top of page
StoneDoorOverlook_edited_edited.jpg

Fiery Gizzard State Park

Fiery Gizzard State Park (formerly known as South Cumberland State Park) has approximately 12,166 acres of the best hiking and backcountry camping in the region, including the acclaimed Fiery Gizzard Trail, Foster Falls, Denny Cove and Grundy Lakes.


The Visitor Center, located at on US 41 in Monteagle, offers interpretative exhibits and provides information on each component of the Park. The Visitor Center is a great place to have a picnic before beginning your adventure. 


Primitive car-camping is available at the Foster Falls Campground and backcountry camping is also a popular activity at Fiery Gizzard State Park. The primitive campsites at Foster Falls are drive-up while Father Adamz, Small Wild, Little Cove and Grundy Forest Hemlock Grove require hiking to reach. Reservations are required for all campsites at the park and can be made online at https://reserve.tnstateparks.com/fiery-gizzard/campsites. Please consult the Park's trail map, below, and note distances before embarking on any hike!


The park is located in and around Tracy City, which is rich in history and home to several dining and lodging options.



Trailheads

Fiery Gizzard State Park
Denny Cove
Fiery Gizzard State Park
Fiery Gizzard North
Fiery Gizzard State Park
Fiery Gizzard South
Fiery Gizzard State Park
Fiery Gizzard State Park Visitor Center
Fiery Gizzard State Park
Grundy Lakes

Hikes & Attractions

Filter by trailhead:
Filter by feature:
Black Canyon Cascade

Moderate

Black Canyon Cascade

One of the most picturesque sites in the Fiery Gizzard State Park, Black Canyon is technically a cascade, not a waterfall, but still an amazing sight, as two creeks come together and are squeezed through a narrow rock opening. Access this adventure from the Fiery Gizzard North trailhead.

Blue Hole Falls

Moderate

Blue Hole Falls

This pristine mountain creek waterfall is in an awe-inspiing setting in Fiery Gizzard State Park, with a good swimming hole. Access this adventure from the Fiery Gizzard North Trailhead.

Denny Cove & Falls

Moderate

Denny Cove & Falls

Explore a world-class rock climbers’ paradise in Fiery Gizzard State Park, with a double-cascade waterfall and nearly 500 climbing routes with grades ranging from 5.8 to 5.14. Access this adventure from the Denny Cove Trailhead.

Father Adamz Campground

Easy

Father Adamz Campground

The Father Adamz Campground was established in honor of a local priest and early advocate for the  Boy Scout movement. It's only a half-mile hike from the Fiery Gizzard South Trailhead. Online reservations required at Reserve.tnstateparks.com.

Fiery Gizzard State Park Visitor Center

Easy

Fiery Gizzard State Park Visitor Center

Park info, gift shop, mini-museum and trailhead for a kid-friendly "storybook trail"

Fiery Gizzard Trail, a 2-day Adventure

Difficult

Fiery Gizzard Trail, a 2-day Adventure

Ranked as one of the top 25 backpacking trails in the United States by Backpacker magazine, "The Gizz" features cascading streams, numerous waterfalls, panoramic overlooks, extremely rocky gorges, gentle slopes and lush woodlands. Use either the Fiery Gizzard State Park's North or South trailheads to begin this adventure!

Foster Falls

Moderately Difficult

Foster Falls

In Fiery Gizzard State Park, at the southern end of the Fiery GizzardTrail, is Foster Falls, a 60-foot waterfall, the tallest in the parks, with a swimming hole at its base. There is an easy quarter-mile hike to observe the falls from above; and a much more strenuous two-mile hike (round trip) to clamber to the bottom of the falls on a rocky trail. Access this adventure from the Fiery Gizzard South Trailhead.

Foster Falls Campground

Easy

Foster Falls Campground

Located at the Fiery Gizzard South Trailhead, this is the only state park campground in this area that is open to vehicles, with 25 sites for tents or small trailers. Online reservations required at Reserve.tnstateparks.com.

Grundy Forest Campground

Easy

Grundy Forest Campground

Five sites and one group campsite, only a half mile hike from the Fiery Gizzard North trailhead. Online reservations required at Reserve.tnstateparks.com.

