You need a permit to walk all the way down to the falls and it is a very challenging hike. They…read morelimit the amount sold so it does sell out. The gorge does flood so def watch the safetyvide. we wouldn't have made it without out hiking poles. It was my first time using them but theybare game changer for hills and uneven terrain. We had to cross a river ... not creek. Climbing over rocks and boulders. River rocks are sooo slippery. Shoes should have good tread. This was challenging and truthful doubt I'd do it again. Water was cold. But falls are beautiful.

Cummins Falls State Park is located 10 miles north of the town of Cookeville, in Central Tennessee…read more Can you go swimming at Cummins Falls??? Of course you can! It's a 1 mile hike down to the bottom of a gorge to reach a swimming hole Travel and Leisure Magazine rates...as one of the "10 Best in the United States"! It's $7 to gain access to the gorge. You can purchase passes online ahead of time at tnstateparks.com. Or, you can buy passes inside the Visitor Center the day of, but they allot only 200 tickets per day so depending upon the time of year, passes can sell out quickly especially during peak summers. Now...there is a waterfall overlook to check out but I think it'd be more worthwhile to get to Cummins Falls ASAP before the crowds arrive and you can always visit the lookout on the return trip back up towards the trailhead. Once you reach the river area, it's 6/10th's of a mile remaining until you arrive at the falls. Also, make sure to hang towards the left while hiking beside the river and (imo) it's imperative to be wearing water shoes as the creek is filled with sharp rocks and water levels reaching shin high. While hiking to Cummins Falls, you really get a sense for being in the heart of nature. I enjoyed the setting. Approaching the falls, it's 75 feet of cascading waters flowing down the cliffside and ideal for swimming. Best of all, visitors can climb the rocks and explore at their leisure making for an adventurous experience. Of course, it's a rite of passage to finish the experience in style by going swimming. The park opens at 8am. I'd suggest arriving as early as possible before it gets busy. The park closes at 6pm but there's a clearly stated sign that visitors must exit the gorge area by 5pm. One extra note...lifeguards are on duty at Cummins Falls throughout the day. When returning back up towards the trailhead, now head over to the lookout platform getting to admire Cummins Falls from high above. It makes for a photogenic perspective and is a clear reminder of why the great outdoors can be so special. Right nearby Cummins Falls SP are more local waterfalls to check out including...Fall Creek Falls, Burgess Falls, Ozone Falls, Virgin Falls, Piney Falls and Stinging Fork Falls, just to name a few.

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!

Rustic and no distractions, nice place for a break from all the noise. The perfect place to enjoy…read morehuman interaction, games and dinner with no phones. Give yourself a couple days to get over the awkward silence. Takes that long to wake up from our Technology induced coma

I love this place. Most relaxing place anywhere, if here in the summer, there's a swimming pool…read morevery close to the cabins for the kids. Also a lake at the bottom

Loved this place!! Nice trails, quiet and clean. Very nice bath house and covered picnic area.read more

Great hiking spot, beautiful landscape and lots of options! We will definitely come back.read more

I would have really liked to have seen this place when it was a public fun spot. I've read reviews…read moreof people getting married here with fond memories of coming as a kid. I ve read of people feeding the ducks, kayaking, hiking, camp fires. It sounds amazing. I am reviewing it for what it is now, not what it used to be. Now, the Wheel House is an Airbnb. The mini golf is open and free for the guests. The grounds are still able to be explored, but not meant to be functional. My daughter and I spent two nights here. The Wheel House is clean, nice and updated. It has a bedroom upstairs with the bath. The downstairs is a kitchen, couch/sleeper. There is a TV both upstairs and down. There is no Wifi (this is clear in their listing), but the cell reception for me was strong. The hosts provided us with some complementary Gatorade, water and soda choices. There was also coffee available and a filtered water jug in the fridge. We arrived late, didn't have a chance to get to a store before arriving - those complementary drinks were very much appreciated! We had a great time here. We played mini golf, explored the old amusement park, went fishing (catch and release rules apply) - she caught 8 and I caught 5. It was everything we needed. And it's only 15 minutes to downtown Cookeville! The accommodations are comfortable. The brochures on what to do around Cookeville was also helpful. I enjoyed the stay here very much!

