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Bald River Falls

4.9 (19 reviews)

Bald River Falls Photos

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Richard R.

If you are anything like me, you will purposely find reason to get out and travel... even if its only a day trip. I am fortunate to live in Metro Atlanta, which puts me within a few hours of incredible mountain wilderness such as that found here in the Tellico Plains Tennessee area. A three and a half hour one way drive from home honestly sounds exhausting. But coupled with a gorgeous mountain drive, great places to stop for a bite to eat and a GORGEOUS waterfall that can be seen from the side of the road turns a 7 hour round trip drive into an adventure! We actually made Bald River Falls a detour stop as we drove home from Sevierville, TN, but my wife was so impressed with the scenery and small towns we passed through that she requested a return overnight trip "when we aren't busy!" She had me before she even spoke it. We fully intend to drive the scenic Cherohala Skyway and pass back through Blairsville to visit Pappy's Trading Post plus a number of other small town open air markets we saw along the way. The parking area is sufficient for about 15-20 cars and nearby Baby Falls las additional parking. The distance between the two is only 1/3rd of a mile. I took a side trail on the right side of Bald River Falls down to the river. If you are tenacious, you can find your way fairly close to the base of the falls. There is also a trail on the left side that seems to take you to the top of the falls. There is no hiking required to view the falls making it perfect for anyone. There are also other waterfalls within a reasonable driving distance you can hike to such as Conasauga Falls, Wildcat Falls and Falls Branch Falls. Heading towards Georgia there is also TurtleTown Creek Falls, Benton Falls and Lowry Falls Trail. [ TO MY ATLANTA YELP HIKING GROUP ] GEAR UP!!! This will be our targeted area for a fun adventure later this month, possibly around the 18th-19th! Be prepared to stay overnight so that we can get the maximum fun out of our drive!!! We've got a lot to see so lets get to it ;-) Yes that means you too Bobby G from Jacksonville! 2022 / 90

Bald River Falls from the road on the east side of the bridge.
Phillip B.

Apple Maps shows the recreation area in a slightly different location (same road, but east of the actual falls), so there was a bit of confusion when I drove here, but the falls were splendid and super easy to access. In fact, the view from the road is almost as good as the view from below the bridge, accessed by scrambling down the rocks on either side of the water. (The path on the east side looked easier to me, so that's the side I went down.) While you can get here from the east (Maps will offer two options depending on your starting point), so not attempt the eastern route without a truck or SUV and a confident driver. I left Murphy, SC at 5:30am to get to the falls early and ended up driving almost 20 miles on dirt roads with sheer drops on one side ... in the dark. Not for the squeamish. The drive through Tellico Plains is much easier, if physically longer.

Crystal O.

We did the Hiawassee River Train Adventure and then headed out to Tellico Plains for a few stops- on my list Bald River Falls and Baby Falls (right up the road). The massive storm that rolled through the day before meant rivers were high, water was raging and the falls were crazy! I've seen pictures of the falls at various water flow and this was mad rushing! The spray was ice cold misting across the roadway. There was a secondary fall off to the right, hard to make out in pictures because of tree cover- but much higher than the big falls. My son and I were even crazy enough to hike up the side of the falls to the (maybe) midway point and stand inches from the falling waters. Robert even reached out to touch the water. Nut. We did our insane selfies and I even did a short video with us making faces. Then- I stepped into a mud hole. Good job, I know. Worth the beautiful scenic drive in. This was about 2 hours from where we were staying in Chattanooga and an hour passed Etowah- where we had the train ride and lunch. The Cherokee Forest National Park is stunning to drive through and we enjoyed the river views along the drive. Highly recommend the detour.

Paisley T.

I really liked these falls! It's a great view - clear roaring waters against a backdrop of vivid lush greenery and deep black stone. (Reminds me a bit of waterfalls in Oregon. Have you ever been?..) Anyways..the falls are about 90 feet. BAM! It's a great height. The falls are super easy to descend if you want jump in for a swim. Park your car on the side of the road and scramble down the rocks. Its may about 10 feet, tops. I even did it in flip flops. I appreciate that visitors take good care of these falls. No litter or trash or cesspools of gunk. You gotta take care of nature, folks. The falls are about 11 miles from the town visitor center. Well worth the drive. Pack in a sandwich and dip your toe in the waters. Perfection.

