A 75-foot waterfall with a free overlook trail and a paid permit-required gorge descent featuring swimming, flash-flood risk, and strict life-jacket rules for children.
Gorge Access Permit required to reach the base of the falls (paid, online-only, limited daily quantity); the overlook trail is free and does not require a permit
Loading current conditions…
Based on this listing's approximate location — see the note on coordinates below.
Cummins Falls is a 75-foot waterfall with two distinct access routes at Cummins Falls State Park. The free Falls Overlook Trail (0.35 miles) is wheelchair accessible and offers views from above. Gorge access to the plunge pool requires an online permit purchased in advance (limited daily quantity) and is strenuous, but allows swimming and wading.
Critical safety notes: children 12 and under must wear a life jacket in the plunge pool; the gorge closes without notice during flash-flood conditions; and fair-weather-only access means verify conditions before committing to the full route. Address: 390 Cummins Falls Lane, Cookeville, TN 38501.
Spring and early summer for reliable water flow; check weather before visiting as the gorge closes suddenly during flash-flood alerts.
30 minutes (overlook) to 2+ hours (gorge access)
Overlook trail (0.35 mi) is wheelchair accessible; gorge route is strenuous.
You need guaranteed gorge access in wet weather; fair-weather-only conditions mean potential closures without notice.
Gorge Access Permit required to reach the base of the falls (paid, online-only, limited daily quantity); the overlook trail is free and does not require a permit
The managing agency's page (linked below) has the current trailhead and route details — round-trip distance wasn't published when we checked.
Yes, per the managing agency — conditions and safety vary by season, so use judgment regardless.
We track 13 waterfalls in Cumberland Plateau TN.
There is 1 other waterfall we track in Jackson County. All Cumberland Plateau TN waterfalls →
tnstateparks.com
tnstateparks.com official park page and reserve.tnstateparks.com/cummins-falls/permits page, checked Sept 2026; gorge access is fair-weather-only and can close suddenly for flash-flood risk — no closure was in effect at time of check. Falls Overlook Trail (0.35 mi, Easy) is wheelchair accessible (non-electric and all-terrain chairs) per official trail directory; the gorge/base route is separate and strenuous. Swimming/wading permitted in the plunge pool; children 12 and under must wear a life jacket. Address: 390 Cummins Falls Lane, Cookeville, TN 38501. Dogs not addressed on official pages reviewed, left null.
Checked September 2026.