A 103-foot waterfall at a Tennessee State Park with wheelchair-accessible overlook trails, leashed dogs allowed, but no swimming area.
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Based on this listing's approximate location — see the note on coordinates below.
Official page: after heavy rain the Falling Water River 'rages, creating a mist that throws rainbows hundreds of feet into the air when the sun is just right.'
Burgess Falls is a 103-foot waterfall on the Falling Water River at a Tennessee State Park near Baxter. The park offers a 1.5-mile loop trail passing four cascade areas, including the main falls visible from overlooks. A partial wheelchair-accessible trail leads to cascade views and is especially striking after heavy rain when mist and spray create airborne rainbows. Dogs are welcome on leash throughout the park.
Swimming is not permitted at the falls or in designated areas. There is no entrance fee for Tennessee State Parks. Note that the upper parking lot was closed for visitor-center construction as of April 2026, though main falls viewing remains available.
After heavy rain the river creates a mist that forms rainbows when sunlight angles are right; heaviest flow in spring.
1–1.5 hours
Wheelchair-accessible paved overlook trail to cascade views (not the main 103-foot falls).
You want to swim or access the base of the falls; the main falls are viewable only from above.
No fee or permit requirement was published on the managing agency's site when we last checked — confirm current conditions before you go, since these change.
Via a 1.5-mile round-trip trail rated moderate by the managing agency.
Yes, per the managing agency's own page — but check current leash rules before you go.
No — the managing agency's page states swimming/wading is not permitted here, often for safety reasons (current, rockfall, or cold water).
We track 13 waterfalls in Cumberland Plateau TN.
tnstateparks.com
tnstateparks.com official park page and hiking-trail directory, checked Sept 2026. River Trail Service Road Loop is described as a 1.5-mile round trip passing four falls (20 ft cascades, 30 ft upper falls, 80 ft middle falls, and a lower falls the park's main page separately states is '103-foot Burgess Falls' — note the hiking-trail page itself labels the same lower falls '136 ft'; 103 ft used here as the figure given on the park's primary overview page). No access to the base of the falls; ADA-accessible sidewalk leads to the cascades (not the base of the main falls). No designated swim area. Upper parking lot closed for visitor-center construction as of an April 2026 park notice — main falls viewing remains open.
Checked September 2026.