The Short Springs Natural Area wasn't exactly what I pictured in my mind, but satisfying nonetheless. 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 read more

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Did the hike to machine falls and it was worth it! It is breathtaking! I've heard that in the spring 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! read more

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Short Springs State Natural Area is a 420-acre area that is pretty popular for hiking due to the hike that takes you to the natural area's major waterfall (Machine Falls). Machine Falls is quite impressive, and the Machine Falls Loop Trail is a fun and scenic while quite easy hike (AllTrails has the hike listed as a 4.1-mile moderate loop trail, but we didn't think that it felt anywhere near as long as 4.1 miles or that it was moderate - there is a little bit of elevation change but not much!) It's a great area to hike if you like a hike with a waterfall (who doesn't?). It's not hard to find (very close to Tullahoma), and it has a reasonably large parking lot. Very nice area to hike. (Note: According to a note on the natural area's website, it is currently closed - at least through April 10, 2020 - due to the coronavirus.) read more

Short Springs State Natural Area - Parks Near Me - Tullahoma, Tennessee

Overrun! Obnoxious people parking on the side of the road with kids walking down the middle of the street (Dangerous) when clear signage asking to please visit later if parking area is full. Sad read more

October 21, 2020: Visited the Short Springs State Natural Area and hiked Machine Falls Loop. This came out to a 5.3 mile hike over 4:30 hours and a multitude of elevations and billy goat trails. The weather was great, and there were very few people out today so it was very quiet. In addition to Machine Falls, I also did the Laurel Bluff (my favorite, so serene) and Adams Falls (challenged my stamina) Loops. Time to plan for the next hike!!! read more

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Awesome area for a day of hiking. There are multiple trails. I followed the Machine Falls trail which led to a gorgeous waterfall. The trail appears to be decently maintained, saw very little litter only at waterfall area. Trail signs appears new. It's very very easy to drive past the entrance, I did. It's just a small opening in the trees. When you arrive at the water tower, that's your landmark. Park in the small parking lot and walk across the street to the entrance. I highly recommend hiking boots. There are extremely steep steps/decline towards the waterfall with slippery rocks. Also, you may have to hike across the creek. I changed into water shoes once I arrived at the falls. This was a beautiful, peaceful place surrounded by nature's beauty. So glad I had the opportunity to visit. I went on a weekday, had the falls to myself some of the time. More crowded on weekends and holidays. read more

Definitely a great hike- multiple trails and at different levels. Went in the fall of 2020 and I ran into 3-4 groups. Be prepared to sweat :p read more

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Trail down was cleared nicely. It is steep from about half way down to the bottom but still a pretty good trail. Simply Beautiful once your at the falls!! Pack a lunch and plan to play in the water! read more