You can easily see why this is one of the most visited state parks!! It's huge, for one, with lots…read moreof hiking trails that highlight the key features of the park, think lots of waterfalls!! Most are visible from overlooks with short hikes, and for the more adventurous, there are treks to the bottom of the namesake falls, a cable trail (bring leather gloves, carabiner, possibly climbing gear) to Rockhouse Falls, or longer trails like the Paw Paw loop, Overlook trail, or even the Prater Place for a hidden Hemlock Falls. I also stayed in the lodge, which was fantastic! The rooms were well equipped, comfortable, and had great features like balconies. The view at the restaurant over the lake was beautiful, especially at sunset. The fisherman style cabins have decks literally on the water, so that looked like a must see at some point, too!! Couple of other hits: pet friendly rooms, pet friendly trails, golf course, cabins, fire pit and pool at lodge, Nature Center, and Visitor Center!

Pictures do not do this campground justice! This is an absolutely beautiful campground that has…read moreplenty of shade trees, and spacious camp spaces. The bathhouses are clean and well maintained, and there is so much to do in the area! Despite there being a lot of kids, this campground is relatively quiet and very relaxing! The roads are well maintained, the grounds are just beautiful (I know I keep saying that). This is one of my top 5 favorite campgrounds EVER!!

A beautiful setting in the woods. The owners are amazing and super sweet. The grounds are clean and…read morespaced out. You feel safe and comfortable and can enjoy the great outdoors. The store offers some beautiful jewelry, cute cups and shirts, ice cream, sandwiches, and ice cold drinks. It is worth the drive to enjoy this gem even if you aren't going to hike to the falls.

Always enjoy our stay at Old Mill Camp! The spots are spacious, the grounds are well maintained,…read moreand the restrooms are spotless. Did I mention the value? Great pricing, especially if you stay a week or more.

Very cool place awesome hike. Dipping in the water on a hot day was amazing. All kinds of beautiful…read morenature and sounds. Brought a publix sub from florida to enjoy out here

Rock Island State Park has a strange layout but is jam-packed with interesting sites. If you stop…read morein the Visitor Center, they have maps and written directions on how to hit the highlights easily. You can view different falls, cascades, flow stones, and more from short distance strolls to overlooks, or delve deeper into the gorge for a closer view. Swimming is not permitted except in certain areas, so take notice, people have drowned here. Be careful when hiking and exploring the floor of the gorge as the dam can release water with limited warning. That being said, the Twin Falls and Great Falls are lovely, and the diverse landscape keeps the walk extremely interesting! Me and the dog did the Upstream and Downstream trails on the Twin Falls side, and the Gorge Trail on the Great Falls side, and while Dianne, they are steep and slippery, so wear proper shoes!

Beautiful state park! Highly recommended for a relax hike and for great scenery. Parking is limitedread more

This is Burgess Falls, another state park located in Central Tennessee sitting 12 miles northwest…read moreof the town of Sparta, TN. There's a 3/4 of a mile out and back hike called the River Trail that leads to 4 different waterfall lookout points comprising Burgess Falls SP. Waterfall #1 - The Cascades. Sort of the introduction area to the park. Waterfall #2 - First Falls. A quick glance at a 30 foot high waterfall section. But nothing special, imo. When Continuing on the trail, you'll cross over a wooden bridge and follow up a staircase. Now at... Waterfall #3 - Middle Falls... Middle Falls is 80 feet high and partially obstructed by trees and branches having grown over time. *Side Note*.... I wish park services would do some forest cutting for everyone to enjoy clearer views of the park's waterfalls. Entrance right now is free. I'd suggest charging a small fee and using that money to pay for some grooming. A lot of the observation points can't be fully appreciated. Just me venting a little, lol. Waterfall #4 - Burgess Falls... Burgess falls is the centerpiece highlight of the park. Standing at 136 feet from top to bottom, Burgess Falls can absolutely be dramatic, but still natural excess forest maturation disrupts full visibility of the falls. I did read that kayaking at the bottom of Burgess Falls is the most interactive way to come face to face with this statuesque waterfall. You can rent kayaks at Cane Hollow Recreation Area, located at the end of Cane Hollow Road. It's about 10 minutes from Burgess Falls. You can end the River Trail hike at the Top of Burgess for a panoramic overlook of the rugged gorge the falls splash down into from high above. It's another quick stop and go area before returning back towards the trailhead. Overall, Burgess Falls was a muted experience for me, but still has potential to be a rewarding visit if park authorities can maintain the inevitable growing forest hindrances that negate special moments at the waterfall overlooks.

The whole place was quite clean from the bathrooms to the dining area. The store shelves are neatly…read moreand fully stocked. Whispering Falls really prioritizes community-building. They have musician performances occasionally, cornhole boards, and discussion prompts on their tables for a no-phones meals. The variety of items in the shop is perfect for RVers or anyone in Sparta, TN. You can grab souvenirs like bracelets, Dolly Parton merch, or t-shirts. You can also get toiletry essentials like toothpaste. The store offers a big chilled drink section with beer, lemonade, sports drinks, and more. From the counter, you can get hot or cold food like ice cream, coffee, slushies, boba, or pizza. Next to the ice cream counter is LactAid. If you're an RV tourist, there are showers, picnic tables, and more onsite in a relatively private area behind the storefront. Drivers on the road can't see your campsite. If you're looking for somewhere to park for a day trip to Burgess Falls (parking will be tight until the new upper lot and visitors' center is complete), you can park at this store after a $20 purchase.

From the owner: Escape to the heart of nature at Whispering Falls at Burgess RV Park ~ Country Store ~ Cafe…read more The sounds of Magestic Burgess falls will relax you by day, soothe you by night. Our spacious, Big-Rig friendly RV sites provide full hookups and level pads. Create lasting core memories with your family and friends with campfire stories under the starry sky. We are steps away from the entrance to Burgess Falls State park which offers a 1.5 mile hiking trail and the opportunity to experience four beautiful waterfalls. Your four legged family members are welcome!

Love the grilled chicken sandwich! My husband loves the spaghetti plate and the Alfredo is…read moreawesome!! From the panini's to the plate dinners everything we've tried is wonderful! If you're down in the lake or passing through, stop and give them a try! They also have the cheapest gas in town!

Good campground site. I have a thing for bathrooms. These bathrooms are not that clean. Dead bugs…read moreand Showers are a tad bit yucky. I clean houses and there is no reason in my opinion that campground bathrooms cannot be clean. Host was very nice.

The owners are so sweet and maintain the campsites beautifully! It was awesome being less than 15…read moreminutes to explore mammoth caves. The sites are a little close, but there was plenty of room for our dogs, the fire ring and the picnic table.

A great find! Not far from Burgess Falls and some outdoor experiences- we had a chicken Caesar…read morewrap, chicken tender basket, and a Reuben sandwich and they were all good! The place is very large with nice outdoor patio space and indoor tables. Seems like they probably have a large crowd with music on the outdoor stage on Friday and Saturdays.

Had a delicious dinner tonight, wings and beer, which the wing sauce Kickin Bourbon was fantastic!…read moreHad cheese curds, nachos for apps, will definitely be back!