Need a quick nature escape from the city? I’ve taken some of my favorite day trips just outside Nashville, and they always seem to lead to scenic drives, wooded trails, and the kind of peaceful spots that help you slow down. In this post, I’ll show you a few waterfalls near Nashville, TN that I’ve loved—each one offering a refreshing mix of beauty, quiet, and adventure just beyond the city lights. Whether you’re up for a short hike or just want to sit by the water and breathe, these spots are perfect for a nature reset.
Some of My Favorite Waterfall Day Trips:
- Cummins Falls – I’ve cooled off in the swimming hole below this dramatic cascade near Cookeville. It gets popular on hot days, so go early if you want it a bit quieter.
- Fall Creek Falls – This one’s a must. It’s the tallest waterfall in Tennessee, and I always feel tiny (in a good way) standing near it. Just under two hours from Nashville and totally worth the drive.
- Machine Falls – Tucked into Short Springs Natural Area, this hidden gem took me by surprise. The hike is moderate and shady, and the falls feel like a secret tucked into the forest.
- Burgess Falls – One of my favorites for an easy riverside hike with big payoff views. Near Sparta, it’s great for a mellow day outdoors without a long drive.
Unique Waterfalls Near Nashville, TN
Burgess Falls - 1 hour and 30 minutes from Nashville
Burgess Falls didn’t build up slowly. It came in stages — a series of drops growing louder and more powerful with each step down the trail. The final plunge, over 130 feet, hit with a sound that you feel more than hear. I stood at the overlook and just let it hit me.
The trail was rugged in parts, roots snaking across the path, but every twist gave me a new angle — white water against dark cliffs, foam swirling in the river below. At the last viewpoint, I leaned against the railing, eyes wide, and thought, This isn’t just a waterfall — it’s a showstopper.
Afterward, I drove into Cookeville and stopped at Crawdaddy’s West Side Grill for a veggie stir fry and sweet tea. It smelled like ginger and green onions, hot from the wok, and I didn’t say much while I ate. I was still watching water in my head.
Burgess Falls At a Glance
- Location: Burgess Falls State Park, Sparta, TN
- Trail: ~1.5 miles round trip, moderate with stairs
- Height: 136 feet (main drop)
- Best Time to Visit: Spring and early fall
- What to Bring: Grippy shoes, water, camera with zoom
- Food Nearby: Crawdaddy’s West Side Grill, 53 W Broad St, Cookeville, TN
Cane Creek Falls - 2 hours from Nashville
Cane Creek Falls sits inside Fall Creek Falls State Park, but it feels like its own universe. I took the Gorge Overlook Trail, where trees gave way to one of the most dramatic waterfall scenes I’d seen all trip — water tumbling over a high cliff, wide and loud, into a gorge that looked like it could swallow a city block.
I stood on a rock ledge, not too close, just watching the water disappear into the mist. There were no fences at that point, just trust between you and the terrain. I thought, This is the kind of view that quiets even your loudest thoughts.
Later, I ate lunch at the park restaurant — roasted veggies over grits with peppered gravy. It smelled like woodsmoke and salt. I sat on the deck with the breeze in my face and the sound of distant falls in my ears.
Cane Creek Falls At a Glance
- Location: Fall Creek Falls State Park, Spencer, TN
- Trail: ~1 mile via Gorge Overlook or Cable Trail for base access
- Height: ~85 feet
- Best Time to Visit: Spring or after rain
- What to Bring: Trail shoes, water, caution near overlooks
- Food Nearby: The Lodge at Fall Creek Falls Restaurant, inside park
Cummins Falls - 1 hour and 20 minutes from Nashville
Cummins Falls made me work for it. The trail starts easy enough, but the real path leads straight into the gorge — and I do mean into it. I climbed over boulders, waded through waist-high water, and slipped more than once, laughing and cursing the slick rocks.
But when I reached the base of the falls, every scratch and soggy sock faded. Water fanned out across layers of rock like a giant staircase, pooling below in a cool, swimmable basin. I waded in, stood waist-deep in sunlight and spray, and thought, This is what it feels like to earn a view.
After drying off, I stopped in Baxter for a grilled veggie wrap at Rose Garden Restaurant. It was spicy, a little smoky, and came with kettle chips I inhaled without grace. I sat on the patio, wet shoes by my feet, completely happy.
