Falling Water Falls Class I Natural-Recreational State Natural Area

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Falling Water Falls is a 136-acre natural area in Hamilton County. It is named for the 110-foot high waterfall on Little Falling Water Creek that drops over the resistant sandstone cap of the Cumberland Plateau. It plunges into the Falling Water Gorge, tumbling over cascades and passing large moss-covered boulders, before joining the Big Falling Water Creek in Pickett Gulf. The small cliff top section of the natural area is in the town of Walden while most of the natural area is located below the falls in Soddy-Daisy.

The vertical cliffs of the escarpment with its rugged, steep, rocky slopes appear in stark contrast to Falling Water Falls Gorge. The gorge is sheltered and stays moist with mist coming from the falls and cascades during most of the year. The sound of the big falls and the cascading whitewater below drowns out adjacent urban noise that might spoil the mood of this primitive and uniquely beautiful area. The area is home to a second growth hardwood forest comprised of oak-hickory and mixed mesophytic forest communities. There is an oak-pine forest on the drier parts of the natural area, particularly above the falls. Mountain laurel and rosebay rhododendron and eastern hemlock trees are common. Falling Water Falls supports a great diversity of plant and animal life including a small population of the federally endangered large-flowered skullcap (Scutellaria montana).

This diversity of forestland near a large urban area gives the area even greater significance. A scenic vista of the Tennessee River Valley, Pickett Gulf and Buzzard Point exists at the top of the falls above the 840-feet-high escarpment. Far below, Levi Cave is located at the base of the escarpment slope.

Site Management

Cumberland Trail State Park, 220 Park Road, Caryville, TN 37714 phone (432) 566 - 2229; Division of Natural Areas – East TN Office, 3711 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN 37921, phone (865) 594-5601; Division of Natural Areas, William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower, 312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue, 2nd Floor, Nashville, TN 37243, phone (615) 532-0431.

Public Access

Open to the Public - Full Access
Parking area (3 vehicle limit). Trail. Scenic views. Area open only from sunrise to sunset. A short trail leads to the falls and a commanding view of the Tennessee Valley in the Forest Park neighborhood. 

Additional information for camping on the CT:  www.friendsofthecumberlandtrail.org

Parking: Yes
Trail: Yes
Dogs on Leash: Yes
Hunting: No
Fishing: No
Camping: No

Directions

Falling Water Falls is located 10 miles north of downtown Chattanooga partly within the Town of Walden, Tennessee. Go north of Signal Mountain, Tennessee on Hwy 127, turn onto Fairmount Pike at Fairmount Orchard. At the first stop sign bear right onto Key Hulse Street. Go straight through the four-way stop onto Lake St. Take a left onto Ivory Ave., then bear right onto Chestnut St. Go straight onto Forest Park Avenue for about two miles to the parking area.

Details & Map

  • Map to Falling Water Falls
  • Owned by the State of Tennessee
  • Fairmount 7.5-minute quadrangle
  • Cumberland Plateau Physiographic Province
  • Designated in 1973