Tennessee's Most Spectacular Waterfalls

Tennessee's waterfalls are concentrated in three areas: the Great Smoky Mountains, the Cumberland Plateau (particularly the South Cumberland State Park complex), and the Highland Rim escarpment.

Fall Creek Falls (256 ft)
The tallest waterfall in the eastern United States, located in Fall Creek Falls State Park in Van Buren County. The falls plunge 256 feet over a sheer sandstone ledge into a canyon gorge — the drop is taller than Niagara Falls. The park has three additional major waterfalls within a short drive: Cane Creek Falls (85 ft), Cane Creek Cascades, and Piney Falls. The Gorge Overlook Trail provides rim views; the descent trail leads to the canyon floor and base of the falls.

Laurel Falls (Smokies, 80 ft)
The most-visited waterfall in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, located 2.6 miles from the Laurel Falls trailhead on Fighting Creek Gap Road. The twin-tiered falls cascade over dark sandstone into a small plunge pool. Accessible via a paved trail — the most heavily trafficked in the park.

Burgess Falls (136 ft)
On the Falling Water River in White County, Burgess Falls State Park has a series of four falls culminating in a 136-foot drop into a canyon. The 4-mile round-trip trail passes all four falls; the final viewpoint above the main falls is the best. The canyon walls are ancient Pennsylvanian-age sandstone.

Virgin Falls (110 ft)
One of the most unusual waterfalls in Tennessee — a stream that disappears into a cave at the top of a bluff and reappears as a waterfall 110 feet below, tumbling into a sinkhole. Located in the Virgin Falls State Natural Area in White County, reached via a strenuous 8-mile round-trip trail through gorge terrain. The geological drama makes this one of the most rewarding hikes in the state.

Lower Piney Falls (90 ft)
In the South Cumberland State Park complex, Lower Piney Falls is reached via a 4-mile round-trip trail. The falls drop 90 feet in two stages over sandstone into a deep, clear plunge pool.