Cummins Falls

Catch the trailhead down to the falls at the parking lot. The trail quickly approaches the rim of the river gorge to provide hikers with a great bird's eye view of the falls. After snapping a few photos of the falls from above, follow the clearly marked trail down to the river's edge. From there, hikers have to do a little bit of bushwhacking. Follow the water upstream, skirting the banks of the river. At some point, hikers must cross the river. However, where they cross will depend on whether they prefer a shallow, but wide section of the river, or a deeper, but narrower section of the river. For hikers who are not too steady on their feet, the wider areas tend to have slower moving water, making it easier to cross. Caution: during the winter, the water can be extremely cold. Most hiking boots are not tall enough to traverse the water and keep a hiker's feet dry. It is best to cross barefoot or with water shoes, but be prepared for a bit of a shock when you first stick your foot in the water.

Once on the other side of the river, continue down to where the river bends to the left. Traverse the large boulders around the bend until you see the falls. From there, it's the hiker's choice of how to approach—either from the right or left side of the river. It's generally easier to go from the right, as it involves one less river crossing. The best location to take photos is also from the right, but that may be left up to interpretation. Spend as much time as you like at the falls and return the same way you came. Once back on the marked section of the trail, there will be a short cut option on the left about a quarter of a mile back up that takes hikers directly back to the parking lot instead of by the falls overlook again.

PERMITS:
Permits are required to access the gorge and base of the waterfall. You can reserve your permit on the TNStateParks website.