PLAN YOUR ADVENTURE
Let's start with some highlights...
Savage Gulf State Park
Beersheba Springs, Altamont, Gruetli-Laager, Palmer
More than 19,000 acres of Tennessee’s most scenic wilderness, with 60 miles of hiking to remarkable waterfalls and vistas such as the iconic Great Stone Door, an impressive cliff line overlooking the Savage Gulf with steps descending through a top-to-bottom crack in the cliff that resembles a door left slightly ajar.
The Caverns
Pelham
A world-renowned destination for live music in beautiful natural settings above and below ground, home of the PBS television series The Caverns Sessions (formerly Bluegrass Underground), and a magical cave system for different skill levels of exploration.
Fiery Gizzard State Park
Tracy City
The 12,000 acre park includes the area's highest waterfall, a recreational lake area recovered from a coal mining site, a historical CCC camp exhibit and the acclaimed Fiery Gizzard Trail.
Head of the Crow State Park
Sewanee
Features two beautiful natural sandstone arches -- Sewanee Natural Bridge (Natural Bridge Trailhead) and Sherwood Natural Bridge (Pack Hollow Trailhead). It's also home to "Buggytop Cave," one of Tennessee's only publicly accessible cave openings with an underground river spilling out of its mouth.
The University of the South
Sewanee
Regularly named the nation's most beautiful campus, "Sewanee" also maintains over 65 miles of hiking and biking trails on its 13,000 acre domain. Several spectacular vistas are easily accessable by car.
Coalmont OHV Park
Coalmont
Over 1,700 acres of off-road trails, offering diverse wooded terrain suitable for all types of vehicles and skill levels. Camping and RV sites with full hookups are also available on site.
Appalachian Conservation Institute
Tracy City
11,000 acres of protected land that is available by permit for hunting, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, foraging and OHV riding on designated trails.
Mountain Goat Trail
Sewanee, Monteagle, Tracy City
A paved walking and cycling trail connecting the communities of the mountain along the path of the historic Mountain Goat Railroad
More about the South Cumberland...
They form a beautiful, unspoiled part of southern Appalachia in the United States. The terrain here is unique — full of dramatic sandstone cliffs, over which spill dozens of majestic and beautiful waterfalls, carving deep canyons with cool, clear-running streams — all surrounded by lush, mature hardwood and evergreen forests.
Much of this area is about 2,000 feet above sea level, thus four to six degrees cooler than surrounding areas such as Nashville or Chattanooga. In the summer, that makes for much more pleasant days; in the winter, a better chance to see snow when other areas in the region just get rain.
And there are centuries of fascinating history here, too. This area was settled by Swiss colonists and other European immigrants, looking for a better life in these rugged and beautiful hills. The coal, timber and railroading industries were once a major part of life in this area, though all but timbering are now largely gone. Dozens of historical sites and interpretive aids give you an opportunity to experience these events up-close.
Over the past 50 years, a grassroots conservation movement, with support from state and national conservation organizations, has protected over 50,000 acres of the most pristine and scenic parts of the region, much of which has now become part of the area’s three Tennessee State Parks — Savage Gulf (20,000+ acres), Fiery Gizzard (8,000+ acres) and Head of the Crow (5,000+ acres) — as well as part of the 13,000-acre domain of the University of the South. A vast and nationally-recognized network of hiking and biking trails allow visitors to ride, hike, camp and enjoy all of these breathtaking natural areas.
Located in southeast Tennessee, between Chattanooga and Nashville, the area is easy to reach via Interstate 24. It’s 90 minutes from major airline service at Nashville International Airport (BNA), and 60 minutes from connecting airlines at Chattanooga (CHA). Shuttle service from BNA is available, but a rental car is a must in order to fully enjoy this area.
There are literally hundreds of beautiful, secluded cabins and other homes available for short-term rental in this area, as well as a number of motels and lodges; check any of the major accommodation websites for particulars. The area’s State Parks have 14 campsites, both for car-camping and backwoods wilderness adventures; campsites are available by advance reservation through the Tennessee State Parks website. In addition, the Mountains of Adventure have dozens of authentic, local restaurants with delicious fare and local grocers to keep your adventurers well fed and fueled for each exciting day.
This is not your typical vacation or getaway weekend kind of place. No theme parks. No crowds. No long lines in the hot sun. No waiting for tables. This is a place where you, your family and friends can reconnect with the real world, be inspired by nature, and see things most people don’t even know exist. A tremendous way to unplug and explore, to show the kids things way beyond the screens of their devices. A great opportunity to fire up their imaginations, and stoke their appetite for the outdoors.
Swim beneath a pristine waterfall. Gaze at thousands of acres of fiery fall colors from a breathtaking overlook. Walk softly through a forest of centuries-old hemlock evergreen trees. Admire the explosion of color as spring wildflowers carpet our canyons and define our trails. Enjoy the crackle of a campfire on a cool spring or autumn evening. Sleep under some of the finest night skies in all of eastern North America.
Whether it’s for a long weekend or a week or more, you won’t run out of places to immerse yourselves in the kind of outdoor adventure most folks only read about in books, or see on their screens. It’s both a getaway and a destination, and most definitely an item for your bucket list.
And if you come here once, you will come back. Again and again and again. It’s that kind of magical place — the Mountains of Adventure.
Adventures crafted for you...
Experience "The Gizz"
A Sewanee Visitor's Guide
If you're in town for graduation, family weekend or just paying a visit, here's our guide to the best of Sewanee and nearby Monteagle.
