Burgess Falls

Burgess Falls is a powerful and beautiful 136-foot waterfall on the Falling Water River, the dramatic climax of a series of four cascades that tumble through the gorge of Burgess Falls State Park near Cookeville on the Cumberland Plateau of middle Tennessee. As the river drops off the plateau, it puts on a remarkable show, building from a cascade and two smaller falls to the thundering main falls.

A scenic trail of about three-quarters of a mile follows the river along the gorge rim, passing the upper cascades and the smaller falls before reaching an overlook of the spectacular main falls, where the full Falling Water River plunges 136 feet into a deep pool. The combination of the river’s power, the chain of waterfalls, the wooded gorge and the dramatic finale makes Burgess Falls one of the most beloved waterfall destinations in Tennessee, a natural gem of the Cumberland Plateau.

Burgess Falls State Park offers a scenic trail of about three-quarters of a mile along the gorge rim, passing a cascade and two smaller falls before reaching the overlook of the powerful 136-foot main falls. Hiking, photography and taking in the chain of waterfalls and the wooded gorge are the draws, with a river-access area and picnic facilities as well. It is a moderate but rewarding hike to one of the most beautiful and powerful waterfalls on the Cumberland Plateau near Cookeville.

Spring brings the fullest, most powerful flow over the falls from rain and snowmelt, plus wildflowers, while fall offers color across the gorge and crisp hiking. Summer is lush and warm. Winter can ice the falls dramatically. The falls are most spectacular after rain when the full Falling Water River thunders over the main drop; spring and fall are ideal, with the popular park busiest on warm-season weekends — arrive early for parking.

Burgess Falls and the Falling Water River gorge became a state park preserving the spectacular chain of waterfalls near Cookeville. The river once powered an early hydroelectric operation, and the land was set aside to protect the falls and gorge for public enjoyment. Today Burgess Falls State Park is one of the most beloved waterfall parks in the Tennessee system, drawing visitors to its powerful main falls and the cascades that build to it along the scenic gorge trail.

Burgess Falls plunges 136 feet where the Falling Water River drops off the Cumberland Plateau, with the chain of upper cascades and smaller falls marking the river’s descent through the plateau’s layered sedimentary rock. The resistant sandstone caprock and the softer rock below, carved by the river into the gorge, create the series of waterfalls and the dramatic main drop. The wooded gorge and the chain of cascades are a classic example of Cumberland Plateau waterfall geology.

The wooded gorge and river of Burgess Falls State Park host white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and a rich community of birds, with the cliffs and gorge offering habitat for raptors and the river supporting fish and aquatic life. The cool, moist gorge shelters salamanders and amphibians, and the varied plateau forest adds habitat. The river corridor and gorge make the park a pleasant place for wildlife watching and birding amid the waterfalls.

Burgess Falls protects a scenic Cumberland Plateau gorge ecosystem, where the cool, shaded gorge shelters ferns, mosses and diverse plant life along the Falling Water River, set within the surrounding plateau hardwood forest. The chain of waterfalls, the river and the gorge form a healthy riparian ecosystem, with the moist microclimate of the gorge supporting rich streamside life. Protecting the water quality and the gorge vegetation sustains the park’s natural character.

Burgess Falls, with its powerful 136-foot main falls and its beautiful chain of cascades along a scenic gorge, is one of the most beloved waterfall destinations in Tennessee. The dramatic finale of the gorge trail and the building series of waterfalls have made the park a cherished natural gem of the Cumberland Plateau near Cookeville, drawing generations of visitors and photographers to its spectacular falls.

Burgess Falls State Park is on the Falling Water River near Cookeville and Sparta on the Cumberland Plateau in middle Tennessee, reached via TN-135 (Burgess Falls Drive). The park is free to enter, with the roughly three-quarter-mile gorge trail leading past the cascades to the main falls overlook. A river-access area and picnic facilities serve visitors; the trail can be steep and the popular lot fills early. Check Tennessee State Parks for current access and trail information.

Tennessee State Parks protects Burgess Falls, the chain of cascades, the Falling Water River and the gorge near Cookeville. Visitors help by staying on the trail to protect the fragile gorge vegetation and steep banks, keeping well back from the dangerous cliff edges and falls, packing out everything, and respecting the river and wildlife. Protecting the gorge, the waterfalls and the water quality sustains the park’s spectacular natural character on the Cumberland Plateau.

Burgess Falls and the gorge have steep, dangerous cliffs and slippery rocks — stay on the trail and overlooks, keep well back from the edges, and supervise children closely, as falls from the cliffs can be fatal. Do not climb on or swim at the main falls, where currents and rocks are hazardous. The trail is steep in places; wear good shoes and carry water. Watch the weather, and respect the power of the falls and the rugged gorge terrain.

The park is free to enter. Stay on the designated trail and overlooks; climbing on the cliffs or falls is prohibited and dangerous. Follow Tennessee State Parks rules. Pets must be leashed. Drones are generally prohibited in state parks. Swimming at the main falls is dangerous and discouraged. Pack out all trash. The park may close gates at set hours. Check Tennessee State Parks for current rules, hours and trail status before visiting.

The city of Cookeville and the town of Sparta lie nearby, with other Cumberland Plateau waterfalls and parks — including Cummins Falls, Rock Island and Fall Creek Falls state parks — within reach. The plateau’s gorges, waterfalls and forests surround Burgess Falls, and Nashville is roughly an hour and a half west, making the park a centerpiece of a Cumberland Plateau waterfall tour in middle Tennessee.

Hike the gorge trail to see the full chain of waterfalls building to the powerful 136-foot main falls — visit in spring or after rain for the fullest flow, and arrive early for parking on busy weekends. Stay on the trail and well back from the dangerous cliff edges, wear good shoes, and carry water. Pair Burgess Falls with nearby Cummins Falls, Rock Island and Fall Creek Falls for a Cumberland Plateau waterfall tour.