If you're craving misty trails, rocky cliffs, and the sound of water crashing through deep forest canyons, you’re going to love exploring Tennessee’s waterfalls. I’ve hiked through the Appalachians in search of these natural wonders—and every time, I found something that stopped me in my tracks. These waterfalls in Tennessee offer wild beauty, dramatic drops, and peaceful forest escapes that are perfect when you need a break from the everyday. Here are some of my personal favorites that I think you’ll want to explore too.
Highlights:
Unique Waterfalls in Tennessee
Virgin Falls and Big Laurel Falls - 2 hours from Chattanooga
Some trails feel like they’re taking you somewhere. Virgin Falls felt like it was leading me into a hidden world. The 9-mile loop in the Cumberland Plateau winds past sinkholes, limestone bluffs, and thick forest, with not one but three major waterfalls — including Big Laurel Falls and the dramatic showstopper, Virgin Falls itself.
Big Laurel Falls comes first, pouring from a cave mouth into a shadowy rock chamber, water slipping off stone like a silk curtain. I lingered there longer than I meant to, just listening to the echo. Farther in, the trail descends into the gorge, and suddenly Virgin Falls appears — blasting out of a cave wall and disappearing straight into the ground. No stream. No continuation. Just magic. I stood there staring, damp pack on the ground, thinking, “This is what it means to discover something ancient.”
After hiking back out, I devoured a meal at The Old Times Café in Sparta. I had their veggie plate with fried okra, collard greens, pinto beans, and cornbread — the kind of meal that tastes like memory. Everything smelled like pepper, butter, and someone’s grandmother’s kitchen. I didn’t say much. Just ate, stretched, and watched the steam rise from my sweet tea glass.
Virgin Falls and Big Laurel Falls At a Glance
- Location: Virgin Falls State Natural Area, near Sparta, TN
- Height: Virgin Falls ~110 feet; Big Laurel Falls ~30 feet
- Trail: ~9 miles round trip, strenuous with elevation gain
- Best Time to Visit: Spring or after rainfall for strong flow
- What to Bring: Water, trekking poles, lunch, time
- Food Nearby: The Old Times Café, 127 Churchill Dr, Sparta, TN
Hen Wallow Falls - 1 hour from Gatlinburg
The trail to Hen Wallow Falls starts off gently, winding through the shaded forest of Cosby in the Great Smoky Mountains. It smells like damp leaves and pine needles, and the air gets quieter the farther you go. The falls themselves are tall and narrow, about 90 feet, pouring down a mossy rock face like a veil unraveling in slow motion.
I followed a short side trail down to the base and stood barefoot on a rock, the spray cool and steady on my skin. The sound wasn’t overwhelming — more of a soft, echoing hush that matched the stillness of the woods around it. I remember thinking, “This feels like a place where nothing bad has ever happened.”
After the hike, I headed into Cosby and found Carver’s Orchard Restaurant, surrounded by rolling hills and apple trees. I ordered the vegetable soup and a grilled cheese sandwich, followed by a slice of hot apple pie that smelled like cinnamon and comfort. The windows looked out on rows of bare trees just starting to bloom. I could’ve sat there for hours.
Hen Wallow Falls At a Glance
- Location: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near Cosby, TN
- Height: ~90 feet
- Trail: ~4.4 miles round trip via Gabes Mountain Trail, moderate
- Best Time to Visit: Spring or early summer for strong flow
- What to Bring: Bug spray, snacks, water sandals if you want to wade
- Food Nearby: Carver’s Orchard, 3465 Cosby Hwy, Cosby, TN
Ramsey Cascades - 25 minutes from Gatlinburg
Ramsey Cascades is the tallest waterfall in Great Smoky Mountains National Park — and it makes you earn it. The 8-mile round trip hike climbs steadily through old-growth forest, past moss-covered logs and along a rushing stream that keeps you company the whole way.
The final approach is steep and rocky, and then suddenly, there it is — water tumbling 100 feet down a jagged stair-step cliff, the spray catching light like shattered glass. I dropped my pack, sat on a boulder, shoes off, and thought, “This isn’t just beautiful — it’s alive.” The air was cool, the sound enveloping. It felt like the mountain was breathing.
After the descent, I made a well-earned stop at The Wild Plum Tea Room in Gatlinburg. I had the spinach quiche and a chilled cucumber salad, with a fresh-baked roll that tasted like it had never been in a fridge a day in its life. Everything smelled like herbs, wood, and honey. My feet were sore. I didn’t mind.
Ramsey Cascades At a Glance
- Location: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near Gatlinburg, TN
- Height: 100 feet
- Trail: 8 miles round trip, strenuous with rocky sections
- Best Time to Visit: Spring and early summer, or fall for color
- What to Bring: Plenty of water, snacks, good boots
- Food Nearby: The Wild Plum Tea Room, 555 Buckhorn Rd, Gatlinburg, TN
Indian Flats Falls - 40 minutes from downtown Gatlinburg
Indian Flats Falls is the kind of waterfall you have to work for — a backcountry stop along the Middle Prong Trail that feels more like a journey than a destination. The trail follows an old railroad bed, wide and gentle at first, then narrowing as it winds deeper into moss-covered forest and beside a rushing creek.
