The Upper Cumberland is known for its natural beauty. With all the natural waterfalls in the Upper Cumberland, hiking trails and scenic overlooks, locals never run out of things to see and do! Looking for a reason to get outdoors and enjoy the best of Tennessee?
(We have added a few since we first created this few!)
Check out these 13 amazing waterfalls in the Upper Cumberland around Center Hill Lake
(Burgess Falls & Fancher Falls are even accessible by boat, kayak or jet ski! Subject to water levels of course.)
Burgess Falls
4000 Burgess Falls Drive
Sparta, Tennessee
Located in Sparta within Burgess Falls State Park – get to it on boat, jet ski or kayak!
From Cookeville Boat Dock, head up the river, when you get to the fork, Fancher Falls is to the right and Burgess Falls is to the left!
You can also drop your kayak in near Burgess Falls State Park. For GPS, use Cane Hollow Road, Sparta, Tennessee. There are no signs, but once you get to a fork in the road, there will be a turnaround area, turn right and the road ends in the water. There is a parking area.
Waterloo Falls
145 Virgil Murphy Circle,
Cookeville, Tennessee
While this waterfall isn’t as large as Cummins Falls or Burgess Falls, it’s still just as cool and worth checking out. If you’re looking for a low key spot that is not as crowded as the others, this is the place. The property is situated on 11 acres on a rolling hill, with over 2000 feet of river frontage on Spring Creek, a state scenic river.
Cummins Falls
390 Cummins Falls Ln,
Cookeville, TN
Southern Jackson County. Widely popular and not always a state park. At any given time of the year, you’ll see a lot of cars with out of state tags – and for good reason. Check out this article below for everything you need to know about it!
Fall Creek Falls
2009 Village Camp Road
Spencer, Tennessee
Fall Creek Falls State Park is one of Tennessee’s largest (29,800+ acres) and most visited state parks so you have probably heard of it. At 256 feet, Fall Creek Falls is one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern U.S. There’s more though! Other waterfalls within the park include Piney Falls, Cane Creek Falls, and Cane Creek Cascades. Fall Creek Falls features 30 cabins and 222 campsites.
Twin Falls & Great Falls
Rock Island State Park
82 Beach Rd,
Rock Island, Tennessee
Located within Rock Island State Park another amazing park full of swimming holes, falls and killer scenic views. Great Falls is a 30-foot horseshoe cascading waterfall, located below the 19th-century cotton textile mill that it powered over 100 years ago. Twin Falls is 80′ in height. These are no small watefalls, y’all! You’re going to love it!
Ozone Falls
14563 TN-1
Rockwood, Tennessee
Ozone Falls is a 43-acre natural area in Cumberland County and is one of Tennessee’s most heavily-visited state natural areas, because of its close proximity to I-40. Plunging 110 feet over a sandstone cap rock into a deep, rock-strewn pool then disappearing underground only to re-emerge several yards downstream. A rock house “amphitheater” was created over time & provides the backdrop. Ozone Falls was also selected for filming scenes for the movie “Jungle Book.”
Virgin Falls
2080 Scotts Gulf Road,
Sparta, Tennessee
Located in White County, Virgin Falls is formed by an underground stream that emerges from a cave, then drops over a 110-foot high cliff before disappearing into another cave at the bottom of the sink. The hike to and from Virgin Falls is 9 miles so get ready to put in that work!
Window Cliffs Falls
Window Cliffs State Natural Area
8400 Old Cane Creek Rd,
Baxter, Tennessee
On Cane Creek, located in the Window Cliffs State Natural Area. Well if you’re going to see one, you might as well see two. Window Cliffs is close to Burgess Falls so check out both! While both are managed by Burgess Falls State Park and right by each other, they are not connected. The entrances are separate. Window Cliffs is located off of Cookeville Boat Dock. For reference, this park is near Cookeville Boat Dock in Baxter, Tennessee!
