Falling Water Cascades

Putnam County, Tennessee

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height: Not recorded
Location: Putnam County, Tennessee
Access status: State park trail and trailhead documented; limited parking
The walk: Short walk; the cascades are the first of four waterfalls on the River Trail. The park gives 1.5 miles round trip for the full River Trail and service road loop
Ground & access: Natural-surface trail with steps and tree roots. The park rates the River Trail moderate.

Tennessee State Parks: Burgess Falls hiking

Falling Water Cascades is the 20-foot cascade on the Falling Water River in Burgess Falls State Park, the first of four waterfalls along the River Trail. The others are the 30-foot upper falls, the 80-foot middle falls and the 136-foot Burgess Falls, which have their own listings. The River Trail leaves the main trailhead parking lot and follows the river downstream. Most people return to the parking lot along the service road.

Plan your visit

Burgess Falls State Park main trailhead parking lot, River Trail to the first cascades on the Falling Water River

Tennessee State Parks gives 1.5 miles round trip for the River Trail and service road loop past all four waterfalls. No separate distance to the cascades is published; they are the first waterfall along the trail from the parking lot.

Natural-surface trail with steps and tree roots. The park rates the River Trail moderate.

Where to start

Burgess Falls State Park main trailhead, 4000 Burgess Falls Drive, Sparta, TN. Parking is limited; the park asks visitors to park only in designated spaces and not on roadsides.

Timing & water

The main trailhead keeps seasonal hours, with shorter hours in winter.

Before you go

No fee is mentioned.

Visitor information

Visit sources

More waterfalls nearby

Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.

Explore Tennessee

Waterfall location

Putnam County, Tennessee.

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