Read more, The brand new Lodge at Fall Creek FallsState Park is a fully appointed resort located at the gateway of one of the most amazing outdoor destinations in Tennessee. Do you want to push your cycling skills? Editors note:The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about things to do in Fall Creek Falls State Park. 20 + Kid-Friendly Smoky Mountain Hikes That Adults Will Love Too! Visitors may bring their own canoes and kayaks year-round. Pro Tips: Check in at the Visitors Center. Specialties: Fall Creek Falls is the largest park in the state park system and offers some of the most spectacular scenery in Tennessee. Hikers can opt for short or long walks around the lake and to the base of Fall Creek Falls. There are over 56 miles of hiking trails around the park. At the base, in the warmer months, you can jump in the lake and swim at Fall Creek Falls to cool off. John Gullion, Managing Editor at the Citizen Tribune, is a freelance contributor for TheSmokies.com LLC the parent company of TheSmokies.com and HeyOrlando.com. Par is 72. 10-14-21: Heavy rains brought severe flooding to Fall Creek Falls State Park. Rent a boat and go fishing out on the lake or try your luck in one of the many streams throughout the park. We have free and paid options that provide you with the details you need to have your next great adventure in Tennessee. Within the parks 20,000-plus acres, five waterfalls cascade down the slopes of the Cumberland Plateau. Take a look around the site and we believe you will fall in love with the park, the people that make Fall Creek Falls so special. Each spring, wildflowers bloom, and the park is full of migratory birds. By continuing to browse this site, you're accepting the use of cookies. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Recently spent a couple of hours browsing through the museum at Falls Creek. Want to know more? Lake lovers will be thrilled to know that theres even a boat dock where you can rent aluminum jon boats, paddleboats, kayaks and canoes. The Canopy Challenge course features a variety of aerial obstacles including ladders, wobbly bridges, rope swings, cargo nets, balance beams and zip lines. In fact, if you could move the park out of the shadow of the Appalachians to a region less flush with majestic, natural beauty, Fall Creek Falls would be talked about with the great natural destinations in the country. The volunteer was very helpful and we enjoyed chatting with her. We joined the Woodland Trail at the Visitor Center to hike the 1.1-mile Cane Creek Gorge Trail. The 26,000-acre park features majestic cascades, deep chasms, virgin timber and the striking Fall Creek Falls, which plunges 256 feet into a shaded pool. The Fall Creek Falls Golf Course is another popular attraction. Read Also: The lost iron mine hidden behind a waterfall in the Smoky Mountains. I recommend arriving a day early and overnighting in Port Angeles if you're coming from Seattle. A snack bar is also available at the clubhouse. If you want to know before you go, check out the hike leading down to this breathtaking waterfall with this Adventuring in the Moment video: You can also hike to the highly popular Piney Creek Falls, a 95-foot waterfall that's right on Piney Creek. All Rights Reserved. More than 56 miles of trails can be explored. A path up steep stairs takes you to the top of the falls. Delightful Chattanooga is only an hour away. Fall Creek Falls is birding heaven (PDF). If you want a more interesting drive, however, you can follow my old route and take I-75 down to Exit 60 at Sweetwater. Each of the three Grand Divisions has at least one major tourist point; Memphis in the west, Nashville in the middle, and the mountains in the east. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Discover more about learning with a Ranger -- in a park or in your classroom! But if that is not the case for you, set your alarm. Tennessee State Parks offers engaging, relevant, and interactive educational experiences. For serene solitude, find the Cane Creek Gorge. Once inside the park, however, you wont regret a thing. It is accessible from the aptly named Base of Fall Creek Falls Trail, which is relatively short but quite difficult. Book ranger programs here. You can also see . The park offers over 46 miles of hiking trails, with the waterfall trails being the most popular. Check out the Banquet and Event Guide at the top of this page for pricing and more information. The park also has a large swimming pool, which is open seasonally. That is because of the mountains and popular parks which attract visitors up and down the state. Review of: Falls Creek Heli-Shuttle - Private Tours, See all attractions in Falls Creek on Tripadvisor, See all outdoor activities in Falls Creek on Tripadvisor, Hotels with Complimentary Breakfast in Falls Creek, Points of Interest & Landmarks in Falls Creek, Juneau Helicopter Tour and Dogsledding Experience, Wells, Cheddar Cheese and Cheddar Gorge - Private Day Trip from Bath, Dubai City Tour with Guide - Old and New Dubai sightseeing tour, Sailing full day island DIA with lunch from Heraklion, Yellowstone, Mt. Still exploring? We are not endorsed by, authorized by, or affiliated with any mentioned attractions. Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our, Ski & Snowboard Areas Beach & Pool Clubs. What is the most highly rated trail in Tennessee? 2022-12-07 Use caution at creek cable crossings. With plenty of wildlife, spectacular waterfalls, abundant forest, and gorgeous gorges invite stunning photos. Of course, these are only the highly anticipated falls in the park. The general store in The Village sells groceries. 2021 The Fall Creek Falls Guide. Even in September there were a good selection trails around. We drove down thru the Lakeside area and there were cars there and apparently cabins rented. Heres What You Should Know, 29 Best Restaurants in Pigeon Forge, Ranked [2023], Great Smoky Mountains National Park Entrance Fees, What You Should Know, Smoky Mountains in March: Events in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge [2023], A Simple Guide to Smoky Mountain Parking Passes, Park it Forward. Pro Tips: Fall Creek Falls will challenge your sand game. Release your inner Tarzan at the challenge course. While most cars should be able to make it, If you are feeling iffy about the capability of your vehicle, its probably best to pass on this attraction. Join us in the trees for 2.5 hours of zip-riding, heart-pounding, bridge-crossing, breath-taking, tree-climbing, eco-friendly, unforgettable fun! Pickwick Landing State Park was a riverboat stop dating from the 1840s. Fall Creek Falls, at 256 feet, is one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern United States. Your Middle Tennessee Adventure Starts Here. We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Try these popular ideas in and around Flag Pond. On Paw Paw, look for woodland birds, owls, woodpeckers, and whip-poor-wills. On scorching-hot days, the half-mile Turkey Pen Ridge Trail is the right choice. Fall Creek Falls and 250-foot Coon Creek Falls share the same plunge pool. The most popular ones include Fall Creek Vineyards, Flat Creek Estate Winery, Spicewood Vineyards, McReynolds Wines, Spicewood Vineyards, Perissos Winery, and more. Prepared food is available at The Village pool snack bar and FCF Golf Course Pro Shop. Have you visited Fall Creek Falls? Fall Creek Falls State Park is the largest state park in the state, made up of more than 26,000 acres on the eastern side of Tennessee. Enjoy the driving range and practice green. 2023 Smarter Travel Media LLC. Take a look at the park map to find these destinations. Fall Creek Falls, at 256 feet, is one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern United States. The deep gorge provides multiple habitats. The Lodge Fall Creek Falls will become one of Tennessees most unique destinations. Easy to navigate lifts, can be a slow ride, Easy to move between ski areas at Fall Creek. Thier main lakeside restaurant is currently under renovation and will be reopening in 2021. The park serves as an excellent outdoor classroom with programs designed to relate to your school's required curriculum. A suspension bridge crosses the river above the waterfall. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Gilbert Gaul follows Fall Creek Lakes shore. They have a friendly staff and a great snack bar. The page includes all the trail maps we have available, organized by park. Hikers can opt for short or long walks around the lake and to and from the base of Fall Creek Falls. Just past the cascades is an overlook that provides a good view of both Cane Creek and Rockhouse Falls. The most worrisome risks are extreme water temperatures, strong currents, and unguarded waters. The park is about a three-hour drive from Gatlinburg. Fall Creek Falls also features five picnic pavilions complete with picnic tables and grills. The falls are very well known by nature lovers, and during wet seasons, a second set of falls often appear. With a 150ft cascading fall, watch Fall Creek's final plunge to Cayuga Lake. Had a lovely massage after a couple of long days on the mountain. Great access to lifts with friendly people working them, also great with helping kids and beginners on and off lifts What a great little Museum to visit. We appreciate your patience during the recovery process. Buy a souvenir to support the Friends of Fall Creek Falls. And finally, we have the newest addition to Fall Creek Falls State Park: The brand new Lodge at Fall Creek Falls. We are the most comprehensive private site covering the Park and built with the intention of creating a one stop resource for visitors to learn, not only about the park, but about all of the great things to do and see