Grundy Forest Loop/CCC Camp

Moderate

Grundy Forest Loop/CCC Camp

In Fiery Gizzard State Park, you'll discover a moderate 3-mile trek with swimming holes, history, geology, giant hemlocks and cascading streams with an optional 1/3-mile walk through the site of a 1930s CCC camp. Access this adventure from the Fiery Gizzard North Trailhead.

Grundy Lakes & Lone Rock Coke Ovens

Easy

Grundy Lakes & Lone Rock Coke Ovens

In Fiery Gizzard State Park, there's a recreational lake with swimming and picnicking facilities at the site of the historic Lone Rock Coke Ovens, where locally-mined coal was converted to coal coke by convict labor. An easy 2.3-mile hike encircles the lakes; some of it using a low-traffic paved road. Access this adventure from the Grundy Lakes Trailhead, which is also the parking area for the swimming and picnicking facilities.

Hanes Hole Falls

Moderate

Hanes Hole Falls

This is the first named waterfall of Fiery Gizzard Creek, on its way into Fiery Gizzard Gorge, along the Grundy Forest loop trail. Access this adventure from the Fiery Gizzard State Park's North Trailhead.

Schoolhouse Falls

Easy

Schoolhouse Falls

This small waterfall has the remains of a moonshiners' still at its base -- an easy quarter-mile walk from the Fiery Gizzard State Park's North Trailhead, if you bear left at the first trail intersection, about 100 feet from the trailhead kiosk.

Storybook Meadow Trail

Easy

Storybook Meadow Trail

This is a 1-mile easy, round trip walk through a meadow with storyboards from a children's book and a forest playground made of logs and ropes -- a great way to introduce the little ones to the joys of hiking! Access this adventure from the Fiery Gizzard State Park Headquarters on US 41 in Monteagle.

Sycamore Falls

Moderate

Sycamore Falls

This is a great summer swimming hole on Big Fiery Gizzard Creek. Access this adventure from Fiery Gizzard State Park's North Trailhead.

Nearby Places to Eat

Nearby Places to Stay

Cumberland Trails RV Park

Tracy City

Cumberland Trails RV Park

Privately owned campground with full hookups and gated entrance near Foster Falls

Grundy Forest Campground

Tracy City

Grundy Forest Campground

Five sites and one group campsite, only a half mile hike from the Fiery Gizzard North trailhead. Online reservations required at Reserve.tnstateparks.com.

The Falls at Sewanee Creek

Tracy City

The Falls at Sewanee Creek

Unique cabins and glamping options with private waterfall, trails & outdoor movie theater

South Cumberland Getaways

Altamont, Monteagle, Tracy City, Coalmont, Beersheba Springs

South Cumberland Getaways

SCG is the fastest growing vacation rental management company in the region.

Foster Falls Campground

Tracy City

Foster Falls Campground

Located at the Fiery Gizzard South Trailhead, this is the only state park campground in this area that is open to vehicles, with 25 sites for tents or small trailers. Online reservations required at Reserve.tnstateparks.com.

Father Adamz Campground

Tracy City

Father Adamz Campground

The Father Adamz Campground was established in honor of a local priest and early advocate for the  Boy Scout movement. It's only a half-mile hike from the Fiery Gizzard South Trailhead. Online reservations required at Reserve.tnstateparks.com.

Retreat Vacations by Oakstone

Tracy City, Monteagle

Retreat Vacations by Oakstone

This new luxury, tiny home mountain community offers over 50 vacation homes. Includes 1/2/3 bedrooms, fire pits, hiking trails, playground, biking, canoe/kayak rentals, hot tubs & gathering areas.

Goat Pen Hostel

Tracy City

Goat Pen Hostel

Bunk rooms and private rooms with shared living space kitchenette and bathrooms

Bigfoot Adventure RV Park and Campground

Tracy City

Bigfoot Adventure RV Park and Campground

500-acre property with pull-through RV spaces, tent camping, ziplines, disc golf and more

Camp Swann

Tracy City

Camp Swann

10 cabins each with their own unique theme, nestled right next Grundy Lakes

bottom of page