Waterfalls

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Northeast Tennessee has some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in the country, but what you may not know about is the abundance of waterfalls throughout the region – beautiful, breathtaking waterfalls – fun, entertaining waterfalls. 

For directions and more information on these waterfalls Click Here

NOTE: Please be cautious when hiking unfamiliar territory. The link above provides some insight to the terrain and level of difficulty but always be prepared. Some waterfalls are on private property. Please be considerate to land owners and obey property signs.

Backbone Falls
On Highway 133 in Johnson County, TN is Backbone Rock. Unlike the Natural Tunnel in southwest Virginia, this tunnel is man-made. Its original purpose was as a railroad tunnel to haul timber out of the forest. Today, the area is part of the Cherokee National Forest. There are picnic and camp sites available, along with fishing and hiking opportunities.

The Blue Hole
The Blue Hole, located in the Stony Creek area of Elizabethton, TN is a really beautiful place, and a popular local destination. There are four waterfalls located in close proximity to each other and to the parking area.  

Buckeye Falls
In case you've never heard of Buckeye Falls, it is said to be the highest waterfall east of the Mississippi. The height listed for it varies from source to source: from 475 to 700 feet high! If you visit during dry weather, I'm told you'll mostly see just a large, wet cliff. So this waterfall is best visited in the spring or times of heavy rainfall. The falls are in the beautiful, but remote Clark's Creek area of Unicoi County -- and the hike is quite strenuous -- so this one should be left to more experienced hikers.


Coon Den Falls
This beautiful 50' waterfall is located in the Dennis Cove area of Carter County, TN. While the hike is short (1/2 mile), it's fairly steep. I'd say this is a moderately difficult trail. You pass a smaller waterfall on the way up, but unfortunately it's covered with fallen trees, but just a little further and you arrive at the main attraction.
Dennis Cove Falls 
Getting there is half the fun... The 1.6 mile hike to Upper Dennis Cove Falls is a beautiful adventure. It's beautiful in that you walk through a tunnel of rhododendron along the cascading Laurel Fork Creek. The adventure is in making three creek crossings. Both the upper and lower falls are cascading waterfalls (with drops of 25' and 10') which form large pools at the base perfect for a summer swim.
Jones Falls
Jones Falls which is found along the Appalachian Trail near the TN/NC border. At 100 feet high, this impressive waterfall ought to get more attention. It's located just inside of the Tennessee line, between the towns of Roan Mountain, TN and Elk Park, NC.

Laurel Falls
This is probably the most popular, and arguably the most spectacular, waterfall in northeast Tennessee. But it's not necessarily the easiest to get to. The most popular route is to hike in from the top. It is a beautiful 1.2 mile trail that is level for much of the way with the first part actually following an old railroad bed. But the last quarter mile goes straight down. They've done a amazing job putting in stone steps all the way to the bottom, but it's still a difficult descent and a strenuous hike going up. The 55' waterfall (also known as Laurel Fork Falls) is powerful and stunning after some heavy rains.

Laurel Run Falls 

There is so much natural beauty to discover in this region -- I know I'll never be able to see it all. Here's a new discovery outside of Church Hill, TN -- Laurel Run Park. It's an absolute gem. It has to be one of the most scenic hikes in East Tennessee. If you love spring wildflowers, look no further. It's not that there a few wildflowers scattered here or there -- they're everywhere.

Little Laurel Branch Falls
Located on Wilbur Lake, you can almost drive directly to Little Laurel Branch Falls. It's directly across the lake from the picnic area (which lies between Wilbur Dam and Watauga Dam).

Lower Higgins Creek Falls

This is a seldom visited waterfall in Unicoi County, TN - not a lot of people seem to know about it. Which in some ways is a very good thing. When you're sitting at the base of this 100 foot waterfall you feel like you've stumbled onto something wild and pristine.

Margarette Falls
One of the most popular waterfalls to visit in Greene County, TN is the spectacular, 60-foot-tall Margarette Falls (sometimes spelled 'Marguerite'). The hike to get there is surprisingly beautiful, but also fairly strenuous. The trail snakes its way through impressive rock formations, over and around lots of small waterfalls and cascades, and across four creek crossings as it makes its way through the gorge to the falls. Even though it's listed as a moderate/strenuous hike (the slick rocks, the humidity and my backpack weren't helping me), I have to say it's one of the most scenic hikes in our area. The waterfall itself is magnificent - the combination of free-falling water and cascades makes this waterfall unique and picturesque.


Martin Creek Falls
Martin's Creek Falls (sometimes referred to as Martin Creek Falls) is a beautiful waterfall (20 feet high) to visit if you're ever in the Erwin, TN area. It's located right outside of town, within the Cherokee National Forest. It's not very well known -- but what it lacks in terms of power and majesty, is made up for in peace and tranquility. It's worth a visit - especially after some heavy rains. In times of drought this waterfall is reduced to a trickle.
Millstone Creek Falls
This 30' waterfall is located on private property on the western side of Buffalo Mountain in Washington County, TN. It's an easy hike (only 150 yards) from the road. Although it's private property, one website indicates that owners don't mind visitors as long as visitors respect the property and don't trash it up. So if you visit, show your appreciation to the property owners by picking up any trash you find.

