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.

I've been going here for the last 8 years and every year since I've started going nothing has…read morechanged for the most part. I prefer this side of the lake anyway so you don't have a ton of options but for what you pay, improvements should be made. They redid the dock story last year after new ownership and that's about it. The steps to the parking lot are over grown with weeds and unusable, and the overnight boat slips are always filled with trash, nothing to tie up to, and half of the slips are unusable. I won't stop coming here, but this place has a lot of work to do.

best cabins and view. me and my family have been going here for the last 15 years and nothing but…read moregood things have come out of it. they recently went under new management and changed the name to lake cumberland marina and the renovated the dock and marina. still miss the old marina but it was a much needed improvement. the cabins were remodeled this year 2021 and the updated the couch added a coffee maker which is a keurig so make sure you bring k cups and added a few more new kitchen appliances. the bathroom had a new shower head and a new curtain. the bedrooms are moved around and better beds. the only down side is that the new couch does not fold out into a fold out bed which is what my family heavily relied on before the renovation. it is still a nice couch dont get me wrong but it is one less bed for one or two less people. you can call the marina and ask for an air mattress which was a pretty good size. the beach is still the same with the old swings and playground but it is still a lot of fun. we always go with our other family and rent the double decker pontoon boats with the slides and they never fail to make my family happy. the boats did get new motors which is nice so at least you can go a little faster than before but not as fast. overall it is always a great stay at this marina.

I've hired fishing guides across the country for over 30 years and David Knapp of Trout Zone…read moreAnglers is one of the best. He's a fly fishing expert with both stocked trout in tailwaters and wild fish in the mountains. More importantly, at least to me, he demonstrates ethics and values toward both people and nature. Finally, he has a teaching background that equips him to effectively coach clients in fly fishing skills like casting, line mending and landing big fish. If you want a great day on the water without worrying about how the fishing guide is going to behave around your family, you can't do better than David Knapp of Trout Zone Anglers.

From the owner: Trout Zone Anglers offers guided fly fishing trips for trout in the Great Smoky Mountains and for…read moretrout and smallmouth bass on rivers across middle and eastern Tennessee. In the mountains, we offer walk/wade trips and on the larger rivers we offer both walk/wade trips as well as float trips from half days to full days.

I visited the Stearns entrance to see the Blue Heron area, and was extremely impressed! The mine…read morecommunity exhibits were excellent, with loads of information, artifacts, and even walled up mine entrances! The tipple bridge is closed pending repairs due to flood damage, but it's still really cool to see! The trail was much more interesting than I anticipated and the overlook area was gorgeous with sweeping views of the river. There's even a scenic railroad with dog friendly accommodations that take you from Stearns into the Blue Heron station, which I'll definitely come back to do, as my dog partner in crime is terrified of trains.

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area is a wonderful location for getting away for the…read moreweekend, or linger. They have individual campsites and group campsites with a pavilion and restrooms with showers, and a group campfire area. It is a beautiful area and perfect for people traveling with horses that line to camp and ride. Follow me on Yelp for more things to see and do in East Tennessee.

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

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!

Feel like I need to repost this cause this place is just terrible. I called them a few days ago to…read moresee if it has gotten better. I asked them about other paylakes around cause they close at 12, and they just dogged jays paylake saying it's the worst ever. FYI it's by far the best paylake I have been too very friendly very clean and have caught bigger fish there than Harper's. So I have to update this post cause not only is the fishing terrible at this place, so is the the management. By far worst place I have fished at and still not going back.

Love going here to get drinks or munchies. They have really good hot sloppy joe sandwiches and BBQ…read morepulled pork.

Did a quick stop to visit this beautiful park. You have to hike a little to get to the different…read morefalls, but nothing too strenuous. It was a hot day which wasn't that fun, but once we got to the falls it was nice to take in the view and relax. We went midday in the middle of the week so it was not busy... I am guessing during the weekend it would get packed. Note that parking is limited, so either get there early or go when we went. Would I go back? Yes.

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.

Awesome place on the lake! Great seafood! Terrific views and ambience! Kids loved playing by the…read morewater

We sat at the bar window outside on a beautiful day. Great service. Food was delicious. Wonderful…read morelocation.

My husband and I stayed in the A frame and it was perfect. We even hung out on the dock for an…read moreafternoon and it was perfect! The place is comfortable. The air conditioning kept up. We did bring our own food in (don't forget coffee). He has everything you need to make your meals! Will definitely be back someday!

From the owner: Two rentals offer 1 or 2 bedrooms sleeper sofa's and daybed with twin pull out trundle ,1 bath with…read morewasher and dryer. Fully furnished glassed in patio or a patio up in the trees featuring gas grill, wooded canopy and fire pit overlooking the lake. Just walk down the well kept wooded back yard along the cart path to the boat dock. Great fishing or swimming from the community dock. Room to set-up camping or keep trailer and boat lighting is good for night or kill the lights and enjoy the stars. (Boat rentals available) **15 minutes from Mammoth Cave National Park **30 min Beech Bend and National Corvette Museum Western Kentucky University