Want to play a little game? Count how many wild life you find while on the trail. I found a turtle…read more There much to love about this park. It's very well maintained. If you want exercise without distraction I'd suggest heading to the park by 6:30 as it can get quite packed. I nearly lost a limb from a biker going max speed. Only downside is that highway near it is loud. 9/10 turtles

Love the playgrounds, nature center, paved walking trail, mushroom forest! You can borrow the…read morebackpacks, and there is a preschool class also! My favorite place to take my grandsons!!

Such a nice place to come to just sit and watch the waterfall! Relaxing, enjoyable, and clean!read more

Walked the greenway trailhead from the Walter Hill Dam. Gorgeous scenery and a bit hilly. Wish it…read morewas a longer route. Overall not a bad outing. The dam is probably a better spot in the summer vs. fall.

Such a beautiful lake to go watch the sunset/sunrise at!! It's a Tennessee staple, but it's sad…read morethat people are so dangerous around here!! You definitely have to be careful of which area you're in by the lake!

Surprised to see the main entrance already closed for the winter. We took a small trail that was…read moreall paved, which was nice, but not very long. It had very little parking available & no bathrooms at this site so that was very disappointing.

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.

Highly recommend so beautiful here. We hiked here from the water side. I guess some other easier…read moreway was shut down. They do not allow people to go here at certain times so make sure to check before you go. It is a major hike so being lots of water and charge your battery for pics

Paid $110 for 5 adults and 2 kids to fish and we caught NO fish! A couple other folk did catch a…read morecouple decent sized cats but I suspect they were not using barbless hooks. Disappointing.

Very disappointed after bringing kids here and spending $100+ to fish and caught nothing…read more Employees are very nice though.

I love walking around the battlefield. I always go with a friend because I am horrible with…read moredirections and would get lost easily lol. It's a very scenic walk in the woods. I love all the nature around too. Definitely one of my favorite spots to walk.

My spouse likes civil war battle sites. This place was alright compared to Fort Donelson. You had…read moreto drive everywhere and I think we missed 2 sites as couldn't find on map. We needed to kill time as we needed to leave Nashville hotel and didn't have Grand Ole opry tickets til 7 pm show.

This park touts the largest waterfall east of the Mississippi River (sans Niagara), and it did NOT…read moredisappoint! First: be prepared to hike a little. It's about a mile in to get to this part, but worth every step. Plus, there are several lessor falls en route to the main event. They were breathtaking even for a low- flow season like September. I imagine these falls roar to life early spring with the mountain thaws. There's a dirt road that allows for less strenuous hiking than the woodsy areas if you're brush averse and don't want to be as much of a Billy goat, but eventually you have to hike a little ways to the observation points on the trail, so bear that in mind. Fun excursion for the whole family!

This is Burgess Falls, another state park located in Central Tennessee sitting 12 miles northwest…read moreof the town of Sparta, TN. There's a 3/4 of a mile out and back hike called the River Trail that leads to 4 different waterfall lookout points comprising Burgess Falls SP. Waterfall #1 - The Cascades. Sort of the introduction area to the park. Waterfall #2 - First Falls. A quick glance at a 30 foot high waterfall section. But nothing special, imo. When Continuing on the trail, you'll cross over a wooden bridge and follow up a staircase. Now at... Waterfall #3 - Middle Falls... Middle Falls is 80 feet high and partially obstructed by trees and branches having grown over time. *Side Note*.... I wish park services would do some forest cutting for everyone to enjoy clearer views of the park's waterfalls. Entrance right now is free. I'd suggest charging a small fee and using that money to pay for some grooming. A lot of the observation points can't be fully appreciated. Just me venting a little, lol. Waterfall #4 - Burgess Falls... Burgess falls is the centerpiece highlight of the park. Standing at 136 feet from top to bottom, Burgess Falls can absolutely be dramatic, but still natural excess forest maturation disrupts full visibility of the falls. I did read that kayaking at the bottom of Burgess Falls is the most interactive way to come face to face with this statuesque waterfall. You can rent kayaks at Cane Hollow Recreation Area, located at the end of Cane Hollow Road. It's about 10 minutes from Burgess Falls. You can end the River Trail hike at the Top of Burgess for a panoramic overlook of the rugged gorge the falls splash down into from high above. It's another quick stop and go area before returning back towards the trailhead. Overall, Burgess Falls was a muted experience for me, but still has potential to be a rewarding visit if park authorities can maintain the inevitable growing forest hindrances that negate special moments at the waterfall overlooks.

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.

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

Very cool place awesome hike. Dipping in the water on a hot day was amazing. All kinds of beautiful…read morenature and sounds. Brought a publix sub from florida to enjoy out here

Rock Island State Park has a strange layout but is jam-packed with interesting sites. If you stop…read morein the Visitor Center, they have maps and written directions on how to hit the highlights easily. You can view different falls, cascades, flow stones, and more from short distance strolls to overlooks, or delve deeper into the gorge for a closer view. Swimming is not permitted except in certain areas, so take notice, people have drowned here. Be careful when hiking and exploring the floor of the gorge as the dam can release water with limited warning. That being said, the Twin Falls and Great Falls are lovely, and the diverse landscape keeps the walk extremely interesting! Me and the dog did the Upstream and Downstream trails on the Twin Falls side, and the Gorge Trail on the Great Falls side, and while Dianne, they are steep and slippery, so wear proper shoes!

We just had an awesome day on the water with the help of Stones River Kayak and Canoe. It was very…read moreeasy to book online, waivers were easily completed online and they issue tickets for your Apple wallet. They texted us in the morning to confirm our reservation then promptly met us at the Jefferson Springs boat ramp. We were quickly outfitted an off to explore. We found lots of wildlife and pristine river banks that we were free to explore as all the land on both sides of the river is public. We spent about 3.5 hours on the water and had quick lunch break in the middle at the great park where the ramp is located that is set up with picnic tables, public restrooms and grills! The Stones River company kept in touch with us and were ready at the end of our rental to promptly collect the kayaks. We would highly recommend this company for your kayak rental needs!

Anthony is great, I've gone twice so far and plan to go again. I like that they have a variety of…read morekayak and or canoe options and can most times accommodate you for a last minute paddle session. I also really appreciate being able to book online which makes things super convenient