One great aspect of visiting or residing on the Plateau is that the proximity provides us an opportunity to take easy day or overnight trips to some other stellar spots in neighboring states. The hills of South Carolina and Northern Georgia and the mountains of Tennessee present countless outdoor treasures to enjoy.
A few such gems recently discovered were Falls Creek Falls State Park and Rock Island State Park – both in Tennessee and not too far from Chattanooga. These central-Tennessee parks were reportedly once considered for national park status due primarily to their stunning waterfalls.
However, at the time, the Smoky Mountain National Park was underway and required a significant chunk of Tennessean resources. Thus, the two areas – roughly 30 miles apart – became designated, instead, as state parks.
And, although Highlands and Cashiers are resplendent for their countless waterfalls, the falls inside these two Tennessee parks are spectacular for different reasons and definitely worth the drive to see.
First of all, Fall Creek Falls is sprawled across 29,800-plus acres along the eastern top of the Cumberland Plateau. Therefore, waterfalls cascade from streams atop cliffs that descend into deep gorges. In fact, the 256-foot Fall Creek Falls is considered one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern United States. Viewed from a hiking trail on the opposite side of the plateau from which it plunges, it seemingly disappears into a rocky abyss.
Other waterfalls within the state park include Cane Creek Falls, Piney Falls, and Cane Creek Cascades. Plus, a suspension bridge extends 200 feet across a gorge, under which is Cane Creek below; nearby can be heard the rush of the waterway spilling over the Cane Creek Falls.
Nearby Rock Island State Park is an 883-acre park situated on the headwaters of Center Hill Lake, which is at the confluence of three rivers: Caney Fork, Collins, and Rocky. The waterfalls in this park literally emerge not as much from the waterways, but directly out of the limestone cliffs and banks.
Caney Fork River Gorge is considered one of Tennessee’s many national treasures, and one of its main features is Great Falls, a 30-foot waterfall located below a 19th-century cotton textile mill that the falls powered more than a century ago.
Multiple hiking trails are accessible all over each park, and creeks, streams, and rivers provide opportunities to kayak, paddleboard, fish, and – in some cases and in warm weather – swim. Crystal clear water pools or flows next to sheer cliffs. Common sightings are trout in the waterways at the two parks as well as deer and birds aplenty. Everything from the eastern phoebe, which makes its nests in the grooves and shelves of the cliffs surrounding waters, to the sing-song trilling of the wood thrush can be seen and heard at these parks. Even the car-starting sounds of the elusive yellow-billed cuckoo are a thrill for birders.
At Fall Creek Falls, the must-do hike is the Gorge Overlook Trail, which is a moderate walk over the suspension bridge and to three different spots to view waterfalls. The Blue Hole Trail at Rock Island is only a half mile and, although dubbed “strenuous” due to its steep steps, it leads to an edenesque setting of multiple waterfalls jetting from every cliff and embankment.
Both of the Tennessee parks mentioned offer multiple campsites and cabins for overnight stays and Fall Creek Falls even has a lodge. Plan a few days any time of the year to enjoy mountainous sites a bit distinct from what the Plateau offers as well as some magnificent and unique waterfalls to boot.
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