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?

12 amazing waterfalls in the Upper Cumberland around Center Hill Lake

1. Burgess Falls

4000 Burgess Falls Drive
Sparta, Tennessee

Visit the state park or access the bottom of the largest waterall on Center Hill Lake.

2. 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. This is such a laid back spot.

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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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′ horseshoe cascading waterfall, located below the 19th-century cotton textile mill that it powered over 100 years ago.

Twin Falls is 80′ in height. 

6. 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.”

Read more about it

7. 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!

8. Window Cliffs Falls

Window Cliffs State Natural Area
8400 Old Cane Creek Rd,
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.

9. Fancher Falls

Located on Center Hill Lake – and only accessible by boat, jet ski or kayak! Mist Falls is right besides this – a light and smaller waterfall.

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, head up the river, when you get to the fork, Fancher Falls is to the right and Burgess Falls is to the left!

*Side note: water level fluctuates. Make sure to check the water level before you plan a trip.

10. 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.

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.

11. 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.

12. City Lake Falls

Cookeville, Tennessee

2613 Lakeland Dr
Cookeville, TN 38506

Located in the city limits of Cookeville and a very short and easy hike on a paved pathway. City Lake houses a 35 acre lake and a waterfall.