Cummins Falls State Park is a beautiful 282-acre day-use park located nine miles north of Cookeville on the Blackburn Fork State Scenic River. If your visiting Nashville, its worth the 1 hour drive east to experience the falls for yourself.
I discovered the falls with my Roadtrippers app when I was driving from Arizona to North Carolina. I was stopping in Nashville and knew I would need a hiking adventure after spending a couple days on Broadway. 🍻 Cummins Falls seemed like the perfect place to detox and cool off in the hot tennessee summer.
The adventure begins at the overlook, where you have to climb down to a small finger that sticks out farther than the rest to get a really good look at the falls. Turning right away from the falls, you will follow the bluff’s edge downstream, through oak, hemlock, and laurel, to reach the stream, or, if you want to visit the top of the falls first, the upstream trail leads off from the left of the overlook area, and can also be used to return to the parking lot. Once you reach the stream bed you will see many footpaths and you will have to pick your path upstream, crossing over to the opposite bank 2-3 times. Make sure you pack your water shoes.
The rocks are slippery, the stream is wide, and there are hidden waterfalls along your adventure upstream. Passing through the gorge you may see fish, crawdads and maybe a snapping turtle. When you round a bend, the stones will become boulders, as you pick your way the final distance to the base of the falls. The trail is rustic and on a quiet day, the falls feel remote, but it will be filled with swimmers on a hot summer day.
To shorten the hike, skip the overlook and take the shortcut trail to take a half mile off the 1.5-mile trail’s one-way distance. Or, for those with experience and confidence rock climbing, you can follow the foot traffic up the rock face as you are rounding the curve in the stream leaving the falls for a fun little scramble that brings you back almost directly to the overlook.
WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
The main parking area, restrooms, trailheads, and a designated picnic area are located above the falls. The overlook is nearby and can be accessed by foot.
- Park Hours are 8:00 AM until 6:00 PM.
- The gorge area closes at 5:00 PM.
- People at the bottom of the waterfall must start walking out at 5:00 PM in order to get back to the parking lot and be out of the park by 6:00 PM.
- Pets are allowed but must be on a leash and under control.
- The hike to the base of the waterfall is a strenuous and physical activity and you will get wet.
- Pack sturdy shoes for climbing over the rocks and water shoes for crossing the river.
SAFETY INFORMATION
- The base of the waterfall is only accessible on fair-weather days.
- Visiting the waterfall will require
- Hiking, swimming or wading through water
- Scrambling over large rocks and climbing over slippery rocks
- Flash flooding at the base of the waterfall and in the gorge could occur any time rain is present.
- USCG approved life jackets are advised if you plan to get in the water below the falls. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult and must wear a life jacket while at the falls and while swimming.
- The less you take to the bottom of the waterfall the better. It is best to limit belongings to items that will fit in a small backpack or waterproof bag.
- Pool floats are not allowed in the plunge pool at the base of the waterfall.
Cost: Free
Length: 2.1 miles
michelle in the wild 