3. Fall Creek Falls
At 256 feet high, Fall Creek Falls is the standout on a crowded stage of waterfalls at Fall Creek Falls State Park. Less imposing are Piney Creek Falls, Cane Creek Falls, and Cane Creek Cascades, plus 345-acre Fall Creek Lake, and assorted streams, gorges, and pools. In a park comprising almost 30,000 acres, half of which is designated wilderness, all of these features literally shape the scenic reputation of the craggy Cumberland Plateau.
Access the beauty of Fall Creek Falls via a hike along Piney Falls Trail or Overlook Trail to the .3-mile Base of Falls Trail. Two cascades, almost a matched set, pour over ledges at different levels, plunging to the pool below. A hardwood forest surrounds the massive bowl of tiered limestone where the falls is located. From Nashville, it’s a two-hour drive east to see the falls and perhaps camp overnight.
Address: 2009 Village Camp Road, Spencer, Tennessee
4. Bald River Falls
In the northwestern corner of the Appalachian Mountains near the North Carolina border is one of the most idyllic settings for the magnificent froth of Bald River Falls. In its final surge, the Bald River tumbles 90 feet to a pool, rushes under the bridge below your feet, and empties into Tellico River. The grandeur of the Cherokee National Forest surrounds you.
This is one of the most outstanding and accessible natural features in an area of spectacular beauty. A short walk up the Tellico River are Baby Falls. Be sure to pause on a large limestone rock and appreciate the visual sweep and roaring power of water at your toes. Combine a trip to Bald River Falls with a drive up the celebrated, mile-high, 43-mile-long Cherohala Skyway.
Address: Tellico Plains, Tennessee
