| Fall Creek Falls, Tennessee |
 Trail Name:Woodland-Gorge Overlook Summary: |
| Trail Description |
| This Resort State Park has many facilities, but over half of its 20,000 acres is designated a natural wilderness, with 40 miles of hiking trails. This hike climbs 200 ft to 256-ft Fall Creek Falls, detours to the base of the falls, and returns via the rim of Cane Creek Gorge.
At the sign for Fall Creek Falls, cross the swing-bridge over Cane Creek and climb the concrete steps. At the top, bear right and soon you come to a trail junction, the start of the loop. Fork left to Fall Creek Falls, 0.55 mile via Woodland Trail. Woodland Trail is wide and well defined, and soon it levels to an easy path through the woods. At the Gorge Overlook Trail junction, turn left for Fall Creek Falls. Head down some stone steps, across a couple of small wooden footbridges and finally a very short ascent to the first lookout, almost adjacent to the dramatically beautiful waterfall. The path follows the gorge rim to the second, upper overlook a few minutes further on. It could be very crowded here in summer, being close to a parking area, but off-season you may well have it to yourself. From here, take the Fall Creek Falls Trail, which winds down into Fall Creek Gorge. It is pretty steep, descending 300 ft in 0.4 mile. The trail ends at the beautiful pool at the base of the waterfall. Climb back up to the upper overlook and retrace your steps 0.25 mile to the Gorge Overlook Trail junction. Continue straight ahead to loop back to the trailhead via the rim of Cane Creek Gorge. There are a series of short spurs off this 0.6 mile section of the hike. The first you reach after only a couple of minutes of climbing through the trees. A short path heads left to Fall Creek Falls Overlook, where you should be able to see the top of the falls through the trees. Back on the main trail, in no time at all you are on the level spur to Rocky Point Overlook (‘Danger. High Bluffs’). At the end, make a short, steep descent and then climb to the top of the rocks for views of Cane Creek Gorge. Backtrack along the spur and bear left to continue the loop. The easy, level trail continues to wind through the trees at the edge of the gorge. After just a couple of minutes, pass the left turn for a third overlook, Cane Creek Gorge (not recommended – there is an extremely sheer drop at the end and any view is largely obscured by trees). As you approach the end of the trail, turn left for the final overlook, Cane Creek Falls. This short spur leads down to a view of the falls tumbling over the high gorge wall, with the Nature Center above. Return up the spur and continue straight on; there is more steady climbing, and then a level section, to complete the loop. Now bear left to return to the Nature Center in 0.2 mile. |
| FACT FILE |
| Location: Fall Creek Falls State Park, middle Tennessee, between Cookeville to the north and Chattanooga to the south. Set on the edge of the Cumberland Plateau, a vast area of forests, gorges and waterfalls, this is the largest State Park in Tennessee.
Directions: From Hwy 111, take Hwy 30 east and then Hwy 284 to the north entrance, or Hwy 284 east to the south entrance. Trailhead: Behind the Nature Center, just off the 284 close to the north entrance. Length: 2.7 miles / 4.3 km Trail Type: Loop Elevation Change: 200 ft / 61 m Duration: 1.5 hours Trail Condition: Well maintained and easy to follow. Trails are blazed: Woodland, yellow; Fall Creek Falls, orange; Gorge Overlook, red. Features: Forest, waterfalls, gorge. Climate: Hiking possible year-round. Accommodation: Inside the Park, a 144-room Inn, cabins, tent and RV sites. Trail Notes: A hand-drawn map showing general routes of the trails is available from the information office. |
Popularity: 10% [?]