The falls themselves are tiered, flowing in wide sheets down a series of ledges before pooling below in a shaded, fern-lined hollow. I sat with my feet in the water, steam rising from my shoulders, and thought, “This place doesn’t ask for attention. It gives it.”
After the long return hike, I headed into Townsend and grabbed a hearty post-trail meal at The Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro. I ordered their grilled portobello sandwich with balsamic glaze and roasted root vegetables on the side. It tasted woodsy, warm, and perfectly earned. I didn’t even look at my phone.
Indian Flats Falls At a Glance
- Location: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near Tremont
- Height: Multi-tiered, approx. 60 feet combined
- Trail: ~8 miles round trip via Middle Prong Trail, moderate
- Best Time to Visit: Spring through early fall for flow and color
- What to Bring: Plenty of water, lunch, good socks
- Food Nearby: The Dancing Bear Bistro, 7140 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Townsend, TN
Grotto Falls - 15 minutes from downtown Gatlinburg
Grotto Falls is the only waterfall in the Great Smoky Mountains you can walk behind — and that’s reason enough to go. But what made it memorable wasn’t the novelty, it was the mood. The trail in, part of the Trillium Gap Trail, passes through deep shade and layers of soft green. It smells like wet bark and mountain laurel.
The falls cascade about 25 feet over a rocky ledge, forming a curtain of cool mist you can step behind. It’s like standing inside the moment the world exhales. I paused mid-trail, shoes squeaking, and thought, “Sometimes you don’t need a new path — just a different view.”
Afterward, I drove down to Gatlinburg and stopped at Wildflower Bake Shop & Boutique for a late breakfast. I ordered their veggie strata and a lemon poppy muffin still warm from the oven. It tasted like sunshine and soft earth, and the café smelled like sugar, books, and pine.
Grotto Falls At a Glance
- Location: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near Gatlinburg, TN
- Height: ~25 feet
- Trail: ~2.6 miles round trip via Trillium Gap Trail, moderate
- Best Time to Visit: Early morning to avoid crowds
- What to Bring: Light rain jacket, camera, patience for a turn behind the falls
- Food Nearby: Wildflower Bake Shop, 849 Glades Rd Suite 2A1, Gatlinburg, TN
Fern Branch Falls
Tucked along the Porters Creek Trail in the Smokies, Fern Branch Falls isn’t a headliner — but it’s one of those quiet places that gets under your skin. The trail winds gently through old forest, past stone walls, wildflowers, and the soft rustle of trees that sound like they’ve been whispering for a hundred years.
The falls trickle elegantly down a dark rock face, framed by — yes — a lush curtain of ferns. It’s less of a destination and more of a companion along the way. I remember standing there, no one else in sight, thinking, “Some waterfalls don’t need to impress — they just need to be.”
Afterward, I drove into Sevierville and stopped at Elvira’s Café for a slow breakfast. I ordered the veggie omelet with home fries and a biscuit that could hold its own at a county fair. The air smelled like rosemary, butter, and hot coffee. I ate with my feet still dusty and didn’t rush a thing.
Fern Branch Falls At a Glance
- Location: Porters Creek Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Height: ~40 feet
- Trail: ~4 miles round trip, easy to moderate
- Best Time to Visit: Spring — for both the falls and the wildflowers
- What to Bring: Water, bug spray, journal
- Food Nearby: Elvira’s Café, 4143 Wears Valley Rd, Sevierville, TN
Laurel-Snow Falls - 1 hour and 10 minutes from Chattanooga
The Laurel-Snow trail doesn’t ease you in — it throws roots, rocks, and steep climbs at you from the start. But every challenge on this trail feels like it’s building toward something big. Deep in the gorge near Dayton, the falls arrive with thunder. Laurel Falls pours in a narrow, ferocious rush down a rock wall, while Snow Falls, farther in, is a thin veil tumbling over a sandstone bluff.
The hike is long, rugged, and a little disorienting — in the best way. The roar of water, the smell of wet stone, the sudden shifts in light — it all wraps around you. I sat near Laurel Falls, shoes soaked and back aching, and thought, “Sometimes you don’t find clarity until the trail has taken everything else first.”
After the hike, I drove into Dayton and stopped at Jacob Myers Restaurant, where I ordered their black bean burger with sweet potato fries and a tall lemonade that vanished in about two gulps. The food was casual and comforting, and I ate it with my trail map still open on the table.
Laurel-Snow Falls At a Glance
- Location: Laurel-Snow State Natural Area, near Dayton, TN
- Height: Laurel Falls ~80 feet; Snow Falls ~35 feet
- Trail: ~6-8 miles round trip depending on route, strenuous
- Best Time to Visit: Spring or after rain
- What to Bring: Lots of water, trekking poles, time to get lost in it
- Food Nearby: Jacob Myers Restaurant, 185 Chickamauga Dr, Dayton, TN
Stinging Fork Falls - 1 hour and 20 minutes from Chattanooga
This one felt like a secret. Just outside Spring City, the trail to Stinging Fork Falls is short and shaded, with just enough elevation to make your legs work for it. The falls appear suddenly — a dramatic, fan-shaped drop that roars into a pool framed by rock ledges and hardwoods.
