Parking is a challenge but the walk is great to the baby falls. Wasn't brave enough to continue…read morepast the falls

Beautiful short hike on a rocky hill. The trail was lovely with lots of trees and I enjoyed seeing…read morethe waterfall! Such a beautiful spot in nature! I came during rainy season and the rocks were definitely slippery so please be mindful of that and were your hiking shoes to stay safe. If you come during/after the rain the falls run pretty good.

Foster Falls is easily one of the most impressive waterfalls we've visited in Tennessee! From the…read moremoment we arrived, it was clear why this spot is so popular with hikers, photographers, and outdoor enthusiasts. The park is clean, well maintained, and easy to navigate, with a scenic overlook that offers an incredible first view of the falls. We decided to hike down into the gorge, and it was absolutely worth the effort. Crossing the suspension bridge added a fun touch to the adventure, and standing at the base of the 60-foot waterfall was an unforgettable experience. The towering sandstone cliffs, lush greenery, and cool mist from the falls created a peaceful atmosphere that made us want to stay much longer. The trails are well marked, though the descent can be steep in places, so good hiking shoes are definitely recommended. We also loved learning that this area is a favorite destination for rock climbers and serves as the southern end of the famous Fiery Gizzard Trail. Whether you're looking for a scenic day hike, an amazing place to photograph, or simply a beautiful spot to enjoy nature, Foster Falls should absolutely be on your Tennessee itinerary. We had an incredible time and can't wait to return and explore even more of South Cumberland State Park. Highly recommended! Check out our video on our socials @reessroots

Cumberland Plateau has so many stunning views. Relatively easy trail ending in a swimming pool…read morewith cool rocky areas to sit and reflect. The Falls are beautiful too.

My partner and I talked about it, and we would rate it a 5! The bed was nice and comfortable and we…read moreloved the recommendation for the High Point! The steak was great!

EVERYONE NEEDS TO VISIT MILLER FALLS in gorgeous Smokey Mountains!…read more Beautiful woods, creeks, rock climbing, camping, and brilliant weather. Campgrounds are clean, lots of amenities, and campground owners are super kind people! We stayed for 4 nights, and our campsite was $48/night before tax. We initially booked through HipCamp, but I'll definitely be booking with the owner directly (www.TNwaterfallgetaway.com) for all future visits to their campground! My fiance and I booked the TrampEase Tree Tent - one of seven beautiful, hand-built campsites that range from primitive to full-on glamping. Our campsite was a mix of both. It included an elevated yurt tent, fire pit, round table, 2 folding camping chairs, and a private composting toilet in a nearby outhouse. Not to mention a flowing creek less than 50 feet from the yurt! The tranquil sound of the creek flowing 24/7 was even better than sleep-sounds on my Google Home. LOL! Most of the campsites have drive-up access, though if you have a car that's particularly low to the ground (like a small sedan) you may not want to risk driving over the rocky road. We brought with us a 1" inflatable mattress pad, along with a sleeping bag, and 2 thick, warm blankets. Despite being mid-May, the average temps during our visit were 60-70 F during the day, and a chilly 40-45 F at night. Brilliant weather for snuggling, but we would have regretted not bringing a few extra blankets. Lots of hiking and trails to explore on their property, and at least a mile of rugged creek terrain that makes for a fun, albeit challenging day of rock climbing. Well worth it for the stunning views of the waterfalls, canyons, and mountainsides. There are also trails and lakes nearby for hiking, kayaking, and a number of other outdoor attractions in Tracy City. The owners, Grant & Becky, were such friendly people. My fiance and I had a lovely chat with them about philanthropy, community outreach, homestead farming, and more. They are warm, kind, and welcoming to people of all ages, races, religions, genders, identities, abilities, backgrounds, perspectives, and ideologies. They have done a lot of traveling and business throughout their lives, and now they are semi-retired in the rolling hills of Tennessee. Speaking of ability - the majority of the glamping sites have tents that are elevated from the ground; some, like the one we stayed in, required climbing a 10 foot ladder to enter/exit the tent. There are some other sites though that are more accessible with tents low to the ground, or primitive sites where you can pitch your own tent. Contact the owner (www.tnwaterfallgetaway.com/contact) to ask about the best accommodation options for you. They offer great amenities and fun activities around the property during your stay. The owners are big on being self-sufficient, so they love to offer fun learning experiences regarding farming, gardening, and homesteading. They also enjoy metal work and have some cool art pieces around their property. We even did a welding project (for a small fee) and made an original piece of art as a keepsake from our trip! You can also get some convenience items from the owners for a fee: firewood bundles, champagne & ice, property tours, guided tours of their city, and more. HIGHLIGHT OF OUR TRIP: Grant was also kind enough to swing by our campsite one morning to ask if we had any interest in bees! He has a few hives and some extra gear, so we got an up-close look into the hives! It was absolutely mesmerizing! And if all that weren't enough, their website www.TNwaterfallgetaway.com is chock-full of great tips for local hiking, waterfall views, kayaking, dining, and more! We had such a lovely time enjoying the outdoors, and look forward to going back for another visit!