Jennifer L.

One of my favorite places to get away and relax! There are plenty of places to explore and a nice area for picnics. Be sure to check out Baby Falls just up the road from Bald River Falls too!

Bald River Falls
Beverly B.

Bald River Falls never disappoints! Alway encourage my VRBO guest to drive down to check her out!

Duck 1.

This was well worth a three hour drive. Just like everyone says there is hardly any parking the view can be seen from the bridge which cars drive on as well. It's kinda hard to get good pics until the traffic slows up some. Don't forget to go on down a few minutes to see baby falls as well.

Bald River Falls
Lori W.

This waterfall is huge and beautiful. There is no walking to it. You can drive right to this, very scenic drive, talk lots of pictures!! A short drive outside of Tellico Plains. A must see.

People were at the top and wading at the bottom.
Heather P.

In Kentucky we have Cumberland Falls, in Tennessee they have bald River Falls. This in isn't as big as Cumberland, but it's unique in its own way. This was my second time in the area and the first time that I talked my husband into driving 6 miles down the road, to reach the falls. They were magnificent and noncommercialized. There were even people in the water, under the falls and even people at the top of the falls. We stayed put on the bridge, that overlooked the falls. It turned out to be a great photo op of the bike, with the falls in the background. If you're in the area, don't pass up the opportunity to see it. If you love waterfalls, make a trip of it. Cabins in the area are the cheapest I've ever experienced.

Jessica A.

Amazing place to visit, drive up to the waterfall and/or find a parking spot and explore. There are additional parking spots nearby and "National Park" style bathrooms that are basic but welcoming to those in need

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Ask the Community - Bald River Falls

I looked on AllTrails and it says its a 9 miles hike. Im a disable veteran and cant hike far. Is there a way to see the falls without hiking far?

The falls will be visible from the road and bridge. There have been recent construction improvements to the bridge and parking area. The site is expected to open for vehicular traffic in the spring of 2025.

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Review Highlights - Bald River Falls

It's a fairly short but scenic drive from Tellico Plains, albeit on a very narrow road for two way traffic.

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The Sinks - The Sinks in its glory.

The Sinks

4.9(37 reviews)
36.0 mi

I never met a waterfall that I didn't like. We did a driving tour along Little River in Great Smoky…read moreMountains National Park to see if we could spot some wildlife. The Sinks is a lovely waterfall along the river. There is a small parking lot with about a dozen spaces where we found parking. An observation area is a short walk from parking. A sign describes the area and that the falls were manmade. During the late 1800's the river was used to transport logs/timber to the nearby town of Elkmont. After a storm, flood waters caused a jam in the river. Dynamite was used to restore water flow. The blast resulted in a twist in the river and creation of the waterfall. A set of stone steps leads up a hill, offering lovey views of the falls. There are dozens of waterfalls in the Park. Sinks is one of the few that is drivable, which is great for people that cannot hike. I picked up a Waterfalls map at the visitor center that I found interesting and informative. Parking passes are required to park in the lot. There are no amenities at the falls. Plan 15-30 minutes for a stop and photos.

The Sinks is such a fun outdoor experience! Our boys, ages 11 & 13, loved it! The parking is not…read moregreat though, with only about 15 spots in the parking lot and nowhere else to go. It's super busy in the summer, so just be prepared for that. We had to wait about 15 minutes for someone to leave so we could park. That wouldn't keep us from going back, though.

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The Sinks
The Sinks - Observation patio

Observation patio

The Sinks - View from path to the platform.

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View from path to the platform.

