Waterfalls Near Chattanooga

30 waterfalls are within 120 miles of Chattanooga. The closest is Cloudland Canyon Falls, about 17 miles away in a straight line. 5 waterfalls are free to visit. 18 need a hike. 28 have a closure or hazard note on file.

Distances are straight-line miles from Chattanooga, not driving distance.

No closure on file
Closed, or no soaking or swimming

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Name	Height	Access	Fee	Status
Cloudland Canyon Falls Dade County 17 mi	–	Development December through March	Access 2 mi hike (round trip), paved road	Fee Georgia State Parks daily ParkPass $10 per vehicle (as of 2026); annual ParkPass $70	Status Closure or warning on file
Foster Falls Marion County 23 mi	60 ft	Development –	Access 0.8 mi hike, paved road	Fee –	Status Closure or warning on file
Greeter Falls Grundy County 36 mi	50 ft	Development –	Access 0.8 mi hike (round trip), paved road	Fee –	Status Closure or warning on file
DeSoto Falls DeKalb County 38 mi	107 ft	Development –	Access paved road	Fee $5.00 per vehicle parking fee; annual pass $50 for DeSoto Falls Picnic Area only.	Status Closure or warning on file
Fall Creek Falls Van Buren County 43 mi	256 ft	Development –	Access 0.4 mi hike, paved road	Fee –	Status Closure or warning on file
High Falls DeKalb County 44 mi	35 ft	Development –	Access 0.3 mi hike (round trip), paved road	Fee –	Status Closure or warning on file
Little River Falls Cherokee County 48 mi	45 ft	Development December through May	Access paved road	Fee No fee at Little River Falls Hwy 35 parking; $15/vehicle fee only at Canyon Mouth Park.	Status Closure or warning on file
Grace's High Falls DeKalb County 49 mi	133 ft	Development After rain or snowmelt	Access paved road	Fee No fee at Graces High Falls Overlook (Rim Parkway); $15/vehicle only at Canyon Mouth Park.	Status Closure or warning on file
Virgin Falls White County 55 mi	110 ft	Development December through April	Access gravel road	Fee –	Status No closure on file
Machine Falls Coffee County 55 mi	60 ft	Development –	Access 1.6 mi hike (round trip)	Fee –	Status No closure on file
Rock Island White County 55 mi	–	Development –	Access paved road	Fee –	Status Closure or warning on file
Ozone Falls Cumberland County 64 mi	110 ft	Development –	Access paved road	Fee –	Status Closure or warning on file
Amicalola Falls Dawson County 69 mi	729 ft	Development –	Access paved road	Fee $10 daily ParkPass per vehicle; $70 annual. Overnight guests pay the daily pass once per stay.	Status Closure or warning on file
High Falls Fannin County 70 mi	–	Development –	Access gravel road	Fee Free (National Forest; standard USFS rules)	Status Closure or warning on file
Burgess Falls Putnam County 71 mi	136 ft	Development –	Access 1.5 mi hike (round trip), paved road	Fee –	Status Closure or warning on file
Noccalula Falls Etowah County 80 mi	90 ft	Development –	Access paved road	Fee Park admission charged for full park access; waterfall viewing options vary by ticket (confirm current rates on city.	Status Closure or warning on file
DeSoto Falls Lumpkin County 82 mi	200 ft	Development –	Access 2.4 mi hike (round trip), paved road	Fee $5 per vehicle/day (Recreation.gov Scan & Pay). Forest Annual Pass $25 at FS offices. Senior/Access discounts apply.	Status Closure or warning on file
Helton Creek Falls Union County 83 mi	100 ft	Development –	Access 0.2 mi hike, gravel road	Fee Free	Status Closure or warning on file
Cummins Falls Jackson County 84 mi	75 ft	Development –	Access 0.5 mi hike, paved road	Fee Gorge Access Permit required for base of falls (online or visitor center); overlook free	Status Closure or warning on file
Raven Cliff Falls White County 89 mi	40 ft	Development –	Access 4.9 mi hike (round trip), paved road	Fee –	Status Closure or warning on file
Dukes Creek Falls White County 89 mi	150 ft	Development –	Access paved road	Fee $4 per vehicle/day. America the Beautiful, Senior, and Access passes accepted.	Status Closure or warning on file
Anna Ruby Falls White County 93 mi	153 ft	Development –	Access 0.4 mi hike, paved road	Fee $6 ages 16+; under 15 free. Georgia State Park Pass not accepted. America the Beautiful passes accepted.	Status Closure or warning on file
Minnehaha Falls White County 97 mi	80 ft	Development –	Access 0.4 mi hike (round trip), gravel road	Fee Free	Status Closure or warning on file
Laurel Falls Sevier County 106 mi	80 ft	Development –	Access 2.6 mi hike (round trip), paved road	Fee Parking tag: $5 daily, $15 weekly, $40 annual (over 15 min). America the Beautiful passes do not replace it.	Status Closure or warning on file
Panther Creek Falls Habersham County 110 mi	–	Development –	Access 3.5 mi hike, paved road	Fee Activity pass via Recreation.gov Scan & Pay at the day-use/trailhead when the fee site is operating	Status Closure or warning on file
Tallulah Falls Rabun County 111 mi	–	Development –	Access paved road	Fee Daily ParkPass $10 per vehicle (Tallulah historically listed at a lower day rate in some older materials; confirm.	Status Closure or warning on file
Rainbow Falls Sevier County 112 mi	80 ft	Development –	Access 5.6 mi hike (round trip), paved road	Fee Parking tag: $5 daily, $15 weekly, $40 annual (over 15 min). America the Beautiful passes do not replace it.	Status Closure or warning on file
Grotto Falls Sevier County 113 mi	25 ft	Development –	Access 2.6 mi hike (round trip), paved road	Fee Parking tag: $5 daily, $15 weekly, $40 annual (over 15 min). America the Beautiful passes do not replace it.	Status Closure or warning on file
Toccoa Falls Stephens County 115 mi	186 ft	Development –	Access –	Fee $2 adults at Gate Cottage Gift Shop; seniors $1; children 6 and under free; family of 4+ $6.	Status Closure or warning on file
Dry Falls Macon County 117 mi	75 ft	Development –	Access 0.1 mi hike, paved road	Fee $3 per vehicle day-use; $15 annual pass (also valid at Whiteside Mountain and Whitewater Falls)	Status Closure or warning on file

