An easy 3-mile round-trip hike to a 65-foot waterfall at a Cherokee National Forest recreation area with a small day-use fee.
$3 day-use fee at Chilhowee Recreation Area
Loading current conditions…
Based on this listing's approximate location — see the note on coordinates below.
Benton Falls is a 65-foot waterfall accessed via a 3-mile round-trip easy hike starting from the Chilhowee Recreation Area in Cherokee National Forest. The trail is suitable for most fitness levels and offers a pleasant forest walk to a scenic waterfall destination. A $3 day-use fee is required at the recreation area.
The forest prohibits horses and pack animals on trails to protect the watershed. The falls and surrounding forest are open year-round, with water flow sustained throughout the seasons.
Year-round; flows year-round from mountain streams.
1.5–2 hours
You want a hike with pack animals; horses and stock are prohibited.
$3 day-use fee at Chilhowee Recreation Area
Via a 3-mile round-trip trail rated easy by the managing agency.
We track 4 waterfalls in Cherokee National Forest.
There is 1 other waterfall we track in Polk County. All Cherokee National Forest waterfalls →
fs.usda.gov
USFS Cherokee National Forest recreation page, checked Sept 2026; no closure noted. Page states horse/pack animals prohibited but does not address dogs specifically, so left null. Trail is 1.5 mi each way per official page.
Checked September 2026.