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Fall Creek Falls

Photo: P. Hughes / CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

🌊 Lakes & rivers

Fall Creek Falls

Spencer, TN · Cumberland Plateau, Middle Tennessee

About

Fall Creek Falls drops 256 feet in one clean plunge, which makes it the tallest freefall waterfall east of the Mississippi. Fall Creek pours off the Cumberland Plateau and free-falls the whole way into a shaded gorge pool, so there is no cascade or stair-step here, just one continuous ribbon of water. From the paved overlook you get the full head-on view about a minute's walk from the lot. To stand at the base, take the steep 0.35 mile trail into the gorge (0.7 miles round trip) and save energy for the climb back, which regains the plateau rim in a hurry over rock and root. Flow runs strongest from late winter through spring. By dry late summer the falls can thin to a narrow thread, so time a visit after rain. The park charges no admission, and the overlook road stays open year-round.

Highlights

256 ft single plungeTallest freefall waterfall east of the MississippiOverlook ~1 min from parking0.7 mi round-trip trail to base, steep returnStrongest flow late winter to springFree admission, open year-round

Getting there

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Curated guides that feature Fall Creek Falls.

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