Come for the Music.
Stay for the Adventure!
See nationally-touring recording artists in a one-of-a-kind cave menu, then stay to explore dramatic 1,000-foot sandstone cliffs with dozens of majestic waterfalls surrounded by lush forests.
Visit the NEW Head of the Crow State Park
Explore one of Tennessee's newest state parks, with spectacular overlooks, a naturally-formed stone bridge and a underground river running out of the mouth of a cave.
Time For a Digital Detox
Come for the Golf.
Stay for the Adventure!
Cycling Adventure
Savage Gulf Adventure
When do you plan to come?
Spring is Time for Wildflowers & Waterfalls
Escape the Summer Heat
Fill Your Fall with Color, Not Crowds
The number of fall visitors pales in comparison with the miles of wild and wonderful trails that lead to dozens of jaw-dropping overlooks, where millions of stunning trees show off their fall foliage, draped over our bluff-capped hillsides like beautiful yellow, orange and red blankets.
You Can See For Miles and Miles
Coming soon or already here?
Learn your way around...
Altamont
Beersheba Springs
Coalmont
Gruetli-Laager
Monteagle
Palmer
Pelham
Sewanee
Tracy City
Choose your basecamp...
Inns & Hotels
In Tennessee's South Cumberland, there's always "Room at the Inn"! Check out our variety of Inns and Hotels -- great "base camp" for your adventures!
Cabins & Vacation Homes
Tennessee's South Cumberland has hundreds of secluded cabins and vacation homes, just minutes from all the natural beauty and outdoor adventures!
Camping & RV Parks
Tennessee's South Cumberland has a most beautiful collection of campgrounds and RV parks, whether situated near grand vistas or in quiet coves!
Tiny Homes
In Tennessee's South Cumberland, "tiny" is cool! Find a "tiny home" your family can turn into your very own base-camp for days of great adventures!
Choose your outdoor adventures...
Waterfalls
Explore dozens of breathtaking waterfalls, most of them in one of our three State Parks. Flows over the falls vary by season, making them most impressive in the spring, but many of these locations are still beautiful even with less water flowing.
Overlooks
Awe-inspiring sandstone bluffs offer amazing views of the canyons and valleys below, in every season.
Rock Climbing
There are hundreds of world-class rock climbing routes within the climbing areas of Fiery Gizzard and Savage Gulf State Parks.
Hiking
Tennessee's South Cumberland's parks and preserves offer over 200 miles of outstanding hiking trails, leading to overlooks, waterfalls and great climbing areas!
Kid-friendly Activities
From easy nature walks to indoor playgrounds, Tennessee's South Cumberland is a perfect family getaway.
Day Hikes
Overnight Hikes
Add some food & drink options...
Fine Dining
Tennessee's South Cumberland's cuisine runs the gamut, from fine dining in classic mansions to great Southern-style cooking in a down-home atmosphere!
Snacks & Treats
Tennessee's South Cumberland has dozens of great little places to catch a snack or find a treat! Explore your options, before you get too hungry!
Lunch
Tennessee's South Cumberland is a "get outside" kinda place, and so it's no surprise there are great lunch options, both for dine-in and take-out, to fuel your day!
Breakfast
Tennessee's South Cumberland has some great, classic places to enjoy a down-home breakfast, from coffee shops to full-on breakfast menus!
Insider info to help you plan...
Tips
Why Tennessee's South Cumberland Feels Like a Secret
(Even Though It's Not)
This is where you go to enjoy waterfalls without waiting in line, hiking trails secluded enough to feel like your own, and just enough authentic small-town life to make a weekend feel grounded instead of scheduled.
Tips
The Nine Authentic Towns of Tennessee's South Cumberland
Tennessee's South Cumberland includes the towns of Altamont, Beersheba Springs, Coalmont, Gruetli-Laager, Monteagle, Palmer, Pelham, Sewanee and Tracy City.
Tips
Our Picks for Your Spring Waterfall Adventure
If you love a great waterfall, spring is the perfect time to seek them out, and Tennessee's South Cumberland packs the biggest bang for your buck with over a dozen waterfalls in the region.
Tips
Wildflowers Everywhere You Look
"One rule of general application in the appreciation of nature is especially true when applied to wildflowers: the closer you look, the more beauty you will find." - Under the Sun at Sewanee, 1967
Tips
Top 5 Overlooks: Awesome Points of View
Nothing compares to the moment you come upon a grand natural vista at an overlook along the trail! Tennessee’s South Cumberland has some of the most pristine, unspoiled views in Eastern North America. Overlooks have something to offer in every season.
Itineraries
Adventures for Sewanee Visitors
College visit? Parents' Weekend? Homecoming? Graduation? Here are some adventures for your spare time in Sewanee...
Tips
The Story of Weather in the Mountains of Adventure
In every season of the year, the weather here is cooler and more dynamic than in any of the major cities of the Southeast. What’s up with that?
Itineraries
Adventures for Your Group
Whether its a business retreat, family reunion or bachelorette getaway, here are some adventures well-suited for your group.
Let us send you more ideas...
We'll send insider tips on what’s new and what’s happening in the Mountains of Adventure, including special events, discounts on lodging and meals, and much more! We promise not to overload your inbox or your feed — but we do promise to give you useful information you can use to plan your experience and get the most out of your visit to the Mountains of Adventure!