5. Cummins Falls State Park
Cummins Falls, the eighth largest waterfall in Tennessee, is the star attraction of this 282-acre day use park–named state park of 2021 by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
You’ll need a permit to access the gorge and base of the falls, located on Blackburn Fork State Scenic River. Plan on spending two to three hours to hike the three-mile loop trail. Take photos, enjoy a refreshing dip in ye olde swimming hole, and admire the majesty of the 75-foot falls. The cascade is in two drops, with the first one plunging 50 feet into a pool.
Take care while navigating the trail and hiking through the gorge. It’s rated strenuous due to slippery surfaces, multiple stream crossings, and deep pools. Take your time and soak up the surroundings. Access to outstanding natural attractions like Cummins Falls is not without risk and challenge, but it’s worth the effort.
Address: 390 Cummins Falls Lane, Cookeville, Tennessee
6. Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park
Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park is one of two archaeological parks in Tennessee. It’s a world away in spirit and history, although only one mile of distance separates the 51-site campground from the public pool in nearby Manchester.
The site is a place of antiquity, dating back 2,000 years, and to this day, it retains mystery as to its original purpose. It was misidentified as a fort by early settlers. Today’s visitors see a 50-acre hilltop enclosure of mounds and walls built into limestone cliffs. One theory is that Indigenous people used this space as a ceremonial gathering area for hundreds of years.
From behind the stone museum, orient yourself by accessing the easy to moderate 1.4-mile loop trail with interpretive signage. View three tiers of picturesque falls from the trail, and the foundation of an old paper mill. Several other walks branch off the main interpretative trail, which informs you about the development of sawmills, gristmills, and even a Civil War gunpowder mill during the 1800s. Park visitors stroll the trails, camp, paddle, and fish on the Duck River.
Address: 732 Stone Fort Drive, Manchester, Tennessee
