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.
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.
