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Monteagle, TN

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South Cumberland State Park

4.7 (16 reviews)

South Cumberland State Park Photos

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Megan F.

This park was wonderful, when you enter they have an information center with restrooms. We picked up a park map at the information center. There are tons of hiking trails of different difficulty levels. If you plan on hiking to the base of waterfalls make sure you have proper footwear. We also enjoyed all the overlook spots.

Stacie B.

This may now be one of my all-time favorite state parks and hiking areas. Spent a weekend here and was not at ALL disappointed. Checked out the Savage Gulf area as well as the Fiery Gizzard trail. As much as I loved Savage Gulf and the Stone Door trail (a must-see), it felt like we entered another world on the Fiery Gizzard trail. There are some pretty serious issues with erosion and mud-slides toward the middle portion of the trail starting from the north end before you hit raven point, and I hope the park is evaluating how to solve these issues to both keep hikers safe and the environment in-tact and as unaffected as possible. Otherwise, though, this is the best trail I've been fortunate enough to hike to-date. From the rock scrambles, to the moss covered everything and the roaring river (we visited after it had been raining substantially for a few weeks), this area will more than live up to your expectations. Make sure you stop by the visitor center as well as the staff there are INCREDIBLY knowledgeable and helpful for planning your day/weekend in the area.

10/10 would swim out to the falls again
Samantha H.

We did a hike in the Fiery Gizzard South/Foster Falls area of the park and it was beautiful. I highly recommend bringing a lightweight towel and maybe water shoes if you plan to swim out to the waterfall--which was amazing!! Absolutely would do that again. The trail was well marked and the park site and trail head marker gave great descriptions of all the trails. I wouldn't recommend this area for young kids, the hike was more moderate/difficult in some spots. We could not find an actual clear map of all the trails so were left a little confused on exactly what trail we were on or if it would have connected with others, but overall it was great.

Brandi H.

South Cumberland State Park is HUGE. It's 30,000 acres, and spans over FOUR Tennessee counties. It has five small lakes, picnic tables, grills, pavilions, tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts, a baseball diamond, a gift shop, a museum, a cabin, campsites, rock climbing, rappelling, boating, and swimming. Oh, and lest we forget... over 90 miles of hiking. The 12 mile, one way trail, the Fiery Gizzard, is considered one of the best trails in the country. We know it was established in 1978, and there are sites showing old coal ovens and other historic sites. I can't wait to come back again... and again.. and again.

Large shelter with picnic tables and grill provided near the bathrooms
Melissa B.

FIERY GIZZARD and GRUNDY TRAILHEADS in South Cumberland Recreation Area Sunday, January 19th, 2014 Tony and I went hiking in the South Cumberland State Park at the Grundy Trail Nature Area in Tracy City . It took us 2 1/2 hrs to hike 3.2 miles. Not too bad for 2 people over 50 with heart conditions... Directions: I-24 exit 134 Monteagle, take Rt 41South to Tracy City. On Right turn on 3rd street go to the Tracy City Elementary School, just past you will turn Right on Marion Street, go back to the Brown sign showing Fiery Gizzard Trail back near the softball field for the school, you will see on the left parking spots paved with bathrooms, shelter with picnic tables and signs.. Sign in to let them know you are hiking. Two trails one near the sign where you register marked Fiery Gizzard and the second located between the shelter picnic area and the bathrooms that is label : Grundy Trail 2.0 mile loop following the white tag markers 1/2 mile in there is a CCC campsite following blue marker trail to the Right Free Camping available no electric, primitive sites 1 mile into the hike you will come to the Hanes Waterfall 6' ft and swimming hole after you take the steps (approximately 24) down to the water's edge. Another .3 miles you will arrive at the bridge crossing, through an area referred to as Black Canyon, this will take you further into the park for hiking but if you venture .2 miles you will arrive at another waterfall, Chimney Rocks Waterfall, which is 20' ft drop into the narrow canyon and then an additional .4 miles to the Sycamore Falls, which is a 12' ft fall with gorgeous swimming hole. From here you can continue on the left to the Dog Hole Trail... At this point, we double back .6 miles back to the bridge and mada a Right to then continue on the White marker path back towards the parking lot .7 miles. On this part of the trail you will pass the Blue Hole Waterfall 9' high and swimming hole is 7' ft deep and the Cave Spring Rockhouse overhang rock cliff with the Hemlock Tree over 500 plus yrs. before climbing back to the parking lot and ending up at the Fiery Gizzard Trailhead. If you walk this entirely to the Sycamore falls and back to the parking lot you will have hiked 3.2 miles. Some of it is very narrow with high steep drops to the water's edge with loose footing and rocks so please be careful there are not railings for support or safety. If you are hiking with Children please be warne

Brenda R.

Very nice State Park. I enjoyed the hike with all the scenic paths we found. Worth a visit.

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TN State P.

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7 years ago

Love this place as it surprisingly hidden. Even a few locals have never ventured to it.

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9 years ago

Some of the best hiking outside of the Smokies in TN. South rim definitely has the best overlooks.

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Review Highlights - South Cumberland State Park

“The 12 mile, one way trail, the Fiery Gizzard, is considered one of the best trails in the country.”

Mentioned in 3 reviews

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The Falls At Sewanee Creek - Treehouse covered deck
Sleep to Waterfall sounds

The Falls At Sewanee Creek

5.0(5 reviews)
6.0 mi

Our Stay at "The falls at Sewanee creek" was absolutely AMAZING! What we expected was to stay in a…read moreglorified tent, detached from a big city, and hoped for a relaxing stay here. What we got was ... the absolute perfect location to spend a night above a 50ft waterfall that lullabied us to bed. A perfect storm came through in the night to maintain that REM. Then a fuller waterfall and a few dozen songbirds to wake us up in the morning. Not even temped to hit the snooze button on that! Mr.Miller's hospitality is superb. He enjoys sharing his creativity, which is impressive, and thanks to it we had a perfect glamper to stay in and have this great experience. We took our time getting up, had some coffee, and drank it on the back deck as we watched the waterfall, yes you read that right ..... waterfall is visible from the glamper, just laying in bed I can lift my head and see it. After morning, coffee we hiked down to the bottom of the falls and soaked in the beauty and the privacy of it.

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!

Photos
The Falls At Sewanee Creek - Millers Waterfall

Millers Waterfall

The Falls At Sewanee Creek
The Falls At Sewanee Creek - Fairy home

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Fairy home

Foster Falls Small Wild Area - Mountain Laurel

Foster Falls Small Wild Area

4.8(13 reviews)
8.5 mi

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.

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Foster Falls Small Wild Area - People come here to rock climb

People come here to rock climb

Foster Falls Small Wild Area
Foster Falls Small Wild Area

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Walls of Jericho - Foot bridge crossing over Hurricane Creek.

Walls of Jericho

4.1(10 reviews)
25.5 mi

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.

My wife and I took all the precautions; deet, long pants, long sleeves, etc. Walked less than 1/4…read moremile and got 3 and 5 ticks respectively. Add that to the fact that alabama wastes so much of the funds dedicated to parks, providing virtually no services at our state parks and you know why we regularly drive to Tennessee to hike.

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Walls of Jericho
Walls of Jericho - Anyone left behind?

Anyone left behind?

Walls of Jericho - Church of the Highlands Huntsville & Grants Mill hiking groups ready for our adventure hike.

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Church of the Highlands Huntsville & Grants Mill hiking groups ready for our adventure hike.

South Cumberland State Park - hiking - Updated November 2026

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