Burgess Falls
Putnam County, Tennessee
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Putnam County, Tennessee
- Access status
- Official state park trail loop and parking documented
- The walk
- 1.5-mile round-trip loop (Tennessee State Parks figure)
- Ground & access
- Natural-surface trail with roots, steps and wood decking, rated moderate; the return service road is gravel. Rocks at the top of the falls are unstable and slick.
Burgess Falls is the 136-foot lower falls, the last and tallest of four waterfalls on the Falling Water River in Burgess Falls State Park. The River Trail leaves the parking lot and follows the river past the cascades, the upper falls and the middle falls to the main falls overlook. Tennessee State Parks says most people return to the parking lot along the gravel service road. There is no access to the base of the falls from the park; the park says the base is reached by boat or kayak from the Cane Hollow Recreation Area. There is no designated swim area.
Plan your visit
Burgess Falls State Park parking lot, River Trail past the upper waterfalls to the main falls overlook, return on the service road
Tennessee State Parks gives 1.5 miles round trip for the River Trail and service road loop. The River Trail itself is listed at 0.75 mile and the gravel service road (Access Trail) at 0.55 mile.
Natural-surface trail with roots, steps and wood decking, rated moderate; the return service road is gravel. Rocks at the top of the falls are unstable and slick.
Where to start
Burgess Falls State Park, 4000 Burgess Falls Drive, Sparta, TN 38583. The park asks visitors to park only in designated spaces, not on roadsides or in non-designated areas. Parking is limited, and the park suggests visiting another state park if the lot is full.
Timing & water
No season limits are stated. The park reports high visitation and limited parking.
Before you go
No fee is mentioned.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Middle FallsGuide: river trail past the cascades and upper fallsPutnam County, TN0.2 miS
- Little FallsState park trail route and parking documentedPutnam County, TN0.2 miSE
- Falling Water CascadesState park trail and trailhead documented; limited parkingPutnam County, TN0.2 miE
- Center Hill-Fancher FallsWhite County, TN3.3 miSW
- City Lake FallsGuide: short city park trail to a viewing platformPutnam County, TN11 miNE
Cummins FallsGuide: overlook trail; permit needed for the baseJackson County, TN14 miN
Twin FallsState park overlook and parking documentedWhite County, TN16 miS- Charlotte Falls115 ft (35 m) · Jackson County, TN16 miN
- Savannah FallsJackson County, TN17 miN