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!

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

Love this hike! We went on a rainy day, hardly anyone on the trail. It was too chilly to swim, but…read moreevery portion of the trail was gorgeous!!! Can't wait to go back!!

Absolutely beautiful!! I went with my neighbors and we had a great time! The virgin falls is huge…read moreand it's stunning, we are going back and camping nearby. Can't get enough!

Beautiful state park! Highly recommended for a relax hike and for great scenery. Parking is limitedread more

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.

This was our second time here. I am always impressed by TN State Parks. Clean bathrooms, friendly…read morestaff, it can make a big difference in your day. We did some fishing, but no catching haha. We napped in the sun, and watched boats and birds go by. While we did not go up the tower or in the wildlife area, we thoroughly enjoyed a relaxing day here. It's a little early in the year, so we didnt see too many people. One note, the two bathrooms we used both had stairs. Im sure they have bathrooms that can be accessed without stairs, but I didn't see them. One note, there are picnic tables near the road to one of the boat ramps. As I was driving through a small child ran out in front of me from between to parallel parked cars. No big deal, I was driving like an old lady, but highky recommend keeping an eye out if you drive through there.

To be fully transparent, we didn't get too far in, just the visitor center with the really cool…read moreobservation tower (it just keeps going and going...) and the Highland Rim Trail, but it felt like a lot! The park has access to a river beach across from a neat dam, where kids were having a great time lifting big rocks and heaving them into the water. The trail was rather steep, went down pretty quickly, flattened for a while, then sharply inclined back up. All in all, I get the feeling we need to return and do a little more, but I like what I see so far!!

Dogwood park playground was amazing! The kids had a fantastic time on the playset. There was a wide…read morerange of activities for the kids to enjoy. Including swings, slides, tunnels, balance beams etc. There was even a little tots area just for toddlers. We spent a lot of time here and the bathrooms were very clean and had baby changing tables. Highly recommend checking this place out if you are in the area.

My friends and I are working at a local camp, and tonight we had the night off. :)…read more We discovered a charming local park and spent several hours soaking in the sunshine and soft green grass. I found a shady spot under a tree and quietly watched the world go by--kids zipping past on scooters, dogs enjoying their evening walks, and a couple sharing a quiet picnic in the grass. A walking path loops around the park, perfect for a stroll, and there's a splash pad that keeps kids of all ages squealing with happiness. It's the kind of place where the simple sounds of laughter and conversation remind you how beautiful the little moments can be. If you're ever nearby, bring a book, a blanket, and maybe your pup. Settle in, slow down, and let the park work its quiet magic

Absolutely love this place! Cute local area, good for photos or just a little nature walk. The park…read moreis good, and the kayaking is nice as well. Definitely a must go around Christmas for a cheap family outing.

I would have really liked to have seen this place when it was a public fun spot. I've read reviews…read moreof people getting married here with fond memories of coming as a kid. I ve read of people feeding the ducks, kayaking, hiking, camp fires. It sounds amazing. I am reviewing it for what it is now, not what it used to be. Now, the Wheel House is an Airbnb. The mini golf is open and free for the guests. The grounds are still able to be explored, but not meant to be functional. My daughter and I spent two nights here. The Wheel House is clean, nice and updated. It has a bedroom upstairs with the bath. The downstairs is a kitchen, couch/sleeper. There is a TV both upstairs and down. There is no Wifi (this is clear in their listing), but the cell reception for me was strong. The hosts provided us with some complementary Gatorade, water and soda choices. There was also coffee available and a filtered water jug in the fridge. We arrived late, didn't have a chance to get to a store before arriving - those complementary drinks were very much appreciated! We had a great time here. We played mini golf, explored the old amusement park, went fishing (catch and release rules apply) - she caught 8 and I caught 5. It was everything we needed. And it's only 15 minutes to downtown Cookeville! The accommodations are comfortable. The brochures on what to do around Cookeville was also helpful. I enjoyed the stay here very much!

You can easily see why this is one of the most visited state parks!! It's huge, for one, with lots…read moreof hiking trails that highlight the key features of the park, think lots of waterfalls!! Most are visible from overlooks with short hikes, and for the more adventurous, there are treks to the bottom of the namesake falls, a cable trail (bring leather gloves, carabiner, possibly climbing gear) to Rockhouse Falls, or longer trails like the Paw Paw loop, Overlook trail, or even the Prater Place for a hidden Hemlock Falls. I also stayed in the lodge, which was fantastic! The rooms were well equipped, comfortable, and had great features like balconies. The view at the restaurant over the lake was beautiful, especially at sunset. The fisherman style cabins have decks literally on the water, so that looked like a must see at some point, too!! Couple of other hits: pet friendly rooms, pet friendly trails, golf course, cabins, fire pit and pool at lodge, Nature Center, and Visitor Center!

One of the most beautiful waterfalls I've ever seen. If you're traveling between Kentucky and…read moreAtlanta, I highly recommend stopping by Fall Creek Falls State Park. A few tips I want to share: 1.There's no admission fee. You can enjoy this incredible view thoroughly for free. 2.The park is enormous. If you're using GPS, do not search "Fall Creek Falls State Park." Like me, you might end up in the middle of the park with no clear direction to the falls. Instead, search for "Base of Fall Creek Falls" to go directly to the waterfall area. It's also a great place to relax, with a resort-like atmosphere and a beautifully maintained golf course. If you need a refreshing break, definitely consider visiting this park.

Quick excursion but still worth the stop! Short trek down a fairly easy path to a beautiful…read morewaterfall.

This is a beautiful place to visit and enjoy nature. One of Southeast Tennessee's hidden gems. The…read moreHike to the bottom is very strenuous, lots of slick rocks and steep inclines over rocks. All the work is well worth the hazards.

It was a beautiful place to visit. If you are looking for a short day or less adventure this is…read moreyour place to be. Beautiful Inspiring Small challenge Swimming Bring swimmers, water shoes(helps with the rock bottom of the swimming hole) and towel. I personally would like to hike down it in leather hiking boots, I did it in the cheap foam bottom shoes this time.

Awesome, even in winter! First time in Tennessee is fantastic! Slippery down but worth the hike!read more