Another return to a great state of Tennessee, We 40+…read moreenjoyed a weekend of golf cabins At state park of governor Henry Horton. Beautiful property to enjoy many sports and especially golf we played 4 days. New hotel is in construction underway with other facilities and top notch restaurant. The cabins are rustic updated Agricultural areas as well as the popular campgrounds and sleet safe shot area. Family friendly.

Absolutely Outstanding Tennessee State Park - A True Hidden Gem!…read more We just wrapped up an unforgettable evening at Henry Horton State Park, and it easily earns every one of its five stars. Located along the beautiful Duck River--one of the most biodiverse rivers in the world--this park offers the perfect mix of relaxation, adventure, and family fun without feeling overcrowded. The campground is top-notch: spacious, well-maintained RV sites with concrete pads, reliable Wi-Fi, clean and modern bathhouses, and plenty of peaceful wooded tent and primitive options (including some great backcountry sites for those seeking more solitude). We loved the thoughtful amenities like the camp store, playgrounds, splash pad, and even a nature play area that kept the kids entertained for hours. Activities here are incredibly diverse. We hiked several of the easy-to-moderate trails, including the scenic ones along the Duck River with observation decks overlooking wetlands teeming with wildlife. The 18-hole disc golf course is one of the best we've played in Tennessee--free and well-designed. Golfers will appreciate the championship Buford Ellington Golf Course right on site, while paddlers and anglers flock to the river for kayaking, fishing, or lazy tubing. Bonus points for the trap and skeet range if you're into shooting sports! The on-site restaurant (Governor's Table) serves surprisingly delicious meals, making it easy to grab breakfast or dinner without leaving the park. Staff and rangers were friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about the park--always quick to offer tips or help. Whether you're camping, staying in one of the comfortable cabins or lodge rooms, or just coming for a day trip, Henry Horton delivers a peaceful, well-kept escape that's perfect for families, couples, or solo adventurers. It's close enough to Nashville (under an hour) but feels like a true getaway. We can't wait to return--highly recommend for anyone in Middle Tennessee looking for quality outdoor recreation.

This was a beautiful State Park. Lots of amenities, picnic areas, bathrooms, camping spots. The…read morecabins were restricted to guests only so I didn't see them. The trails were perfect. A mixture of easy and not so easy. But this almost 63yo made it! The falls were gorgeous to behold. Would definitely return.

Amazing short hike down stairs and rocks to a beautiful rocky river bed filled with boulders, pools…read moreof clear water, cliffs dripping with water or actual water falls all over the cliffs. The cliff faces look like hanging gardens filled with native plants. Beautiful ferns cling to the rocks with some covering an entire surface with graceful fronds. This place is magical and wonderful. GO!

Nice park for the kids to get out and play. Busy on the weekends. Picnics pavilion also near by and…read morewalking trails.

Our family has had a membership here for a couple of years now. Definitely worth it! So many…read moreactivities. Staff is super helpful and friendly. The only issue we had was handled immediately.

Went with my sister and we enjoyed it besides the fact we went a day after it had rained. The…read moreMarshall Knob trail starts paved until you get to the river overlook, so keep that in mind. We hiked every trail except the Rocky Path, we enjoyed the scenery and wildlife. There are plenty of benches along the trails, we even saw a bathroom or two (porta potties though). The location next to the highway (especially on the Valley View trail) and other homes does detract from the experience some. We went on a Tuesday so there were only a few people there. Overall good experience.

Want to play a little game? Count how many wild life you find while on the trail. I found a turtle…read more There much to love about this park. It's very well maintained. If you want exercise without distraction I'd suggest heading to the park by 6:30 as it can get quite packed. I nearly lost a limb from a biker going max speed. Only downside is that highway near it is loud. 9/10 turtles