I followed the sound before I saw it, and when I reached the base, I stood there alone, the water louder than anything else in the world. I leaned against a warm boulder and thought, “The quiet you earn is always the best kind.”
Post-hike lunch was at Rockwood Street Grill, where I ordered a grilled veggie sandwich and a side of onion rings that might’ve stolen the show. The restaurant was local, unfussy, and exactly what I needed.
Stinging Fork Falls At a Glance
- Location: Stinging Fork Falls State Natural Area, near Spring City, TN
- Height: ~35 feet
- Trail: ~2 miles round trip, moderate with some stairs
- Best Time to Visit: Early spring or after rainfall
- What to Bring: Water bottle, snack, willingness to slow down
- Food Nearby: Rockwood Street Grill, 100 S Chamberlain Ave, Rockwood, TN
Margarette Falls - 1 hour and 30 minutes from Knoxville
Margarette Falls looks like a waterfall from a storybook — tiered, photogenic, and wrapped in green. The hike to get there is short and scenic, tracing a creek through a narrow gorge near Greeneville, with wildflowers peeking out from the mossy rock walls.
When the falls appeared, it felt like the forest had just parted to offer it up. Water fans out over the stepped rock face in a near-perfect triangle, collecting in a round pool below. I sat on a mossy ledge and thought, “If peace had a sound, it would be this exact rhythm.”
Afterward, I headed into downtown Greeneville and grabbed a table at Brumley’s Restaurant. I ordered the portobello wrap with garlic aioli and a cup of tomato basil soup. Warm, earthy, and deeply satisfying — the kind of meal that feels like a thank-you note to your legs.
Margarette Falls At a Glance
- Location: Cherokee National Forest, near Greeneville, TN
- Height: ~60 feet
- Trail: ~2.6 miles round trip, moderate
- Best Time to Visit: Spring for wildflowers, fall for color
- What to Bring: Grippy shoes, camera, small picnic
- Food Nearby: Brumley’s, 111 N Main St, Greeneville, TN
Emory Gap Falls - 1 hour and 15 minutes from Knoxville
I ended my Tennessee waterfall loop with Emory Gap Falls — a small, elegant curtain tucked into Frozen Head State Park. The trail is short, with gentle terrain and the soft sound of Flat Fork Creek running beside you most of the way.
The falls spill about 20 feet over a rock shelf into a quiet pool surrounded by boulders and hemlocks. I sat there with my boots off, the smell of damp moss and clean air in my lungs, and thought, “There’s no better way to end than with something this calm.”
After the hike, I stopped at Woods & Waters Café in Wartburg for a sandwich and a slice of homemade banana bread that tasted like someone made it just for me. I lingered in my seat, scribbling notes and letting the weight of the trail settle in.
Emory Gap Falls At a Glance
- Location: Frozen Head State Park, near Wartburg, TN
- Height: ~20 feet
- Trail: ~2.5 miles round trip, easy and scenic
- Best Time to Visit: Spring through early summer
- What to Bring: Light daypack, water, a slow pace
- Food Nearby: Woods & Waters Café, 106 Main St, Wartburg, TN
Waterfalls in Tennessee: Final Thoughts
Tennessee’s waterfalls aren’t flashy — they’re soulful. Some are tucked into smoky hollows, others hidden behind switchbacks or buried in sandstone gorges. And almost every one of them comes with a hush, like the land is gently reminding you: slow down, breathe, you’re here now.
I walked through fog, over roots slick with rain, and across bridges older than my boots. I passed wildflowers, snake holes, and the occasional unbothered deer. And at the end of each trail, water — sometimes roaring, sometimes whispering — doing what it’s always done, long before I showed up with my map and boots.
If you’re chasing waterfalls in Tennessee, don’t rush. These aren’t quick detours — they’re slow revelations. Bring dry socks, a little curiosity, and something warm to eat afterward. These falls don’t just offer beauty. They offer space to think, to feel, and to come home just a little bit changed.
Jump to a Spot...
- • Virgin Falls and Big Laurel Falls - 2 hours from Chattanooga
- • Hen Wallow Falls - 1 hour from Gatlinburg
- • Ramsey Cascades - 25 minutes from Gatlinburg
- • Indian Flats Falls - 40 minutes from downtown Gatlinburg
- • Grotto Falls - 15 minutes from downtown Gatlinburg
- • Fern Branch Falls
- • Laurel-Snow Falls - 1 hour and 10 minutes from Chattanooga
- • Stinging Fork Falls - 1 hour and 20 minutes from Chattanooga
- • Margarette Falls - 1 hour and 30 minutes from Knoxville
- • Emory Gap Falls - 1 hour and 15 minutes from Knoxville