Absolutely love this place! Cute local area, good for photos or just a little nature walk. The park…read moreis good, and the kayaking is nice as well. Definitely a must go around Christmas for a cheap family outing.

Stay Away! I hate it here!! I'd like to keep these beautiful trails all to myself! Nothing to…read moresee here with your pups. The parking is terrible, the Rangers are not helpful at all, and the restrooms are the worst! Just let me come here alone and enjoy this splendor Mother Nature has created! But in all seriousness, I love it here! You should check it out.

Holy mole! This is a fabulous state park. Totally free parking, incredible restroom facilities - I…read moreknow that might sound dramatic but they had air conditioning in them! This is something Florida needs to jump on board with. And there was so many great spots for ground camping as well as areas for campers/RVs. We spent a couple hours at the park doing the hike to the waterfall. It was pretty leisurely and the grade is mild so it made for a comfortable trek. If you are planning to hike here, drive as faaaaaar as you can before parking. If you choose to park in the first lots you'll be walking about a mile just to get to the trail head. The trails were beautiful and the waterfall is so fun! You really can climb and explore it, I would suggest bringing plenty of water to drink and shoes that you can walk through the water in.

Quick excursion but still worth the stop! Short trek down a fairly easy path to a beautiful…read morewaterfall.

This is a beautiful place to visit and enjoy nature. One of Southeast Tennessee's hidden gems. The…read moreHike to the bottom is very strenuous, lots of slick rocks and steep inclines over rocks. All the work is well worth the hazards.

The swinging bridge at Pickett state park is really cool! I've spent several summers here and will…read morecontinue coming back!

In Jamestown, Tennessee, Pickett State Park is about 1,000 acres inside an almost 20,000 acre…read moreforest. The land was donated to the state by Stearns Coal and Lumber Company. The Civilian Conservation Corps worked eight years to build trails and facilities. It's the first state park in the South to be designated a Dark Sky Park, meaning there's so little light pollution you can get unencumbered views of the sky. It has 15 cabins, 26 campsites, a visitors' center, a playground, a nature center, a tennis court, an apiary, a volleyball court, an amphitheater, and 58 miles of hiking trails- including the Blue Trail (.75 mile), the Double Falls Trail (.7 mile), the Hazard Cave Trail (1.6 mile), the Hidden Passage Trail (7.8 miles), the Indian Rockhouse Trail (.2 mile), the Island Trail (.3 mile), the Ladder Trail (.95 mile), the Lake View Trail (.5 mile), the Moccasin Rock Trail (.65 mile), the Natural Bridge Trail (1 mile), the Ridge Trail (2.5 miles), and the Tunnel Trail (.45 mile). We did the Hazard Cave Trail, and frankly, the Hazard Cave was one of the coolest natural feature we've seen at any state park so far.

This unassuming park slightly outside of Crossville packs a punch! There's a golf course, swimming…read morepool, camping, cabins, boat rentals, and more, as well as the nearby Homestead Tower Museum. I stayed in the Mill House Cabin, which is now one of my favorite rentals of all time! Sitting on the underside of the bridge, you have no neighbors shy of the ranger residence up a private driveway leading to the visitor center / aviary area. With great access to trails, walking distance to the restaurant, and pretty much central to everything while being secluded and private at the same time. I did one of the ranger-led night floats, for a little history and a night sounds segments, which was also amazing! The park is relatively near to Chattanooga or Fall Creek Falls as well if you are interested in day trips!

We love this TN State Park! Rangers are always super hospitable and the trails are well kept. Make…read moresure to visit the bridge in the Pioneer Loop Trail.

Love this hike! We went on a rainy day, hardly anyone on the trail. It was too chilly to swim, but…read moreevery portion of the trail was gorgeous!!! Can't wait to go back!!

Absolutely beautiful!! I went with my neighbors and we had a great time! The virgin falls is huge…read moreand it's stunning, we are going back and camping nearby. Can't get enough!