top of page
Waterfalls

Waterfalls

Tennessee's South Cumberland is home to 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.

Big Creek 3-Day Overnight Hike

Difficult

Big Creek 3-Day Overnight Hike

This 3-day/2-night hike is especially beautiful during fall colors or spring wildflower season. The climbs down into the Gulf and back out again can be challenging. Access this adventure from the Savage Gulf North Trailhead.

Big Creek Sink

Difficult

Big Creek Sink

Big Creek disappears into an underground cave at this location, only to emerge further downstream. There's a steep descent/return ascent into/out of Big Creek Gulf. Otherwise, it's a moderate-to-easy hike. Access this adventure from either the Savage Gulf North or Savage Gulf East trailheads.

Black Canyon Cascade

Moderate

Black Canyon Cascade

One of the most picturesque sites in the Fiery Gizzard, 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, with a good swimming hole. Access this adventure from the Fiery Gizzard North Trailhead.

Boardtree Falls

Moderate

Boardtree Falls

Boardtree Falls is actually a pair of cascade-style waterfalls on Boardtree Creek, near the Alum Gap campground. Access this adventure from the Savage Gulf West Trailhead.

Buggytop Cave

Difficult

Buggytop Cave

This is a moderately difficult 4-mile roundtrip hike to one of the largest cave openings in Tennessee, and the only one from which water normally flows. There are two steep ascent/descent areas; one at each end of this trail. Access this adventure from the Lost Cove West Trailhead.

Collins Gulf 2-Day Overnight Hike

Difficult

Collins Gulf 2-Day Overnight Hike

This two-day hike features eye-popping springtime wildflowers, amazing waterfalls, disappearing streams and majestic overlooks. There are steep descents/return ascents into/out of Collins Gulf. Otherwise, it's a moderate hike. Access this adventure from the Savage Gulf South Trailhead.

Denny Cove & Falls

Moderate

Denny Cove & Falls

Explore a world-class rock climbers’ paradise, 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.

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 North or Fiery Gizzard South trailheads to begin this adventure!

Foster Falls

Moderately Difficult

Foster Falls

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.

Greeter Falls

Moderately Difficult

Greeter Falls

A moderate-to-challenging one-mile out-and-back trail with a spiral staircase, taking you to Greeter Falls. Also check out the (easier) spur trail to the Blue Hole swimming area, as well as some smaller waterfalls and historic sites. Access this adventure from the Savage Gulf West Trailhead.

Grundy Forest Loop/CCC Camp

Moderate

Grundy Forest Loop/CCC Camp

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.

Hanes Hole Falls

Moderate

Hanes Hole Falls

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 North Trailhead.

Horsepound Falls

Difficult

Horsepound Falls

Visit the waterfall said to be named for the place where Confederate forces hid their horses during the Civil War. Access this adventure from the Savage Gulf South Trailhead.

Laurel Falls

Moderate

Laurel Falls

This 400-foot trail, next to the Stone Door Ranger Station, leads to a picturesque waterfall. Access this adventure from the Savage Gulf North Trailhead.

Ranger Falls

Difficult

Ranger Falls

Ranger Falls has no visible outflow; under normal flow, 100% of its water flows into an underground cave. Access this unusual adventure from the Savage Gulf West or Savage Gulf North trailheads.

Savage Creek 4-Day Overnight Hike

Difficult

Savage Creek 4-Day Overnight Hike

This 4-day hike takes you into the “wildest” part of Savage Gulf State Park — some of the most beautiful wilderness in the region. Access this adventure from the Savage Gulf East Trailhead.

Savage Day Loop

Easy

Savage Day Loop

An easy 4.2 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.

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 North Trailhead, if you bear left at the first trail intersection, about 100 feet from the trailhead kiosk.

Schwoon Spring

Difficult

Schwoon Spring

This spring, named for early settler Fred Schwoon, was an important source of fresh water for the early residents of Savage Gulf. Access this adventure from the Savage Gulf North Trailhead.

Suter Falls/Horsepound Falls

Difficult

Suter Falls/Horsepound Falls

Here's a challenging 2 mile out-and-back viewing of Suter Falls, Horsepound Falls, rock shelters, and high bluffs. Access this adventure from the Savage Gulf South Trailhead.

Sycamore Falls

Moderate

Sycamore Falls

This is a great summer swimming hole on Big Fiery Gizzard Creek. Access this adventure from the Fiery Gizzard North Trailhead.

bottom of page