sure . The river is quite blanket as it passes over the edge of a 130 - foot cliff into the gorge below , so the loudness of rushing water system is peculiarly awe - inspiring . A mi and a half grommet take visitors past all four falls , but do n’t allow the short length fool you ; this is a bountiful hike . Even with the assistance of a set of metal steps to pack you the last act to the base of the prominent falls , lots of folks bail out and take a service route back to the parking quite a little rather than completing the entire hiking . We wo n’t judge .
Virgin Falls
SpartaVirgin Falls is a engrossing instance of a spring - fed falls , with a brook flow out of a cave over a cliff and into another cave 120 infantry below . Especially brave hikers can really enter the two caves when the water levels are lower , but it is generally not commend . However , if you’re able to handle the tough eight - mile cost increase to get to the falls , you ’re probably fairly capable anyway .
Cummins Falls|Flickr/Derek Bruff
Walls of Jericho|Flickr/Michael Hicks
Lower Greeter Falls|Flickr/Michael Hicks
Fiery Gizzard|Flickr/Michael Hicks
Cummins Falls|Flickr/Michael Hicks
Foster Falls|Flickr/Michael Hicks
Burgess Falls|FLickr/Burgess Falls
Virgin Falls|Flickr/Michael Hicks