Photo credits (30)

Cloudland Canyon Falls: Thomsonmg2000, CC0
Foster Falls: Casey Fleser, CC BY 2.0
Greeter Falls: Brent Moore from Smyrna, TN, USA, CC BY 2.0
DeSoto Falls: NealVickers, CC BY-SA 4.0
Fall Creek Falls: Jsfouche, CC BY-SA 3.0
High Falls: Rick from Alabama, CC BY 2.0
Little River Falls: Thomson200, CC0
Grace's High Falls: Drmies, CC BY-SA 3.0
Virgin Falls: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0
Machine Falls: Earino, CC BY-SA 3.0
Rock Island: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0
Ozone Falls: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0
Amicalola Falls: Thomsonmg2000, CC0
High Falls: Ysabella Escalona, CC BY-SA 4.0
Burgess Falls: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0
Noccalula Falls: Thejammer (talk), Public domain
DeSoto Falls: Unknown, Public domain
Helton Creek Falls: Jsfouche, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cummins Falls: Brenton Rogers, CC BY 2.0
Raven Cliff Falls: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Dukes Creek Falls: ChattOconeeNF, CC BY 2.0
Anna Ruby Falls: ChattOconeeNF, CC BY 2.0
Minnehaha Falls: anoldent, CC BY-SA 2.0
Laurel Falls: Kaldari, Public domain
Panther Creek Falls: U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest, Public domain
Tallulah Falls: Thomson200, CC0
Rainbow Falls: John Manard, CC BY-SA 2.0
Grotto Falls: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0
Toccoa Falls: FloNight (Sydney Poore) and Russell Poore, CC BY-SA 4.0
Dry Falls: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0

Common questions

What is the closest waterfall to Chattanooga?

Cloudland Canyon Falls, about 17 miles away in a straight line.

Are there free waterfalls near Chattanooga?

Yes. No fee on record for Little River Falls, Grace's High Falls, High Falls, Helton Creek Falls, and Minnehaha Falls. Each page cites its source.

Are any waterfalls near Chattanooga closed?

A closure or hazard note is on file for Cloudland Canyon Falls, Foster Falls, Greeter Falls, DeSoto Falls, Fall Creek Falls, High Falls, and 22 more. Each page has the dated detail.

All Tennessee waterfalls