Fort Mountain State Park

Fort Mountain State Park

4.6(53 reviews)
49.6 mi

This is a beautiful, incredible state park that is so worth the trek (driving and walking wise)…read more There are a couple different lookout spots you'll want to check out, and at the security hut they give you a map so you know where to go. All of the workers were so friendly and helpful here. The hike at the very top was perfect- about a mile or so, the scenic lookout is about halfway through so you can take a break if you need. There's a good amount of elevation to get your heartbeat going but then it calms down after awhile. At the outlook, it would be easy to sit and enjoy the few for a long time. It's stunning. You can also take a fork in the path to visit the Fort that's here (thus named Fort Mountain). There are some info signs explaining the mysterious origins of the fort and it's pretty interesting.

Fort Mountain State Park is one of few favorites places to visit, especially in the spring or in…read morethe fall. The scenery is simply picturesque. Despite the harsh cold winds of winter, we had the sun which made it bearable and our hike was splendid on the day we visited. Our first stop had to be the visitor center to get a new annual pass & patches. The attendants helped us secure the pass that best matched our needs. The visitor center has restrooms and a gift store. For my girlfriend, it's always difficult to resist the items --- t-shirts, stuffed animals, historical books, camping supplies, snacks --- they sell there. If I am not mistaken, I believe they also sell firewood and ice for those looking to camp. If you need a map of the park, it can be found here as well. We then headed to the lake to hike the trail that circles it. It's an easy trail, so it makes for a nice walk for chatting and stopping to admire the views of the lake and mountainside. The beach at the lake is relatively small, but the facilities there are nice, with boat rentals, playground, picnic tables, and putt-putt golf. Im assuming a lot of these services are seasonal because we saw no one using them. I did like that there was a ramp that led from the parking lot to the beach for visitors that may have mobility issues. We hiked several different trails, and all were well blazed. The trails that led to fire tower and the stone wall had informational signs. Unfortunately the fire tower can only be viewed from the outside. I would love to see the view from the top! But if it's views you are interested in, checkout the overlook trail! The view is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! We also did the Big Rock Nature Trail (trailhead is near the lake dam). The 3/4-mile trail led to a beautiful waterfall. We didn't touch the Gahuti Trail this time, but we plan to do it next time we come back; it's challenging but very beautiful from what I have read about the trail. I would recommend it if you have a day for a hiking adventure. Snacks and water are required. The cabins and cottages all look well maintained from the outside and are located in beautiful areas of the park. We didn't check out the campground, but it's near the lake, but Fort Mountain State Park seems to have something for everyone!

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Fort Mountain State Park
Fort Mountain State Park
Fort Mountain State Park

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Fall Branch Falls - The final place

Fall Branch Falls

4.3(34 reviews)
37.5 mi

Relatively easy hiking trail to a waterfall in the Cherry Log/Blue Ridge area. Kids as young as 3…read morecan walk the trail. It's a pretty short trail to the waterfall approximately 1/2 mile. The cell service is poor getting to the trail so map it out before hand. Along the trail you will see a Glamping camp, which is very cute. Definitely would recommend as a family outing.

I was finally able to get some lite hiking in. Fall Branch Falls was the perfect trail to get back…read moreinto it. All the Yelp Reviews are pretty spot on and all agree. A nice moderate trail deep in the woods, which I liked because the shade kept everything a little cooler. The trail is very easy to follow and not overly long. Caution needs to be taken as there are many tree roots extending above the ground and could easily cause a trip. Careful is key. A rise in elevation of approximately 300 feet over half a mile makes it a decent cardio walk. With many different trees, plants and flowers along the way. All culminating with a beautiful waterfall. Note: depending on the season and amount of rain will determine the amount of water coming over the falls. Two minor items that need to be corrected. 1. Yelp has the wrong address (or pin drop) I'm not sure which. Not even close. 6 more miles down a gravel road to be exact. I'll try and fix that. 2. Not one sign or directional indicating you're are heading in the right direction. But other than that a very enjoyable experience.

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Fall Branch Falls
Fall Branch Falls - What?!!!

What?!!!

Fall Branch Falls

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Bald River Falls - hiking - Updated May 2026

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