Hike the Falls Loop Trail in South Cumberland State Park
Altamont, Tennessee
Details
Distance
3.2 miles
Elevation Gain
500 ft
Route Type
Loop
Description
Added by Alyssa Teboda
This 3.2 mile loop tucked away in Tennessee's South Cumberland State Park leads you to 3 amazing waterfalls. You'll hike in a covered forest along Firescald Creek. Gorgeous scenery even on a rainy day!
Nestled in the Savage Gulf State Natural Area, the popular Falls Loop Trail begins across from the Greeter Falls parking lot. At 0.4 miles into the hike you'll reach a fork in the trail, take the left route towards Boardtree Falls. Right before reaching the waterfall you'll come upon a suspension bridge hanging over Firescald Creek which connects to Greeter Trail. The bridge is a great spot to take photos before heading back up the Falls Loop Trail a short distance to Boardtree Falls.
Continuing past the first waterfall the trail opens up and soon 40 foot sandstone cliffs rise to your right. After winding through the shaded forest and cliffs for 0.4 miles you will reach a fork in the trail leading to Upper Greeter Falls on the right and Lower Greeter Falls on the left. Lower Greeter Falls is the grander of the two waterfalls, so save that for your last stop. Be careful when hiking down to Lower Greeter Falls especially in wet weather conditions, you will be descending a metal spiral staircase that can get slippery but at the bottom you are presented with an amazing view of the 50-foot waterfall.
If you're up for a short hike through lush shaded forests, towering sandstone cliffs, along a serene creek, with multiple waterfalls, then this is the hike for you!
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Hike the Falls Loop Trail in South Cumberland State Park Reviews
I recommend water shoes!
4.0
This was definitely not my favorite hike i have done. I went how the link said so i went left to boardtree falls. It was very rocky i think if i knew how it was i would have of just gone right straight to greeter falls. Getting to greeter falls from boardtree was steep and very rocky and not as marked so they were times i was double checking to make sure i was still on the path. Once i got to greeter falls a family i saw leaving when I was starting down the path made a big mess of trash. The spiral starcase was a little scary so if you have a bigger dog be mindful. It looked like the straircase was the only way down to the bottem of the falls. The top of the falls was easy to get to. Going back there is 2 flights of stairs and they are the medal ones that you can see threw. I know if i brought my bigger dog he would not of walked on it. My little dog never has problems with stairs or stairs like these but she freaked over these.
2.0
Went to all 3 areas today (June 24, 2021) & it was a great experience. Broadtree falls wasn’t really flowing which is okay, it was still very pretty & the suspension bridge is fun to walk on. Greeter Falls was amazing & I had the whole area to myself for about 2 hours. (I got there by 8:30am) Getting to the lower falls could be harsh on someone with bad knees or someone who doesn’t do well with rocks + steep. I didn’t go into the swimming hole at the last stop but I did sit & enjoy my lunch on a rock.
5.0
My wife and I loved Boardtree Falls so much that we didn't even continue to Greeter Falls. We just relaxed there for a few hours.
4.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
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Greeter Falls and Blue Hole
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Savage Falls Trail
Hike the North Plateau-North Rim Loop at Savage Gulf
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