Rock Creek Falls
Polk County, Tennessee
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Polk County, Tennessee
- Access status
- National forest trail route documented; two creek crossings
- The walk
- 1.7 miles one way to the end of the Scenic Spur Trail at the falls, per Hiking the Appalachians
- Ground & access
- Broad trail with two crossings of Rock Creek, which can usually be rock-hopped. Off-trail areas beyond the falls are hazardous.
Rock Creek Falls is a 20-foot waterfall flanked by cliffs at the mouth of the Rock Creek Gorge Scenic Area in the Cherokee National Forest. It is also called Rainbow Falls on the Forest Service trail map. From the Clemmer Trailhead, the Scenic Spur Trail shares an old roadbed with the Clemmer Trail; at 0.15 miles the Clemmer Trail splits left, so stay right. The trail drops into the Rock Creek valley, crosses an old forest road at 0.6 miles, and crosses Rock Creek at 0.9 and 1.5 miles. After a set of large cascades, the maintained trail ends at Rock Creek Falls at 1.7 miles. Return the same way. Other waterfalls upstream are reached only by scramble paths and off-trail travel.
Plan your visit
Clemmer Trailhead off TN 30, Scenic Spur Trail (#78, white blazes) down the Rock Creek valley to its end at Rock Creek Falls
Hiking the Appalachians says the Scenic Spur Trail ends at Rock Creek Falls at 1.7 miles from the Clemmer Trailhead. Its 8.4-mile figure is a longer loop with off-trail waterfalls, not this walk.
Broad trail with two crossings of Rock Creek, which can usually be rock-hopped. Off-trail areas beyond the falls are hazardous.
Where to start
From US 64/74, turn onto TN 30; in 300 feet, at the sign for the Clemmer Trailhead (also the Scenic Spur Trailhead), turn left onto a gravel road and go 400 feet to a turnaround and parking area. No restrooms or drinking water.
Timing & water
Winter and spring have the best flow. Creek crossings are harder in high water.
Before you go
No fee is mentioned for this trailhead.
Visitor informationVisit sources
- Hiking the Appalachians: Rock Creek Gorge Scenic Area Waterfalls
- Hiking the Appalachians: Rock Creek Gorge Scenic Area Waterfalls
- Hiking the Appalachians: Rock Creek Gorge Scenic Area Waterfalls
- Hiking the Appalachians: Rock Creek Gorge Scenic Area Waterfalls
- Cherokee National Forest: Clemmer Trailhead
- be-roberts: Waterfalls in the Rock Creek Gorge
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Benton FallsResearched route and starting areaPolk County, TN0.8 miN
- Lowry FallsPartial guide: national forest trail documented; distance and the exact named falls are not confirmedPolk County, TN7.1 miNE
- Big Lost Falls164 ft (50 m) · Polk County, TN7.8 miE
- Jacks River Falls 80Published trail route and distance documented; long wilderness hikeFannin County, GA11 miS
- Coker Creek Falls (4) 45Partial guide: Forest Service trailhead documented; which drop in the series this listing marks is not confirmedPolk County, TN13 miE
- Conasauga FallsRoute and parking researchedMonroe County, TN19 miNE
- North Shoal Creek FallsPartial: no trail for the first part; short steep bushwhack on national forest landCherokee County, NC21 miE
- Emery Creek Upper Falls (3,4,5) 15, 40, 15Partial guide: route from trail guides; scramble at the upper falls; distance approximateMurray County, GA21 miS
- South Shoal Creek FallsCherokee County, NC21 miE