Cummins Falls At a Glance
- Location: Cummins Falls State Park, near Cookeville, TN
- Trail: ~2.5 miles round trip with mandatory gorge hike to base
- Height: ~75 feet
- Best Time to Visit: Summer for swimming, early fall for cool flow
- What to Bring: Gorge access permit, water shoes, dry bag
- Food Nearby: Rose Garden Restaurant, 520 E Broad St, Baxter, TN
Fall Creek Falls - 2 hours from Nashville
I had seen photos of Fall Creek Falls — but nothing prepared me for standing in front of it. At 256 feet, it’s the tallest free-falling waterfall east of the Mississippi, and it shows up with confidence. The overlook gave me a full panoramic sweep: cliffs, forest, and that ribbon of white water cutting down through it all.
I took the base trail, a rocky descent full of switchbacks and roots, and when I reached the bottom, the sound shifted. It wasn’t just crashing — it was echoing, filling the canyon. I stood there with mist in my eyelashes and thought, This is what awe looks like with no filter.
Back at the lodge, I had a grilled squash and pesto flatbread that smelled like summer. I sat outside, overlooking the lake, still damp from the hike but too content to care.
Fall Creek Falls At a Glance
- Location: Fall Creek Falls State Park, Spencer, TN
- Trail: Overlook is steps away; base trail is ~0.8 miles steep and rocky
- Height: 256 feet
- Best Time to Visit: Spring and fall for max flow and views
- What to Bring: Sturdy shoes, trekking poles, time to linger
- Food Nearby: The Lodge at Fall Creek Falls Restaurant
Foster Falls - 2 hours from Nashville
Foster Falls drops like a hammer — short trail, big payoff. I crossed a swinging bridge and followed the rocky descent into a sandstone gorge where the water plunged 60 feet into a deep turquoise pool. Cliffs rose high on both sides, and I saw climbers scaling the rock face while others floated in the pool below.
It was loud, but not overwhelming — like the falls were holding their breath between each second of descent. I found a boulder near the edge and sat down, sun on my shoulders, and thought, This is what balance feels like — wild and still at once.
Later, I grabbed lunch in Tracy City: a roasted veggie panini at The Mountain Goat Market. It was warm, crisp, and packed with flavor. I took it outside and ate on a bench with wet socks tucked under the table.
Foster Falls At a Glance
- Location: South Cumberland State Park, near Tracy City, TN
- Trail: ~1 mile loop to base and back up
- Height: ~60 feet
- Best Time to Visit: Late spring to early fall
- What to Bring: Water shoes, dry bag, camera with zoom
- Food Nearby: Mountain Goat Market, 109 Main St, Monteagle, TN
Greeter Falls - 1 hour and 45 minutes from Nashville
Greeter Falls caught me off guard — in the best way. The trail was short, shaded, and filled with birdsong. I crossed a spiral staircase bolted into a rock face (yes, really), then followed a path down to a basin where the waterfall crashed into a curved bowl of stone.
The light hit the water just right, casting ripples across the canyon walls. I waded into the shallows, shoes in hand, and thought, Some places don’t have to try — they just show up and do their thing.
Afterward, I detoured through Beersheba Springs and found a small café where I had a vegetable quiche and cucumber salad. It smelled like dill and fresh bread. I took my time — because everything about the day told me to slow down.
Greeter Falls At a Glance
- Location: Savage Gulf State Park (Greeter Falls Trailhead)
- Trail: ~1 mile loop with staircase descent
- Height: ~50 feet
- Best Time to Visit: Spring or early summer
- What to Bring: Water, grip shoes, sense of curiosity
- Food Nearby: The Dutch Maid Bakery Café, 109 Main St, Tracy City, TN
Ozone Falls - 1 hour and 30 minutes from Knoxville
Ozone Falls doesn’t waste time. You pull off the highway, hike a few steps, and suddenly — there it is. A perfect 110-foot plunge straight into a limestone amphitheater, like the earth opened its mouth just to let the water fall through.
I stood at the top first, peering over the edge (safely), then scrambled down into the bowl to see it from below. The air was cool and echoing, and the way the water hit the rocks below felt both chaotic and calming. I thought, This isn’t just a waterfall — it’s a moment carved out of stone.
Afterward, I stopped at a nearby roadside diner for a veggie plate: squash casserole, okra, and warm biscuits that smelled like Sunday morning. The kind of meal that keeps you quiet for a while.
Ozone Falls At a Glance
- Location: Ozone Falls State Natural Area, near Crab Orchard, TN
- Trail: ~0.3 miles, steep descent to the base
- Height: 110 feet
- Best Time to Visit: Year-round, especially spring
- What to Bring: Grippy shoes, camera, caution near ledges
- Food Nearby: Cumberland Mountain State Park Restaurant or local diners
Rutledge Falls - 1 hour and 15 minutes from Nashville
Rutledge Falls is one of those hidden gems people whisper about — and now I get why. It's on private land, but open to the public with respect. The short path leads to a tumbling, broad waterfall over flat rock, framed by trees that felt like they were guarding something sacred.