Pete's Branch Falls 

Pete's Branch Falls is located in the beautiful Horse Creek Recreation Area in Greene County, TN. During high water this waterfall is quite impressive however, getting to it is a challenge. While it's possible to drive in and park 1 mile from the waterfall, this option is only for those with extra-high clearance vehicles (jeeps) and a tinge of insanity.

Pine Ridge Falls
Pine Ridge Falls is a 25 foot waterfall found in the beautiful Clark's Creek area of Unicoi County, TN. The hike to Pine Ridge is short, I'd guess a 1/2 mile. It's an easy walk, except for one creek crossing that can be tricky when the water's up. This scenic area is centrally located to Greeneville, Jonesborough, Johnson City, and Erwin on Clark's Creek Road, off of Route 107.

Ramsey Falls
Located at the privately owned Buffalo Mountain Camp, Ramsey Creek Falls is listed as a twenty foot waterfall. In fact, there are a series of falls and cascades which seem to go on and on. It's a fun area to explore.

Red Fork Falls
This is one of the most beautiful falls in our region, but while it's a short hike from the parking area, it's actually one of the toughest falls to view. The half-mile hike is extremely steep and very slippery. You don't so much hike to the falls as you actually climb down to them -- no steps here, just rocks and tree stumps to hold onto. So while it's an amazing waterfall, this trip isn't for everyone. Red Fork Falls is actually a series of eight falls. The top of the main 60' high falls. Below is the corkscrew that the water enters immediately after the main falls -- the water enters from the right and zig-zags through the narrow channel to another cascade. It's an amazing place to visit -- but with all the climbing, you'll be sore the next day or two!

Rock Creek Falls
These remote waterfalls are located on the side of Unaka Mountain in Unicoi County, TN. The way the water plunges 50 feet down its two tiers is unique and beautiful -- and difficult to adequately capture. It's one of those that I guess you just need to go see for yourself.  Standing there you also get an idea where most of the rocks in Rock Creek came from. You're surrounded by sheer rock walls on three sides that have been shedding fragments both large and small which have been washed down the mountain over the time.
Rocky Fork Falls
This Trio of falls is sometimes referred to as Rocky Fork Falls -- which makes sense to me as this is the most unique waterfall found in Rocky Fork (the series of falls on Lower Higgins Creek which are at the northern edge of the enormous 10,000 acre parcel of land known as Rocky Fork are also spectacular).

Sill Branch Falls
If you've never visited the Clarks Creek area of Unicoi and Washington Counties, you should put it on your New Year's list. Sill Branch is a favorite -- surrounded by rock cliffs and steep hills on each side -- it's nestled into the woods. Very remote and tranquil.


Sill Branch Falls (Upper Falls)
Upper Sill Branch Falls is rarely visited - and for good reason. The trail to the falls is in horrendous shape with fallen trees and overgrown brush. What used to be a logging road is almost completely choked and impassable in places.  So this isn't a hike to take the kiddos on.  It's a bushwhack.  But if you are up for a challenge, this hike would probably be best accomplished in the winter months when the vegetation is at a minimum.


Spivey Falls
Lower Spivey Falls is located on private property, which is really a shame. It’s not that the current custodians of this natural treasure are not doing a good job maintaining the falls. They are. It’s just that something this beautiful ought to be part of a national park. This is actually Lower Spivey Falls, as it is part of a series of four large waterfalls, all privately owned. There is a place to park, but visitors are not allowed beyond the gate. Even from this distance, the falls are impressive and it's possible to zoom in and get a good shot.

Twisting Falls
Twisting Falls (also known as Compression Falls or Twisted Falls) is found in the Elk Mills area of Carter County near the border with North Carolina. This waterfall is a popular place to be in the summer.


Weir Dam
South of Bristol, TN, just below the South Holston Dam, is a wonderful recreation area on Osceloa Island. This is a great place to take visitors to introduce them to the beauty of northeast Tennessee. There's fishing, picnic tables and a nice trail that makes a 1.5 mile loop around the island. But the real attractions are the weir dams. They were constructed in 1991 on both sides of this island to add oxygen to the Holston River when the TVA is not generating electricity.

Wolf Creek Falls
Wolf Creek Falls, a 30' waterfall just over the border into Tennessee near Hot Springs, NC. After you have your Sound-of-Music-Moment at Max patch, it's a mere 9.5 miles up to Wolf Creek Falls. And while that's a short distance, it's not without its difficulties.  First, the road can be rough in places. Not terrible, but I'd still recommend a high clearance SUV or truck to be safe.