Tennessee isn't known for its expansive beaches, and we have our landlocked state lines to thank for that. Still, we do have a solid handful of waterfalls tucked up in our mountains and sandy beaches tossed along our lake sides, and sometimes you have to take what you get. Thankfully, we aren't "settling" here in the Volunteer State. We don't do anything half-heartedly, and a day that mixes our man-made lakeside beaches and our thoroughly natural waterfalls makes for one of the prettiest in memory.
The Great Falls of the Caney Fork River is known as the top spot to visit in Rock Island State Park, and it's well worth a visit. Located roughly an hour and a half from the heart of Nashville, it's tucked away in the lush beauty of the mid-state and is incredibly close to a sandy beach.
Rock Island State Park offers hiking, fishing, boating and all sorts of extracurricular sport opportunities throughout the park. It's also located close to a natural sand beach right on the banks of Center Hill Lake.
There are multiple trails that will take you past waterfalls and gorgeous forested areas in Rock Island State Park, but we'd recommend you take the Rock Island Twin Falls moderate hike. It's only a little over a half mile, and makes it easy to hike to the falls and finish out your day on the beach.
Rock Island State Park is made up of 883 acres of natural beauty, but Center Hill Reservoir gives it a run for its money. The lake itself is 64 miles long and boasts 415 miles of shoreline, and is fed by the same Caney Fork River that gushes through Rock Island State Park.
The best surprise? It even has its own sandy beach! Most folks come expecting some kind of rocky, pebbly beach, but you can experience a taste of Florida sand in the heart of landlocked Tennessee.
You may have heard of a little local favorite spot known as Foster Falls, but you may be wondering "How long is the hike to Foster Falls?". It is a fair question and don't worry we will certainly get to that. Today we wanted to highlight for you everything you should know about this wonderful little swimming hole and why it is considered to be one of the best waterfalls in Tennessee. So read on to learn more about the Foster Falls hike in Tennessee.
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Nashville may be known for its honky-tonks and live music events, but just outside the city, you’ll find a natural wonderland that boasts rolling hills and waterfalls. Foster Falls is a quick 90-minute drive from the city and the hike to its base is both simple and accessible for most visitors. If you’re up for a quick drive and a solid hike, then a visit to Foster Falls in Tracy City, Tennessee may be just what you’re looking for.
Foster Falls is in South Cumberland State Park, a Tennessee-protected natural area found in the greater Tracy City and Sequatchie area. At just 90 minutes from the heart of Nashville, the waterfall hike remains one of the best natural escapes for city slickers. Right from the parking lot you can witness this mighty fall from the viewing area. Although you will only get a peek at the powerful falls the best way to experience it is with a trip down to the pool below.
The South Cumberland State Park is known for being one of the most wild and stunningly beautiful locations in the Volunteer State. The recreation area is located on the southern end of the Cumberland Plateau, and you’ll find plant life like azaleas and hemlocks as well as a smattering of local wildlife. We found the sheer rock walls and formations to be another glorious find along the trail too.
Foster Falls, of course, is one of the area’s main draws. The 60-foot waterfall plunges into a deep pool, and the blue of the water and bucolic greater area will make you feel like you’ve been transported to another world. This is a popular spot to go swimming and hang out by the water. You can expect to see plenty of people lounging around and splashing in the water when you go.
If you’re looking to hike to Foster Falls for yourself, then we would recommend the Foster Falls Climbers Loop Trail. At just under two miles long, the loop trail is great for kids and dogs kept on a leash. There is a moderate elevation gain of 337 feet along the entirety of the route.
As previously mentioned, the rock formations were one of our favorites when we hiked this trail. The path is steady but has some steep sections but if you take your time hikers of all skill levels should have no problem doing it. We even saw a woman who was in her late 70s trekking along the trail.
You know you are almost at the end of the trail when you arrive at one of the most exciting features of this hike; the suspension bridge. There is something so fun about a bouncy bridge in the middle of the wilderness and this one also takes you over a beautiful trickling stream. It is a great highlight of the trail and something that makes it stand apart from the rest.
