Fall Creek Falls — 256ft Plunge in Tennessee

Fall Creek Falls is a 256-foot plunge waterfall in Van Buren County, Tennessee, reached by a moderate hike over 2.4 miles.

Fall Creek Falls is the 256-foot plunge waterfall in Tennessee's Fall Creek Falls State Park — the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi by some measurements, and the centerpiece of the largest Tennessee state park. The Cane Creek gorge harbors multiple waterfalls within the park; Fall Creek Falls is the marquee single drop, accessible via overlooks from the rim and via a moderate-to-strenuous 2.4-mile trail to the base. The state park lodge, cabins, golf course, and 22,000+ acres make it a destination weekend rather than a quick stop.

What to expect

Drive into Fall Creek Falls State Park (in Van Buren County, between Nashville and Chattanooga). Pay the modest state park day-use fee. Multiple trailheads access different views: the rim overlook is short (0.2 miles), the base trail is 2.4 miles round-trip with significant descent and stair-step climb back. Cables aid the steepest sections. Pair with Cane Creek Falls (within the park, smaller), the state park lodge for an overnight, or the nearby Falls Creek Falls Inn.