Locals were swimming, kids laughing, and I sat on a flat boulder just watching the current roll over dark stone. I thought, Some waterfalls aren’t about height — they’re about rhythm.
I swung through Tullahoma after and had a roasted red pepper sandwich from a café called Fuel So Good. It smelled like smoke and rosemary, and I ate it in the sun with bare feet and a grin.
Rutledge Falls At a Glance
- Location: Near Tullahoma, TN (privately owned with public access)
- Trail: Short walk from the parking area
- Height: ~40 feet, wide and stepped
- Best Time to Visit: Summer for swimming, spring for full flow
- What to Bring: Water shoes, respect for private land, trash bag
- Food Nearby: Fuel So Good Coffee Roasters, 1400 N Jackson St, Tullahoma, TN
Twin Falls - 1 hour and 40 minutes from Nashville
Twin Falls didn’t come from a river — it came from a leak. Water from a dam seeps through a mountain, emerges halfway down a cliff, and spills into the Caney Fork River like it’s been doing it for centuries. It’s strange, beautiful, and kind of mesmerizing.
The path was easy, and when I got to the viewpoint, the falls were bursting out of the rock like someone had turned on a hidden faucet. I stood there, amazed by the accident of it all, and thought, Nature never stops editing — and sometimes it leaves the best mistakes.
I drove into McMinnville after and found a local place serving baked veggie lasagna with garlic toast. The smell hit me before the plate landed, and I don’t think I said a word until it was gone.
Twin Falls At a Glance
- Location: Rock Island State Park, near McMinnville, TN
- Trail: Easy trail from parking lot to river viewpoint
- Height: ~80 feet (varies based on dam flow)
- Best Time to Visit: Year-round; most dramatic in spring
- What to Bring: Water, binoculars, time to sit
- Food Nearby: Collins River BBQ, 117 E Main St, McMinnville, TN
Fiery Gizzard - 1 hour and 30 minutes from Chattanooga
This one’s not just about the waterfall — it’s about the journey. The Fiery Gizzard Trail is long, rocky, and relentless in the best way. It winds through hemlock forests, mossy boulder fields, and finally leads you to several cascades, including Sycamore Falls — a wide, roaring beauty in a stone amphitheater.
I sat on a mossy log with soaked boots and aching knees, and thought, This isn’t the trail you do for a picture. This is the one you do to remember what effort feels like.
Afterward, I grabbed a veggie chili at The Blue Chair Café in Sewanee. It smelled like cumin and campfire. I sat on their porch with a cold lemonade, still replaying the trail in my head.
Fiery Gizzard At a Glance
- Location: South Cumberland State Park, near Tracy City, TN
- Trail: 2–12 miles depending on route; rocky and strenuous
- Height: Multiple small falls; Sycamore Falls is ~12 feet wide and strong
- Best Time to Visit: Spring and fall for water and foliage
- What to Bring: Good shoes, plenty of water, patience
- Food Nearby: The Blue Chair Café, 41 University Ave, Sewanee, TN
Waterfalls Near Nashville: Final Thoughts
Tennessee has a way of making you slow down. You start off thinking you’re chasing waterfalls — maybe ticking them off a list — and then somewhere between the trailheads and the river bends, you realize the waterfalls are chasing something in you.
Some, like Fall Creek Falls and Burgess, hit you with awe. Others — Greeter, Rutledge, even the strange magic of Twin Falls — ease you in with light and sound, then linger long after you’ve left. I remember sitting on a wet rock at the base of Cummins Falls thinking, “This state doesn’t just show you beauty — it asks what kind of person you want to be when you see it.”
There were blisters. There was rain. There was one very slippery boulder I’d rather not discuss. But there was also a deep sense of return — not just to nature, but to stillness. These waterfalls didn’t just reward the hike. They reminded me that getting there — mud, sweat, wrong turns and all — was part of the gift.
If you’ve got a few hours to spare from Nashville, follow the water. You might find more than you’re looking for.
Jump to a Spot...
- • Burgess Falls - 1 hour and 30 minutes from Nashville
- • Cane Creek Falls - 2 hours from Nashville
- • Cummins Falls - 1 hour and 20 minutes from Nashville
- • Fall Creek Falls - 2 hours from Nashville
- • Foster Falls - 2 hours from Nashville
- • Greeter Falls - 1 hour and 45 minutes from Nashville
- • Ozone Falls - 1 hour and 30 minutes from Knoxville
- • Rutledge Falls - 1 hour and 15 minutes from Nashville
- • Twin Falls - 1 hour and 40 minutes from Nashville
- • Fiery Gizzard - 1 hour and 30 minutes from Chattanooga