In April 2023, we took a day trip to Fall Creek Falls in Tennessee to see one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern United States. Fall Creek Falls stands at a whopping 256 feet and was commanding during our visit. The best time to visit waterfalls in the eastern United States is late winter to early spring as the waterfalls will be much more active. It’s even better to visit after heavy rain!
Fall Creek Falls is the most popular waterfall and trail in the state park… which is no surprise given the name right? However, Fall Creek Falls State Park offers over 46 miles of hiking trails with three more amazing waterfalls to see. Those are Piney Falls, Cane Creek Cascades, and Cane Creek Falls. There are so many other things you can do as well besides hiking. There is a huge lake that can host several activities ranging from fishing to kayaking. Truly, there are multiple avenues for a trip here.
For us, we elected to just see Fall Creek Falls as it was the only reason, we decided to make the day trip and we were not disappointed. I mean check out that waterfall!
Getting There
If you live in or near Tennessee, Fall Creek Falls should be
on your bucket list! If you don’t, it should still be on your bucket list!
This waterfall can be an awesome day trip if you are in the Knoxville, Chattanooga, or Nashville areas.
When driving from Eastern Kentucky, it took us approximately
3 hours and 37 minutes to get there with a total distance of 198 miles.
When driving from Chattanooga TN, it will take approximately
1 hour and 10 minutes to get there with a total distance of 68 miles.
When driving from Knoxville TN, it will take approximately 2
hours to get there for a total distance of 110 miles.
When driving from Nashville TN, it will take approximately 2
hours to get there for a total distance of 125 miles.
If you are flying into the state, the nearest airports would
be either Nashville International Airport or McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville.
Lodging
If you are looking for more of a weekend trip than a day trip, there are plenty of lodging options available to you within the state park. There are 5 different camping sites to choose from, cabins to rent, and Fall Creek Falls Lodge. There are also several lodging options outside of the park that would be sufficient for your trip.
We started our day with the overlook at Fall Creek Falls. The parking lot at this trailhead can easily be found by typing it into your GPS or simply following the signs. The overlook is a short walk from the parking lot and provides an amazing view of the falls! This is an amazing first stop that left us wanting more.
It should be noted that the overlook can get crowded. If you arrive at a time that is crowded, then head down the trail to the falls (even if you don’t intend to hike the whole way) to another overlook only a few steps into the trail. This overlook provided another amazing view that was just as good as the first overlook… but fewer people.
The trailhead to the hike can be accessed at the overlook. You’ll see some warning signs that talk about the strenuous nature of the hike. These signs are here for a reason… it is a strenuous hike on the way back up. In total, the hike is approximately a mile and takes about an hour to complete. It is a difficult hike due to hiking straight down into the falls. That means, on your way back up, you are hiking straight uphill the entire time. Not only are you hiking uphill, but you are being hit with some pretty intense switchbacks. If you are an avid or moderate hiker, this trail should be no issue for you. If you are a beginner and really want to hike to the waterfall, make sure you take breaks along the way!
We always wonder… is the trail going to be worth it? The answer… YES! We were able to truly experience the size and power of this massive waterfall as we stood below it. Justin was able to fly his drone to get some awesome shots of the falls. The views on this hike made the uphill descent worth it.
Where to Eat
After our hike, we were starving! We drove down to the lodge to eat at their new restaurant… which was delicious. The views from the dining area are unparalleled and the food was spectacular. Make a stop here a must when visiting Fall Creek Falls!
Bonus Hiking Tip
I like to add little tips that we learn along our journeys to help you avoid the same mistakes we do. Keep an eye out for a blog solely dedicated to tips for hiking because that will be coming soon! For now, here is a tip that we learned from this hike. Always take a first-aid kit! Or at least band-aids!
Justin and I are avid hikers… We’ve been hiking pretty consistently since 2021. We’ve been to several state parks and 10 national parks. I’d love to have a dollar for every mile I have hiked. The point? We’ve hiked a lot. In all that time, we never suffered an injury. I used to pack first-aid supplies and over time simply stopped.
On this hike, I wish I had it because Justin got injured. After crashing his drone into trees, he caught it to prevent it from hitting the rocks. Catching it caused some major cuts to his fingers as the blades were still spinning. We were just getting ready to return from our hike and had nothing to stop the bleeding… which was pretty intense. Luckily, his fingers are fine and he is healing but now we are making sure to pack first-aid supplies, even if we never believe we will have to use them.
We hope this can help you plan your trip to Fall Creek Falls! Please, reach out to us if you have any lingering questions by either dropping a comment below or sending a direct message on Instagram. Let us know about your trips and if you utilize our guides. We would love to hear from you. Safe travels y’all- Justin & Caitlin