Great state park. Excellent camping! Very clean and staff was great. There are some great hiking…read moretrails. If you are hiking to the falls, be aware when you climb down all those stairs, you have to climb up them to get back to the rim. The west Rim trail is great as well, not quite as strenuous as the tail to the falls.

So many great trails to choose from here! There are some that aren't super advanced and have a…read morequick route and others that might take you several hours.

Machine Falls is located in Short Springs State Natural Area in Tullahoma, Tennessee. It's a 1.6…read moremile round trip loop to and from the falls. You start out by hiking through the forest on a defined dirt pathway with barely any elevation until the final descent into a narrow valley bottom. Along the way, just follow the stamped white markings posted on the trees as all trails are conveniently color coordinated. There is an overlook platform but it offers minimal visibility from the side of the falls. The last part of the hike is down a set of staircases. Once reaching the base, there'll be a sign for Machine Falls 100 yards straight ahead. You can reach the falls by walking through the creek which will probably require water shoes, or...you can follow the last little section of the trail along the cliffside as a quicker, alternative entrance. Either way... Machine Falls is a 60-foot waterfall cascading over a jagged rock wall into a secluded gorge below. Visitors can stand right in front of the falls for impressive views. It's a totally immersive natural experience set among peaceful surroundings. Taking a few steps back offers a panoramic backdrop and captures the symmetrical precision of Machine Falls. No wonder this waterfall has a reputation for being one of the best in Tennessee. Unfortunately, the pool the falls splashes down into isn't deep enough for full on swimming, but at the very least you can bring water shoes and get your feet wet. When finished, the trail continues over a footbridge to then climb your way out of the gorge. Overall, the easy 1.6 mile roundtrip loop can be completed within an hour or two. In the end, coming to Machine Falls makes for a worthwhile way to spend time in nature. I am always fascinated by dramatic waterfall appearances, and Machine Falls lives up to its billing. And...Tennessee has a host of them all over the state, making it widely recognized as a place for adventurers to go waterfall chasing.

One of the few places distance wise that is kid friendly. Hiking 1 mile Approximate walk to the…read morefalls. For sure bring your water shoes. You would want to get up close to the falls for the beautiful picture capture. Trail is pretty easy to navigate. Parking lot is limited parking. No restroom on the trail or along the way. So make sure you do stop by a gas station before coming.

We visited on a rainy day. The rain had stopped by the time we started the Stone Door Trail to Alum…read moreGap Overlook and Greeter Falls loop so the trails were a bit muddy and slippery in some places. The overlooks were stunning. The trees hadn't turn their fall colors but a few here and there showed some yellows and oranges. Trails are very well marked. The steps through the stone door pass were steep and a bit slippery but the hike was well worth it. So cool to walk among all those stacked stones. I liked the suspended bridge and the many water features. What caught my eye the most was the tree trunks in so many colors and textures. Parking was easy. Tennessee, unlike MN where I call home, does not require park passes so find a place to park your car and get outside.

This park is quite substantial by state park standards, and includes several different entrances…read more The small ranger center sits adjacent to a reasonably photogenic waterfall, while a paved trail leads past campgrounds to some nauseatingly high overlooks. While taking the rougher path down into the gorge would probably be a good day's work, I didn't quite have time for that. Nonetheless, the sights were plenty, and they were free.

This is kind of a strange park as several sites are distributed widely but considered under the…read moresame umbrella. I visited several, including their headquarters with a wounded hawk at the entrance, a rainforest-y loop trail, and a splendid-looking waterfall. Individually, the sites were nice but not the best the state has to offer, but when one considers the sum total of various environs and the fact that Tennessee state parks do not charge admission, I struggle to criticize. I noted that a park ranger gently pushed someone to leash their dog on the trail without getting into a confrontation.

Denny Cove Falls trail is a wonderful, moderate hike. Out & back to a gorgeous waterfall. The trail…read moreis well marked and maintained. It's a long gravel road to the parking lot dedicated just to this particular trailhead.

