Fall Creek Falls
Tennessee · 256-foot drop · Fall Creek Falls State Park · Last verified 2026-06-26
Fall Creek Falls is running at 219 cfs — well above seasonal normal.
Right now
Streamflow
219 cfs
CALFKILLER RIVER AT HWY · 43m ago
Overnight
71°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Wednesday
83°F
Patchy Fog then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Today's daylight
Sunrise 5:41 AM · Sunset 7:53 PM · 14h 12m
Snapshot built 9m ago. Sources: USGS · NWS OHX.
Fall Creek Falls is a 256-foot single-drop waterfall in Fall Creek Falls State Park on Tennessee's Cumberland Plateau — the tallest free-fall waterfall east of the Mississippi River. A wheelchair-accessible overlook gives the postcard view from the rim. The descent to the plunge pool is 0.4 miles steep, losing 400+ ft (with railings and steps in the steep sections); summer locals swim the pool when flow is moderate. The park itself is 29,800 acres with 56+ miles of trails, cabins, a hotel, and golf course. Free admission.
Fall Creek Falls is a 256-foot (78 m) tall sheer-drop waterfall located in Fall Creek Falls State Park near Spencer, Tennessee. It is the tallest waterfall of such kind east of the Mississippi River. A short trail leads from the parking lot atop the plateau down to the base of the gorge, giving access to the waterfall's plungepool. When water flow is sufficient, Coon Creek Falls shares a plungepool.
The trail
0.8 miles each way, rated moderate with 400 feet of elevation gain. Fall Creek Falls Overlook parking. Wheelchair-accessible viewing platform at the rim. The descent trail to the base is moderate-strenuous.
Is the water flowing right now?
Most waterfall sites don't tell you this. The waterfall itself is almost never gauged, but a USGS streamgage in the same watershed can tell you whether snowmelt has started, peaked, or run dry.
USGS gage 03419530 · 19.1 mi away
CALFKILLER RIVER AT HWY 70 AT SPARTA, TN
— Distant gauge — proxy reading, not on the same drainage.
View live discharge data →
30-day streamflow
Above 30-day average↻ Same date last year: 354 cfs · 93% of last year — similar
Compare to nearby falls
If this one isn't the right fit, here's how it stacks up against the closest documented falls. Every column is filterable on the site — not buried in 13,000 reviews.
| Waterfall | Distance | Height | Trail | Dogs | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Creek Falls (this page) | — | 256 ft | moderate · 0.8 mi | Y | Free |
| Coon Creek Falls | 0 mi | 249 ft | — | Y | Free |
| Cane Creek Falls | 0 mi | — | — | Y | Free |
| Canes Creek Cascades;Cane Creek Falls | 0 mi | — | — | Y | Free |
| Rockhouse Creek Falls | 0 mi | — | — | Y | Free |
| Piney Creek Falls | 2 mi | — | — | Y | Free |
Side-by-side comparisons
Fall Creek Falls compared head-to-head with other documented falls — height, access, fees, dogs, swimmability in one row each.
Related waterfalls
On the same watercourse (Fall Creek)
Similar height (~256 ft)
- Feature Show Falls259 ft
- Lower Foss River Falls251 ft
- Greenleaf Falls262 ft
- Roaring Brook Falls262 ft
- Coon Creek Falls249 ft
Same best season in Tennessee
- Greeter Falls50 ft
Questions visitors ask about Fall Creek Falls
Answers built from our structured data. If a question isn't here, the fact is unverified — we'd rather omit than guess.
How tall is Fall Creek Falls?
Fall Creek Falls is 256 feet (78 m) tall. Height is sourced from Wikipedia.
Is Fall Creek Falls in a national or state park?
Yes — Fall Creek Falls is inside Fall Creek Falls State Park. See the park page for fees, hours, and current conditions.
Can I bring my dog to Fall Creek Falls?
Yes — dogs are allowed (Fall Creek Falls State Park permits leashed dogs in most areas). Always leash and pack out waste.
Is Fall Creek Falls wheelchair accessible?
Yes — Fall Creek Falls has a wheelchair-accessible viewing area with ADA parking. Conditions can change seasonally; verify with the land manager before driving.
Can you swim at Fall Creek Falls?
Fall Creek Falls has a swimmable area. The plunge pool at the base of the falls is swimmable in summer when flow is moderate — locals do it. Cold year-round. When flow is high enough, Coon Creek Falls shares the same plunge pool, doubling the drama.
When is the best time to visit Fall Creek Falls?
Peak flow is typically April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Season-wise: spring, summer, fall. Snowmelt and recent rain affect day-to-day volume.
Is there a fee to visit Fall Creek Falls?
No entrance fee. Fall Creek Falls State Park is free to access. Some trailheads may charge a parking fee separately.
How far is Fall Creek Falls from a major city?
Fall Creek Falls is 12 miles from Spencer (about 20 minutes' drive).
More waterfalls in Tennessee
Where it is
35.6661, -85.3557
Sources and live status
Where we got the data, and where to check current conditions before you drive.
Official land manager
https://tnstateparks.com/parks/fall-creek-falls
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fall_Creek_Falls
Wikidata (Q5432024)
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5432024
GeoNames (4621722)
https://www.geonames.org/4621722/
Last verified by Fallspots: 2026-06-26
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