We took a weekend trip to Cookeville Tennessee, the waterfall capital of America! Greeter Falls was one of the many waterfalls we got to see on this trip. We explored Cookeville during a 3 day holiday weekend, with our newest little Appalachian Traveler, our 10 month old son. Stay tuned for a blog specifically about hiking tips and tricks with babies and toddlers!
Cookeville, Tennessee
Dubbed the waterfall capital of America, Cookeville Tennessee boasts over 150 waterfalls within a 40-mile radius. Cookeville is a delightfully adorable small town located about an hour from Nashville. Our trip to Cookeville is intended to have a separate blog to include all the places we hiked on this trip, where to eat, and more!
Greeter Falls: The Hike
A relatively short hike in Savage Gulf State Natural Area will lead to a beautiful winding staircase seconds before an impressive waterfall. The hike is approximately 1.1 miles out and back trails that’s considered moderately challenging. We would agree with this rating solely based on the last portion of the hike.
The hike is mostly flat and like nearly all hikes in the eastern states of America you’ll find exposed roots and rocks making the surface uneven. As you descend down into the valley, you’ll find the trail becomes a little more steep. This isn’t nearly as much of a concern until you return up the hike. If you would like to see the 15 ft upper falls, you can take a right at the fork. The left takes you to the 50 ft falls.
As you near the end of the hike, you’ll descend a spiral metal staircase. The staircase is one of the most unique aspects of the hike! If you stand toward the back near the cliff, you can capture a great view of the stairs with the falls in the background.
You will have to also descend down wooden stairs to uneven rocks to get better views of the falls. This would be the most difficult part of the hike and one that made me a bit nervous as a momma. Yet, with careful maneuvering, you can get some pretty awesome views of the falls.
We did not get to see the falls at full flow… but even with a more partial flow, the falls were quite impressive.
Getting There
Greeter Falls is located approximately 1 hour and 22 minutes from Cookeville and was the furthest waterfall we visited on our trip. Don’t let this distance scare you off because it was so worth it! You can also make a day trip to Greeter Falls from these locations:
Chattanooga, TN: 1 hr and 11 mins
Knoxville, TN: 2 hr 39 mins
Nashville, TN: 2 hr and 9 mins
If you are flying into the state, the nearest airports would be either Nashville International Airport or McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville.
Directions & Parking
Greeter Falls has a pretty large parking area (that’s free) directly adjacent to the trailhead. We had no difficulties finding the trailhead once we arrived in the parking lot.
We DID have trouble with the address that your phone puts in if you type in Greeter falls on google maps. This took us to someone’s private property where they have installed a sign that says “this is not greeter falls.” Whoops! An honest mistake that apparently happens a lot. Unfortunately… we had to drive almost 30 minutes to the correct Greeter Falls waterfall in Savage Gulf State Natural Area.
We hope this can help you plan your trip to Greeter 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