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Visitors rave about the scenic climb and the great views of the waterfalls. Make sure you bring the correct footwear as there are wet, rocky sections of the trail. You can visit the falls at any time of the year, though the trail is most recommended during the warmer months. Especially if you are looking to dip into the pool. No one really wants to plunge into the icy depths in the winter.
This waterfall is well worth multiple visits because it will look different every time you go.
Adventure awaits so what are you waiting for, hop in the car and make it to this stunning waterfall for a lovely weekend retreat.
What a beautiful place to visit! Make sure you visit our friends over at AllTrails to learn about the conditions before you go and wear the proper attire for a hike through the rocky wilderness of Tennessee. I didn't forget the original question either so to answer "How long is the hike to Foster Falls?" I would say the 1.7-mile trail should take a little over an hour. I would also account for extra time to sit and enjoy the view of the waterfall when you go. If you want to learn more about what this trail looks like please check out our trip when we went with this Adventuring in the Moment video:
Have you ever heard of Greeter Falls? It is a very similar hike and waterfall that serves as a popular swimming hole.
Is Fall Creek Falls near Nashville...? Well, not precisely. It's about two hours away, but with the way Tennessee's varied geography works, you have to run about ninety minutes outside of the city to hit a waterfall anyway. And a frozen waterfall?!?! That's worth seeing. We've found a couple of shots that truly exemplify the beauty of Tennessee's topography, giving Nashvillians a solid place to road trip during the winter. Who wouldn't want to go on an adventure on a Tennessee waterfall road trip anyway? Are you in?
Known for hiking opportunities as well as its wonderful waterfalls, Fall Creek Falls is widely traversed during the warmer months and beckons to the more experienced hiker during the chill. Speaking from experience there is nothing quite as thrilling as hiking to a frozen waterfall. Trails in the winter take on a whole new dynamic and it's a great way to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors.
And here we go - the masterpiece of the park. There is also a Fall Creek Falls Waterfall Tour that is held every winter and through the spring and summer, highlighting the awesome hugeness of their frozen and icy falls. As the largest and most visited state park in the state, Fall Creek Falls has a lot to live up to. Fall Creek Falls is the obvious big ticket item you will want to go see but don't sleep on the other waterfalls in the park. Each one is a spectacular sight to see and hiking to the base of them makes a visit to this state park even better!
Did you know there are more than fifty miles of hiking and biking trails in the park? There are. Enough to keep you busy, you think? This is also one of the biggest state parks in Tennessee so you are bound to find plenty of adventures awaiting you. We have traveled to many state parks and this still remains one of our favorites.
The falls don't completely freeze - they do become heavy with ice, they almost freeze but do not quite overwhelm the heft of the falling water. Some smaller waterfalls may be frozen completely, although it's not extremely common. Either way, you will get to witness a snowy and enchanted landscape just waiting to be explored.
Would you ever go on a waterfall tour in the dead of winter? Maybe wander the quiet winter wonderland of the park...? There is so much to see and do in this park you can spend a long time hiking this winter wonderland.
The actual waterfall here measures in at 256 feet. This isn't a joke - we're looking at the magnificent real deal, here. It is one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern United States, and is joined by others in the park as well - Piney Falls, Cane Creek Cascades, and Cane Creek Falls. They're all included in the waterfall tour, as well. We have traversed the trail to the base of Fall Creek Falls and it remains one of our favorite hikes in Tennessee. There is so much to see along the way that the journey is almost as good as the destination.
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Have you ever been to Fall Creek Falls before? This is a wonderful waterfall positioned in a phenomenal state park. If you are traveling from far away make sure to check out this incredible Wooded Retreat for your home base for adventures in Spencer Tennessee. For more information please visit the Fall Creek Falls State Park page. Beautiful. Positively beautiful. Do you have your wintry visit all planned...?
As a bonus check out this Adventuring in the Moment video of the hike down to the base of this mighty waterfall that we did back in the summer. It will give you a good idea of what to expect while traversing this trail.