On the Tennessee-Alabama border, is a Wildlife Management Area named the Bear Hollow Mountain…read moreWildlife Management Area. Bear Hollow Mountain is over 21,000 acres. Within this area is a 750 natural area named the Walls of Jericho. It's about an hour and forty five minute drive from Nashville. The Walls itself is referred to often as "The Grand Canyon of the South," because when you hike to the Walls of Jericho, you find yourself in a 150 foot wide bowl surrounded by 200 foot tall walls. A traveling minister found it in the late 1880s and named it, and it sat on private property until recently. It was purchased by the Nature Conservancy in 2003, and then sold to Alabama's Forever Wild Program. Alabama spent $9.3million for its portion of the land, and Tennessee spend $5.9million for its portion. The waterfalls form Paint Rock River, and the walls are surrounded by forestry. The forestry itself has at least 15 federally endangered or threatened species. The Walls of Jericho opened officially August 27th, 2004. There is a horseback riding trail, and two openings to the hiking trail- one on the Tennessee side, and one on the Alabama side. Ya'll. This is a hard hike. Even though I hike sporadically, I was not prepared. We drove an hour and forty five minutes from Nashvillle, and arrived. The parking lot had portapotties. There was no cellular service. We began the hike, which is quoted in different places as 6, 7, and 8 miles. There are paper maps in a box at the head of the trail, but they aren't well done or easily readable. As you hike, the path is marked with red marks on trees. However, the hiking trail intersects with the horseback riding trail and forks off to the other states' entrance, and it isn't well marked at all. The hike down into the forest to the canyon took my party about 2 hours, and was super easy as it was literally all downhill, with spots of rugged terrain. The hike back up took us close to 4 hours, and was decidedly difficult. Now, some hikes I've done have been steadily uphill. However, hiking back from the Walls of Jericho was a steep heavy incline for a few feet, followed by a segment of flatland, and it alternated back and forth. Since you're in a valley, the sun sets very early. For us, we began the hike at noon, the sun began to set at 5:15, and we arrived back at the car at 5:45. The scenes surrounding you are beautiful. There are sparse benches, and even an old cemetery. I wish there was more to tell us about the history of the place or the family who'd previously owned it- even on the back of the takeaway maps. Bring water and a backpack of granola. I wouldn't imagine doing this in the dead of summer, so January was perfect, temperature-wise. Go challenge yourself and do this hike.. and prepare to be sore for two days afterward; it's absolutely worth it.

We enjoyed this trail. It's well marked and the end is beautiful. The rocks are very slippery so…read moreI don't recommend this for everyone- it's like walking on ice especially the final section. Definitely a work out and beautiful scenery. Bugs in the face were an annoyance in August.

I occasionally afford myself the luxury of visiting places without really knowing what to expect…read more This park just wasn't that clear to me in its purpose, but it became more so after arrival, with a visitor center focused on Native American history and identifying this as a Cherokee Nation headquarters. A spread of recreated buildings outside offers opportunities for perusal. The most aesthetically distinctive site is a large spring of the sort that seem more common in Kentucky than Tennessee, which evinces a robust blue color and empties into a clear stream. The spring itself is off-limits, but the stream is open for wading. All of these sites are within sight of the initial entrance, but a trek uphill reveals picnic areas, an amphitheater, and a couple of mile trail through the woods. Between the different elements of the park, it was easy to spend a couple of hours there, and best of all, it's free, though the gift shop warrants examination.

Red Clay is not the type of state park that I would normally seek out. Why? It's not in the…read moremountains and the trails are tame. Nonetheless, something about it lured me in for a visit and I'm glad I ventured out here (on Indigenous People's Day coincidentally). Historically, it's really interesting that this was the last meeting site for the Cherokee tribe's council. The signs claim it is "where the Trail of Tears really began." I was really intrigued by the natural Spring called "the Blue Hole." I've never seen a spring that appears bright blue in a forest setting. Seeing this cool natural sight was pretty awesome. Also, I could just imagine the Cherokee using this spring water and being here hundreds of years before. Trail wise: Pretty flat and easy trails. It's not very challenging. But, it makes up for it because it's a calm place with beautiful forest. I loved walking around. Also, since this is small and off the beaten path, it's not crowded at all. Overall: highly recommended. Worth a visit!

LOL --- this is my first "non-food" review, but this place is so beautiful --- it needs to be…read moreshared! I was looking for somewhere beautiful to get a panorama of Chattanooga (+ more) from an awesome vantage point, and I found this spot on Google. It's a bit of a winding drive to eventually arrive to the site, and when you do, parking is extremely limited. It's either you got luck or God on your side, to park right where the "rock" is, but I was very fortunate. The steps are very large and irregular getting to the actual "site", and if you are not fit --- just go slow. However, once you arrive --- it's like heaven. A view from the heavens overseeing the Tennessee River Gorge, Prentice Cooper State Forest, and valleys. Spending 20-30 minutes after getting up their will clear your mind. A view that you should not pass up!

Very steep steps but has some beautiful views! Not a far walk if you're looking for a quick hike.read more