You need a permit to walk all the way down to the falls and it is a very challenging hike. They…read morelimit the amount sold so it does sell out. The gorge does flood so def watch the safetyvide. we wouldn't have made it without out hiking poles. It was my first time using them but theybare game changer for hills and uneven terrain. We had to cross a river ... not creek. Climbing over rocks and boulders. River rocks are sooo slippery. Shoes should have good tread. This was challenging and truthful doubt I'd do it again. Water was cold. But falls are beautiful.

Cummins Falls State Park is located 10 miles north of the town of Cookeville, in Central Tennessee…read more Can you go swimming at Cummins Falls??? Of course you can! It's a 1 mile hike down to the bottom of a gorge to reach a swimming hole Travel and Leisure Magazine rates...as one of the "10 Best in the United States"! It's $7 to gain access to the gorge. You can purchase passes online ahead of time at tnstateparks.com. Or, you can buy passes inside the Visitor Center the day of, but they allot only 200 tickets per day so depending upon the time of year, passes can sell out quickly especially during peak summers. Now...there is a waterfall overlook to check out but I think it'd be more worthwhile to get to Cummins Falls ASAP before the crowds arrive and you can always visit the lookout on the return trip back up towards the trailhead. Once you reach the river area, it's 6/10th's of a mile remaining until you arrive at the falls. Also, make sure to hang towards the left while hiking beside the river and (imo) it's imperative to be wearing water shoes as the creek is filled with sharp rocks and water levels reaching shin high. While hiking to Cummins Falls, you really get a sense for being in the heart of nature. I enjoyed the setting. Approaching the falls, it's 75 feet of cascading waters flowing down the cliffside and ideal for swimming. Best of all, visitors can climb the rocks and explore at their leisure making for an adventurous experience. Of course, it's a rite of passage to finish the experience in style by going swimming. The park opens at 8am. I'd suggest arriving as early as possible before it gets busy. The park closes at 6pm but there's a clearly stated sign that visitors must exit the gorge area by 5pm. One extra note...lifeguards are on duty at Cummins Falls throughout the day. When returning back up towards the trailhead, now head over to the lookout platform getting to admire Cummins Falls from high above. It makes for a photogenic perspective and is a clear reminder of why the great outdoors can be so special. Right nearby Cummins Falls SP are more local waterfalls to check out including...Fall Creek Falls, Burgess Falls, Ozone Falls, Virgin Falls, Piney Falls and Stinging Fork Falls, just to name a few.

Came here with some Jimmy Ds bbq and watched the geese creep up on us in packs as we sat at one of…read morethe covered picnic tables. There is a huge playground, some sports fields, a disc golf course, etc. Don't step in goose feces or you'll have a bad time.

Good playground. Kept the 4th grader occupied for 30 minutes. Entry was not well marked.read more

Loved this place!! Nice trails, quiet and clean. Very nice bath house and covered picnic area.read more

Great hiking spot, beautiful landscape and lots of options! We will definitely come back.read more

Very nice and serene. I jogged here 3 days in a row. I enjoyed every day I could get to this place.read more

I found this park from a Yelp search. It's the perfect place to go walking or running. I go to the…read morefar end of the park and run the greenway. It's absolutely beautiful. The start of the greenway is a bridge with running water below. You can follow this path for a few miles. I do an out and back that's about 5 miles. I felt very safe here. I see a lot of other walkers and runners.

Mary's Magical Place is playground witchcraft…read more I've got a 10-year-old and a 3-year-old, and somehow both of them have a blast here, which feels illegal. Big, open, clean, and handicap accessible so everyone can get in on the chaos. I'm a playground inspector and know the installer, who does excellent work. You can tell this place was built right. Great park. Five stars. My kids burn energy and I get to pretend I'm supervising.