The Short Springs Natural Area wasn't exactly what I pictured in my mind, but satisfying…read morenonetheless. First, for some reason I pictures a state park with large parking areas, a visitor center, road signage and restroom facilities. NOPE!!! Google Maps navigated us to the general area, but figuring out where the trailhead and parking were located was up to our own savvy. But as God would have it, we found parking near a water tower off Powell Road and someone just happened to be leaving as we arrived, giving us a great parking space. This was extremely fortuitous because spaces are limited and several people who arrivaled just minutes after us waited a good while for spaces to become available. WARNING: Find restroom facilities BEFORE you make it here! Otherwise you will find yourself searching for privacy in the nearby forest to relieve yourself. The trailhead is directly across Short Springs Road from the parking area. I would highly recommend using ALLTRAILS to navigate your way around the Natural Area. My wife has developed Morton Noroma in recent years which severely limits the types of hikes she can join me on, so our intention here was to only visit MACHINE FALLS and BUSBY FALLS, bypassing more than half of the entire Short Springs loop. Still, this was not as easy a trail as I thought and my wife wound up viewing Machine Falls only from the overlook deck. The descent to the base of the falls is steep, so she opted to stay on the trail above as I climbed down for pictures. MACHINE FALLS is a beautiful multi-tiered waterfall surrounded by high shale rock cliffs adorned with moss. The climb down to the falls is a combination of manmade wooden steps, boulders and tree roots. Once you reach the creek, you will need to hug the right side stones all the way to the falls (if you don't want to get your feet wet). The volume of water was fairly light the day we visited, so on heavy volume days it's probably impossible not to get your feet wet. After Machine Falls we followed the loop to Bobo Creek Trail which leads towards BUSBY FALLS. We then took the split to Laurel Bluff Trail via Collier Horn Bridge. After crossing the bridge you can choose to go left or right around this 1.4 mile loop. We chose to go right, which is the quickest way to Busby Falls. The trail follows Bobo Creek, but one small section of it requires the use of a rope due to a severe elevation change. It's not difficult, but something older hikers and those with really young children should be aware of the challenge. To my surprise there was a secondary waterfall coming off the cliffs near Busby Falls as well as a third 14 foot waterfall along Bobo Creek closer to the bridge. Not sure if these two additional waterfalls have names like the others within the Natural Area, but they were very nice surprises! My wife did not do the rope climb down to Busby and instead just enjoyed the scenic views of the river while I went off exploring the waterfall just a short distance away. We retraced our steps back to the Bobo Creek Trail and took the right leading us back to the parking area. While I didn't think the trail leading directly to Machine Falls was very attractive (it honestly was one of the ugliest trails I've ever seen), the remainder of the hike was nice and the Laurel Bluff Trail near Busby Falls was easily the most scenic portion of any trail we hiked today. I can't speak for the rest of the Machine Falls Loop or the Adams Falls Trail, but I've read reviews saying it's a nice looking trail. FINAL THOUGHTS Overall not what I expected when looking for easy waterfall hikes my wife could enjoy, but it IS manageable and customizable to fit different hiking needs. There are multiple waterfalls throughout the Natural Area. Our hike took 1:37 hours and was approx. 2.4 miles long with an elevation gain of about 335 feet according to my ALLTRAILS log. Machine Falls was the largest, but I personally thought Busby Falls was prettier. Also nearby (within a 5 minute drive) is Rutledge Falls. I highly recommend paying it a visit if you are planning to be in the area. 2023 / 28

Did the hike to machine falls and it was worth it! It is breathtaking! I've heard that in the…read morespring the waterfalls are heavier and there are a bunch of wildflowers... but the moss against the rocks and water was a sight on to itself. The trails are marked well and the description of the trails are accurate. The trail to machine falls does note it is steep in some parts and that is very accurate. There are places where you are on narrow paths with a drop off. I personally wished I had brought my walking poles but that is personal preference. Parking is on the other side of the road from where the trails start and is limited. Highly recommend this hike and this park!

Always a fun place for all ages. Playground, creek, splash pad and ball fields…read more Well lighted and safe.

Just moved to SH & was excited to bring my kids here today. Lots to do including splash pad, fun…read moreplayground & bb courts

So many great trails to choose from here! There are some that aren't super advanced and have a…read morequick route and others that might take you several hours.

Cottage 18 was a great gathering place for our family reunion. ADA compliant for mobility, spacious…read moreopen living area, large screened back porch and additional 2 table patio area with grill and fire pit. Well furnished for a group. Plenty of hiking for the adventurous while close enough to Chattanooga for other outings.

This was our second time here. I am always impressed by TN State Parks. Clean bathrooms, friendly…read morestaff, it can make a big difference in your day. We did some fishing, but no catching haha. We napped in the sun, and watched boats and birds go by. While we did not go up the tower or in the wildlife area, we thoroughly enjoyed a relaxing day here. It's a little early in the year, so we didnt see too many people. One note, the two bathrooms we used both had stairs. Im sure they have bathrooms that can be accessed without stairs, but I didn't see them. One note, there are picnic tables near the road to one of the boat ramps. As I was driving through a small child ran out in front of me from between to parallel parked cars. No big deal, I was driving like an old lady, but highky recommend keeping an eye out if you drive through there.

To be fully transparent, we didn't get too far in, just the visitor center with the really cool…read moreobservation tower (it just keeps going and going...) and the Highland Rim Trail, but it felt like a lot! The park has access to a river beach across from a neat dam, where kids were having a great time lifting big rocks and heaving them into the water. The trail was rather steep, went down pretty quickly, flattened for a while, then sharply inclined back up. All in all, I get the feeling we need to return and do a little more, but I like what I see so far!!