Cummins Falls
- Height
- 75 ft
- Hike
- 0.5 mi each way
- Road
- Paved
- Permit
- Required
Cummins Falls drops about 75 ft on Blackburn Fork State Scenic River in Jackson County, Tennessee. Reaching it is a 0.5 mi hike each way.
Closures and warnings
Gorge prone to flash flooding; water can rise in minutes from upstream rain. Access needs strenuous hiking, wading, rock climbing, and slippery crossings. Children 12 and under must wear life vests at the falls with an adult; park advises against ages 5 and under. As of September 28, 2026.
The falls
| Height | 75 ft |
|---|---|
| Flow note | 75-foot waterfall plunging into a natural swimming pool on Blackburn Fork State Scenic River. |
| Swimming allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Water type | Waterfall basin |
| Entry | Walk in |
Access
| Hike | 0.5 mi each way |
|---|---|
| Road | Paved |
| Parking | Main lot at visitor center, 390 Cummins Falls Lane, Cookeville TN 38501. Overlook accessible parking restricted during road maintenance. |
| Fee | Gorge Access Permit required for base of falls (online or visitor center); overlook free |
| Hours | In season 8:00 AM-6:00 PM (gorge closes 5:00 PM); off-season 8:00 AM-4:30 PM |
| Reservation or permit | Required |
| Day-use cap | 200 |
| Seasonal closure | Gorge open fair-weather days only; can close suddenly when rain raises water levels, including upstream rain. |
| Wheelchair access | Falls Overlook Trail (0.35 mi) wheelchair accessible; two all-terrain wheelchairs for the overlook, reserve online or first come onsite. |
| Managed by | Tennessee State Parks (Cummins Falls State Park) |
| Shade | Yes |
|---|---|
| Picnic sites | Yes |
| Note | Primitive picnic area at old Cummins home site (tables, no grills). Gift shop at visitor center. |
Rules
| Camping | Not allowed |
|---|---|
| Glass | Not allowed |
Common questions
Common questions
Is Cummins Falls open?
Gorge prone to flash flooding; water can rise in minutes from upstream rain. Access needs strenuous hiking, wading, rock climbing, and slippery crossings. Children 12 and under must wear life vests at the falls with an adult; park advises against ages 5 and under. As of September 28, 2026. Seasonal closure: Gorge open fair-weather days only; can close suddenly when rain raises water levels, including upstream rain. Hours: In season 8:00 AM-6:00 PM (gorge closes 5:00 PM); off-season 8:00 AM-4:30 PM.
How tall is Cummins Falls?
Cummins Falls drops about 75 ft.
Can you swim at Cummins Falls?
Yes, swimming is allowed at Cummins Falls.
How long is the hike to Cummins Falls?
It's a 0.5 mi hike each way. The road in is paved. Parking: Main lot at visitor center, 390 Cummins Falls Lane, Cookeville TN 38501. Overlook accessible parking restricted during road maintenance.
Do you need a reservation for Cummins Falls?
Yes. A reservation or permit is required.
Is there a fee at Cummins Falls?
The fee is Gorge Access Permit required for base of falls (online or visitor center); overlook free.
When is Cummins Falls flowing?
75-foot waterfall plunging into a natural swimming pool on Blackburn Fork State Scenic River.
Nearby
Camping nearby
Public land
Cummins Falls is inside Cummins Falls State Park .
Sources
4
- https://tnstateparks.com/parks/cummins-falls (accessed September 28, 2026; backs manager, waterbodyName, waterfall.heightFt, waterfall.flowNote, access.permitRequired, access.hours, access.seasonalClosure, access.parking, access.amenities, hazardNote, swimmerNotes.waterType, swimmerNotes.entryType)
- https://tnstateparks.com/parks/cummins-falls/hiking (accessed September 28, 2026; backs waterfall.heightFt, access.permitRequired, access.fee, access.hikeDistanceMi, access.hikeDistanceBasis, access.wheelchairAccess, rules.camping, rules.glass)
- https://reserve.tnstateparks.com/cummins-falls/permits (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.fee, access.dayUseCap)
- https://tnstateparks.com/parks/cummins-falls/highlights (accessed September 28, 2026; backs swimmerNotes.swimmingAllowed)
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