This park is AWESOME!…read more For crawling babies, walking toddlers and older siblings there is something for everyone. It's also inclusive for kids in a wheelchair or needing additional assistance. There are several musical play opportunities that really interest all ages. Plenty of shaded areas for parents to sit and watch their kids explore, picnic tables in the shade, etc. We spent a couple of hours there with a 1 year old and definitely explored the whole park. One warning, always check the back and seats of the different swings as some of them get hot in different places. There is a roller hockey rink and skate park there as well. My daughter really enjoyed roller skating in the rink. The whole park was very clean, and well maintained. Can't wait to go there again.

In Hilham, Tennessee, is Standing Stone State Forest (11K acres)- something I did not know existed…read more And in the middle of the forest is Standing Stone State Park, 1,000 acres which surrounds Kelly Lake. The park is two hours from Nashville. Apparently this area was named after a large boulder (a standing stone) that was in the area and acted as a border between Native lands. The boulder was eventually destroyed. The state of Tennessee acquired the land and opened the State Park in 1961. The park has a gift shop, a visitor's center, a scenic overlook, boating, picnic shelters, playgrounds, swimming, an amphitheater, fishing, 21 cabins, 4 group cabins, 36 campsites, and hiking trails- Cabin Spur Trail (.25 mile), Jordan Spur Trail (.3 mile), the Lake Trail (4.7 miles), and the Tea Room Trail (.15 mile). It also has something I've never seen before- these giant, huge display places for marble competitions with viewing bleachers. The park hosts a Spring Nature Rally every April, a National Marbles Championship in September, a Car Show every October, and a 5 mile run every November.

Rustic and no distractions, nice place for a break from all the noise. The perfect place to enjoy…read morehuman interaction, games and dinner with no phones. Give yourself a couple days to get over the awkward silence. Takes that long to wake up from our Technology induced coma

Okay, if you're ever in Tennessee, you have to check out Montgomery Bell Tunnel. This hidden gem…read morein Montgomery Bell State Park is packed with history, and it's one of the coolest spots I've explored. Built in the early 1800s, this tunnel was carved by hand to transport iron ore for a thriving industry. But what makes it even more special is the story behind it--enslaved people worked here, and their efforts helped shape the future of Tennessee. It's crazy to think that something so important is tucked away in the middle of the woods, just waiting to be discovered! https://www.tiktok.com/@reessroots/video/7535575693854297374?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7352687494821037610 The tunnel is almost 300 feet long, and standing inside it feels like stepping back in time. You can almost hear the echoes of the past! Most people are out there hitting all the usual tourist spots, but places like Montgomery Bell Tunnel are the ones that actually make you feel something. If you're into history, adventure, or just exploring off the beaten path, this is definitely the place to be. Skip the crowded tourist traps and head to Montgomery Bell Tunnel for some real history! Trust me, you'll be talking about it long after you leave. #HiddenGems #HistoryUncovered #ExploreTennessee

Came here to do a hike. You're hiking right along the water so it's a beautiful view. It's not a…read morehard hike at all, relaxing, and serene.

Clean and peaceful . Love it ! Great place for early morning walks or run . Also has nice…read morepickleball and tennis courts and basketball courts . Awesome .

viewing the eclipse. awesome ham sandwiches and hot dogs. trees enough for shade. good stuff.read more

This was our third Christmas banquet for our Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter at…read morethis location. We've always had very good service from the restaurant, but this time the young man (Rhett) who did much of the taking care of us was so absolutely delightful that I felt compelled to write this review. There was also a lady who worked with us and was very efficient as well; I regret I didn't get her name. So many young people these days seem to have little to no ability to render interpersonal skills in providing service, but Rhett was exceptional and it did not go unnoticed. He was so accommodating, caring and he let his delightful personality show yesterday evening. I hope management will commend him. The food and drink was exceptional as always. I'm usually not a huge fan of mashed potatoes, but these were exceptional. My partner's favorite is always the dried fish. I would highly recommend this location for group activities or at least for a visit to the restaurant!

The governor has just about ruined the state parks here in Kentucky. Only open Wednesday dinner…read moremenu,Thursday lunch and dinner menu, Friday and Saturday lunch and dinner buffet menu, Sunday lunch only. State pay for servers and workers so low and limited hours hard to get workers and definitely not a living wage