White Pine Cascades 28

Rhea County, Tennessee

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height: Not recorded
Location: Rhea County, Tennessee
Access status: Guide: long Cumberland Trail hike from Shut-In Gap Road
The walk: 5.9 miles one way from the Piney River Trailhead
Ground & access: Long trail with a boulder crossing of McDonald Branch (no bridge), steep drop-offs in places, and stone slabs that are slick when wet or icy. Old mine openings above the trail are unstable; do not enter them.

Cumberland Trail Conservancy: Lower Piney section

White Pine Cascades is a signed cascade on Duskin Creek on the Lower Piney section of the Cumberland Trail, historically called the Piney River Trail, near Spring City. Start at the Piney River Trailhead kiosk across Shut-In Gap Road from the Piney River Picnic Area. The trail follows the Piney River, crosses McDonald Branch on boulders, crosses the river on a 100-foot suspension bridge at mile 3.0, then follows Duskin Creek to White Pine Cascades at mile 5.9, marked by a wooden sign. The former Newby Branch and Duskin Creek trailheads are closed because the roads are private and the landowner does not allow parking or walking there; start and end at Shut-In Gap Road. Return the same way.

Plan your visit

Piney River Trailhead on Shut-In Gap Road, Cumberland Trail Lower Piney (Piney River) section south past the Piney River suspension bridge and up Duskin Creek to White Pine Cascades

The Cumberland Trail Conservancy mileage puts White Pine Cascades at mile 5.9 from the Piney River Trailhead at Shut-In Gap Road.

Long trail with a boulder crossing of McDonald Branch (no bridge), steep drop-offs in places, and stone slabs that are slick when wet or icy. Old mine openings above the trail are unstable; do not enter them.

Where to start

Piney River Picnic Area on Shut-In Gap Road, which has ample parking: from US 27 at Spring City, take TN 68 northeast 1.2 miles, turn left on Shut-In Gap Road, and go 1.1 miles. The trailhead is across the road from the picnic area.

Timing & water

Flow is strongest in the spring rainy season and may drop to a trickle in summer. The Piney River is prone to flash floods in heavy rain.

Before you go

No fee is mentioned. Overnight campers must register with Cumberland Trail State Park.

Visitor information

Visit sources

More waterfalls nearby

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

Explore Tennessee

Waterfall location

Rhea County, Tennessee.

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