While it is about 150 feet wide at its base, it is only a few feet wide on the narrow clifftop 200 feet above Caney Creek. There is also a waterfall! You will cross the creek several times so plan on getting your feet wet! This is a moderate to strenuous 5.3 mile hike so wear the right shoes.
*You will love the photos of Window Cliffs! They were shot when the leaves were at their peak in late October.
Fancher Falls
Located on Center Hill Lake – and only accessible by boat, jet ski or kayak! *Side note: water level fluctuates. Make sure to check the water level before you plan a trip.
This waterfall is also sometimes referred to as Taylor Creek Falls – Taylor Creek flows over a small ledge creating an 80′ waterfall that cascades into a pool below.
Directions: Located on Taylor Creek. View a public guide map here.
From Cookeville Boat Dock, turn left. Pass all of the boat slips. Turn into the first cove on your right. This will look more like a big fork. Fancher Falls is to the right and Burgess Falls is to the left!
Carmac Falls
1535 Evins Mill Rd,
Smithville, Tennessee
See a cool waterfall and stay at a unique place for the weekend! Check out Evins Mill! This 90 foot cascade is the 10th highest waterfall in the state and is located just a short distance from the main lodge.
Northup Falls
Colditz Cove State Natural Area
2552 Northrup Falls Rd,
Jamestown, Tennessee
Located in Colditz Cove State Natural Area, a 165-acre natural area, in Jamestown, Tennessee. Not as well known (until now 🙂) but definitely worth checking out. Northrup Falls Trail is a 1.3 mile moderately trafficked loop trail. Plunging 60+ feet over a protruding rock ledge into a scenic, narrow, gorge along Big Branch Creek, this waterfall was named after the family who settled here and operated a mill above the falls in the 1800s. These high cliffs and shallow, open cave-like structures at the falls were once used by cliff-dwelling Woodland Indians 3,000+ years ago. They primarily used these shelters during hunting season. Read more about it here.
Lost Creek Falls
White’s Cave Rd,
Sparta, Tennessee
Lost Creek Falls is a 60′ waterfall in Sparta, TN. Locals know this region is full of hidden, private waterways and waterfalls so it’s no surprise this was once private property. Fall Creek Falls State Park purchased the land in 2012. A cool fact – Disney used this as a location to shoot Jungle Book in 1993.
Lost Creek Falls is geologically similar to nearby Virgin Falls – the creek emerges from a large spring, or collapsed cave on top, dropping 40+ feet and disappearing underground again. On the opposite side of this large sink is the spectacular entrance to Lost Creek Cave. Lost Creek Cave is one of the larger caves in Tennessee, with 5 entrances and seven miles of mapped passages.
City Lake Falls
Cookeville, Tennessee
2613 Lakeland Dr
Cookeville, TN 38506
You in the big city of Cookeville? See City Lake Falls within the City Lake Natural Area – located in the city limits of Cookeville. This is a shorter 0.5 mile hike making it a great option for all.
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To see a complete list of 100+ waterfalls in Tennessee, check out this link. Enjoy!
You forgot Window Cliff Falls on Cane Creek, located in the Window Cliffs State Natural Area. https://www.google.com/maps/@36.0626945,-85.6064662,159m/data=!3m1!1e3
There’s also one on Mine Lick Creek, but I don’t know the name of it or even if it has one. https://www.google.com/maps/@36.1214145,-85.6461821,215m/data=!3m1!1e3
Thank you!! We added the Window Cliff Falls. I will try to see what I can find for the Mine Lick Creek. We are currently working on directions as well 🙂
Lost creek falls
Thank you so much Laura! We have added it! 🙂
There is also City Lake Falls in Cookeville! I’m not sure of the exact address, though.
That is a good one! Definitely adding it to the post – thank you!! Looking forward to spring in the Upper Cumberland!
Are the waterfalls in Smithville, TN, area still abundantly flowing in mid October?
It really just depends on rainfall! I would say it is definitely less in the fall and winter, but they are still beautiful and worth visiting.