
Top 5 Waterfalls (and more!) in the Mountains of Adventure
Our “best of” list tells you which ones will be easy to get to, and which will require additional energy and/or hiking ability to enjoy — but all of them are well worth the effort, especially in late winter and early spring, when our waterfalls are typically at their peak flows.
This “best of” list tells you which ones will be easy to get to, and which will require additional energy and/or hiking ability to enjoy — but all of them are well worth the effort, especially in late winter and early spring, when our waterfalls are typically at their peak flows. These locations are all found within one of Tennessee South Cumberland’s three State Parks. Pro Tip: Be extremely careful when approaching the falls — rocks are extremely slippery in any season!

Greeter Falls
A moderate-to-challenging one-mile round trip hike with a spiral staircase, taking you to Greeter Falls [at left]. You can view the falls from the trail just above the spiral staircase, or from below. The trail below the staircase is steep and can be wet and slippery at times. Access this adventure from the Savage Gulf West Trailhead. Moderately Challenging (approachable only from below)

Foster Falls
At the southern end of the Fiery Gizzard Trail is Foster Falls, a 60-foot waterfall, the tallest in the parks, with an excellent swimming hole at its base. Take an easy quarter or half mile hike to observe the falls from above (circling around the top of the falls for a view from the far side); or 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. Easy view from above; Challenging from below

Suter Falls
Here’s a challenging, three-mile round trip trek that will bring you to Suter Falls, named for the Swiss family that originally settled this area, and the enormous rock amphitheater it has carved in the high bluffs. Access this adventure from the Savage Gulf South Trailhead; watch for the intersection with the Collins Gulf Trail, and bear left. Challenging (approachable only from below)

Ranger Falls
Ranger Falls has no visible outflow; under normal flow, 100% of its often impressive volume of water flows into an underground cave immediately below the falls. Access this unusual adventure from the Savage Gulf West (6-1/2 mile round trip) or Savage Gulf North (six mile round trip) trailheads. Check trail maps for intersection directions. Challenging (approachable only from below)

Savage Falls
An easy four-mile round trip hike and a perfect outing to see the eastern part of Savage Gulf and Savage Falls. Access this adventure from the Savage Gulf East Trailhead and follow the signs at two trail junctions along the way. Easy
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Our “honorable mentions” are every bit as worthy of your time as our top five!

Black Canyon Cascade
One of the most picturesque sites in the Fiery Gizzard, Black Canyon is technically a cascade, not a waterfall, but is still an amazing sight, as two creeks come together and are squeezed through a narrow rock opening. Access this two-mile round trip adventure from the Fiery Gizzard North trailhead, via portions of the Grundy Loop Trail and (after crossing the metal bridge) the Fiery Gizzard Trail. Moderate

Blue Hole Falls
This pristine mountain waterfall is in an awe-inspiring setting, with a good swimming hole. The foundation of a pump house for the nearby historic CCC camp is adjacent to the trail and bridge near these falls. Access this one-mile round trip adventure near mile marker 0.5 on the Grundy Loop Trail, at the Fiery Gizzard North Trailhead. Moderate

Horsepound Falls
Visit the waterfall said to be named for the place where Confederate forces hid their horses during the Civil War. It’s a challenging seven-mile round trip hike, which takes you past Suter Falls — and in late March/early April, also past some of the region’s best spring wildflowers! Access this adventure from the Savage Gulf South Trailhead; watch for the intersection with the Collins Gulf Trail, and bear left. Challenging

Sycamore Falls
This is a great summer swimming hole on Big Fiery Gizzard Creek, a roughly three-mile round trip hike utilizing portions of the Grundy Loop Trail and (after crossing the metal bridge) the Fiery Gizzard Trail. Access this adventure via the Fiery Gizzard North Trailhead. Moderate

Hanes Hole Falls
This is the first named waterfall of Fiery Gizzard Creek, on its way into Fiery Gizzard Gorge, located near mile marker 1.0 on the Grundy Loop Trail. Access this adventure from the Fiery Gizzard North Trailhead. Moderate (viewable only from above)

Denny Falls
Technically not a waterfall, though it looks like one, Denny Falls is actually a double-drop cascade, set in a world-class rock climbers’ paradise, with nearly 500 climbing routes with grades ranging from 5.8 to 5.14. Access this adventure from the Denny Cove Trailhead; it’s a 2-1/2 mile round trip hike with moderate elevation change and some rock-hopping along the way. Moderate

Boardtree Falls
Boardtree Falls is also technically a cascade on Boardtree Creek, near the Alum Gap campground. Access this half-mile round trip adventure from the Savage Gulf West Trailhead, using the Greeter Trail. (If you add in the side-trip to Greeter Falls, it becomes a 1-1/2 mile round trip jaunt.) Moderate

Laurel Falls
A 400-foot trail, next to the Stone Door Ranger Station, leads downhill to this picturesque waterfall, which was also the site of an early pioneer mill. Access this quick adventure from the Savage Gulf North Trailhead. Easy (viewable only from above)

Schoolhouse Falls
This small waterfall has the remains of a moonshiners’ still at its base -- an easy quarter-mile walk from the Fiery Gizzard North Trailhead, if you bear right at the first trail intersection, about 100 feet from the trailhead kiosk. Easy (viewable only from above)
CAVES, SINKS and SPRINGS
While the overlooks and waterfalls of Tennessee’s South Cumberland are probably at the top of your bucket list, we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out some of the other amazing geological features of this area: Caves, springs and sinks — those places where water appears, disappears, and in the process form some impressive geologic wonders. If you’re curious, or just want to see something truly awesome, check out these unique features in the Mountains of Adventure!

Buggytop Cave
This is a moderately challenging four-mile round trip hike to one of the largest cave openings in Tennessee, and the only one from which water normally flows. The cave is off-limits between September and May, to protect bat populations; in the summer, you can explore the cave but must first obtain a permit from the Park. There are two steep ascent/descent areas; one at each end of this trail. Access this adventure from the Lost Cove West Trailhead. Challenging

Big Creek Sink
Big Creek disappears into an underground cave at this location, only to emerge further downstream. There’s a steep descent and return ascent into and out of Big Creek Gulf. Otherwise, it’s a moderate-to-easy hike. Access this unusual adventure from the Savage Gulf West (a 6-mile round trip) or Savage Gulf North (7-mile round trip) trailheads. Challenging

Schwoon Spring
This spring, named for its first owner, Fred Schwoon, was an important source of fresh water for early European settlers of Savage Gulf. The spring is actually at the mouth of a large [but not immediately obvious] cave; in the summer, the cool air rushing from this cave provides a wonderful reward for your hike into this remote part of Savage Gulf. Access this deep-woods adventure from the Savage Gulf North Trailhead (approximately 10.5 miles round-trip with substantial elevation change into and out of Big Creek Gulf). Challenging