in the area. Check your email trip inspiration will be hitting your inbox soon. The natural beauty of the area will make you want to visit Fall Creek Falls over and over again. Adventurous visitors can head across the suspension bridge to enjoy views from the opposite side of the gorge. The Falls Creek Falls pool offers a large main pool, shallow kiddie pool, restroom, snack bar, lounge chairs, and scenic lake view. Strangely, no one else at the overlook showed any sign of exertion. Want an adventure? Found within 40 miles of the park are Virgin Falls, Savage Gulf, and Laurel-Snow natural Areas, as well as the famed Cumberland Caverns. All of them are breathtaking. Registration is free and available at Park Headquarters in the Taft Village Area and online. It boasts a variety of obstacles that require climbing, swinging, balancing, jumping, crawling, and more! Northwest Tennessee, for instance, around Dyersburg and Martin are not exactly vacation hotspots. More To Explore: Enjoy more epic Tennessee hikes. There are 30 cabins and 222 campsites for overnight guests. Tennessee's most popular state park offers plenty of outdoor recreation. Golf Digest has named Fall Creek Falls golf course as a top 100 public course three times. As the state's most visited state park, it boasts some of the best hiking trails in Tennessee, including everything from gorgeous waterfalls to gurgling creeks to magnificent gorges cut deep in the Cumberland Plateau. What are the best outdoor activities in Falls Creek? Let us know in the comments. They do have a reception venue there, but you will have to contact the park directly to get booking information. A little further downstream, you can see the top of Cane Creek Falls. Wading pools are nearby. The water is seven feet at its deepest and three feet at its shallowest. Read our Privacy Policy. But even that tiny town does a fair tourist trade. Rushmore, Arches & Grand Teton Tour from Denver, Traditional Lappish evening in the wilderness with dinner. Theres also the Fall Creek Falls snack bar and general store. Roxie Yonkey is an author and travel writer who specializes in road tripping. The self-guided Canopy Challenge course takes around 2.5 hours to complete and includes zip-lining, tree-climbing, bridge-crossings, and over 70 ariel obstacles. Millikans Overlook is a popular overlook and is home to the parks colorblind viewfinder. All Rights Reserved. Its magnificent, majestic beauty is worthy of the preservation efforts its received. Obviously, the falls are the most impressive during periods when rain is abundant. When the water levels are high especially after heavy rains the falls are majestic. If youre looking for a place to eat after all the fun, check out this neat old-school diner! Turn west on TN-68 and then south on Dayton where you can stop and have some Scopes Monkey Trial fun. Since 1996, the Environmental Education Center has been educating and facilitating environmental education through the park's vast natural resources by offering a low-cost, high-quality overnight field trip for school groups. Click More Info for complete details. The state park offers a variety of on-site restaurants. Choose your own Tennessee vacation and discover new food, classic whiskey, rockin' music, and so much more. When you step out of the lobby, you enter a world of towering waterfalls andbreathtaking overlooks. Frost clothes the trees in white. Fall Creek Falls is home to a beautiful gorge with awe-inspiring scenic overlooks and magnificent waterfalls. Attractions Blessed with some of the most extraordinary scenery in America, Fall Creek Falls attracts thousands of people each year to its numerous swimming, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, bicycling and nature viewing opportunities. We used the nordic trails to access the the High Bogong Plains and Fainter range. The park is home to a variety of activities suitable for visitors of all ages and abilities. Fall Creek Lake (345 acre)provides catches ofLargemouth Bassand is home to state record catches for Channel Catfish and Bluegill. Frequently Asked Questions about Falls Creek. What are the most well-known parks in Tennessee? There are multiple hikes and waterfalls in the park, many of which are fairly close to each other. After a short hike, the trail reaches the base of the . Leashed dogs are welcome in most areas of the park including the campgrounds, hiking trails, and picnic areas. Backcountry camping is allowed with a permit. Visitors will see Cane Creek as it passes out of the park. Dropping 256 feet, Fall Creek Falls is the tallest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River. We enjoyed the Restaurant at Fall Creek Falls relaxed feel and buffet. Fall Creek Falls has three mountain bike trails covering 24 miles. And even if you dont swim, the water from the falls creates a mist that makes it difficult to stay dry.