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.

I will have to go back again to see the gorgeous sights of the Yahoo Falls. However the sun was…read moregetting close to setting so myself and my hiking buddy (aka my dog) we went the overlook and what a gorgeous site that is to see. That overlook area is to the left of the hiking trail and just for a minute you get to take in the beauty that nature gives us and forget everything else. I hope to visit again in the spring with the pupper to see the magnificent sight of the Yahoo Falls and Arch

Very pretty dog friendly hike. Luckily it was a rainy day so the waterfall was flowing. It's the…read moretallest waterfall in Kentucky.

Such a beautiful place. The water fall was enchanting. The path was marked and easy to walk. We had…read morea 5 year old and 3 year old walking with us and our twin two year olds in a jogging stroller. It is about 2 miles round trip to and from the waterfall. There is ridge that you have to be careful not to get to close or you will slip and fall. You can follow the trail to the top of the waterfall and its amazing.

Absolutely fabulous find right out of town. Waterfall was…read moreamazing. Beautiful light hike, trail is well maintained and clean. Some incline and little bit of rock scrambling. There are some big drop offs, so be cautious with toddlers

it's definitely a "beautiful, all some, kool & peaceful place" to take your "wife/girlfriend" or…read moreeven "family"!!! enjoy sitting, well enjoy sitting basically,, "right on the creek" either right on the "edge of the waterfall" looking down at the bottom of "ozone falls", over (75ft-80ft)!!! from top to the bottom of the falls.. basically,, it's a "amazing place" to just go out & relax & to just "get away from people, life, stress, work" & just be able to relax out with "nature it's self" leaving just you, nature, birds, bugs & who ever you decided to let tag along.. basically,, it definitely a good place to take the kids, have a picnic,, chill & relax with family. i "most definitely" would recommend visiting *"ozone falls"* if ever in the area of "roane county'/'cumberland county".. you will "definitely enjoy it" i do believe so myself. i gave it -(*****)- a "5" star review. 01/10/2023 @ 10:45am

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.

This place is a hidden gem. I highly recommend stopping by at the very least to do the Lily Bluff…read moreOverlook. It's not strenous and the rewards of the views after a short walk are well worth it. I visited when it was raining and so it wasn't the best view, but it was still gorgeous. I also went on the Obed River Point Trail (3.6-mile out-and-back). You have to cross some streams using rocks, and there's also a wood bridge. The trail has a hidden arch rock to your right as you approach the end of the trail, but it's small and there's a reason why they don't mark it as it's not dramatic haha. Towards the end of the trail there's a lot of small social off shoot trails, but the main trail is wider than the others. Near the end of the trail there's a marker and then an end point marker. Neat trail!

An absolutely stunning nature space with a great many wild features to look forward to. They have…read moretrails and adventures for everyone so that everyone is able to enjoy the splendor that is Obed. Lily Bluff Overlook itself has multiple access trails. For those needing a mostly flat path with maintained gravel surface, try the upper parking lot trailhead. It is easily recognized by the huge Obed sign at the parking lot entrance. For a more uphill and challenging experience, take one of the trailheads from either of the bridge parking areas below the bluff. Pictures: 1) Lily Bluff Overlook platform -- an extensive platform to make access safe and manageable for everyone while also protecting the natural elements of the bluff. 2) The view from Lily Bluff Overlook 3) The hike up -- this picture shows the start of the trail up to Lily Bluff from the bridge parking area. The hike is all uphill with stone and wooden stairs, and roots. It is a beautiful, fun, and enjoyable hike.

Twin falls was the best fall we saw on our visit of TN waterfalls. If you look carefully you will…read moresee that the water is coming out from the rock on the side of the gorge. It's actually leaking through the rocks from the reservoir on the other side. So it's partially a man made fall. The rock here is porous so this is basically a leak... The good news is that it is a steady and dependable fall, even when other falls are just trickles.

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

Never been on a hike before, but this was awesome! It has an amazing view of the valley, I highly…read morerecommend this place!

I visited the Stearns entrance to see the Blue Heron area, and was extremely impressed! The mine…read morecommunity exhibits were excellent, with loads of information, artifacts, and even walled up mine entrances! The tipple bridge is closed pending repairs due to flood damage, but it's still really cool to see! The trail was much more interesting than I anticipated and the overlook area was gorgeous with sweeping views of the river. There's even a scenic railroad with dog friendly accommodations that take you from Stearns into the Blue Heron station, which I'll definitely come back to do, as my dog partner in crime is terrified of trains.

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area is a wonderful location for getting away for the…read moreweekend, or linger. They have individual campsites and group campsites with a pavilion and restrooms with showers, and a group campfire area. It is a beautiful area and perfect for people traveling with horses that line to camp and ride. Follow me on Yelp for more things to see and do in East Tennessee.