South Cumberland State Park, State park on Cumberland Plateau, Franklin County, Tennessee.
South Cumberland State Park spans 12,166 acres across three counties, featuring numerous waterfalls, dense forests, and extensive hiking trails throughout the Cumberland Plateau.
Established in 1978, the park originally covered 30,899 acres before the creation of Savage Gulf State Park in 2022 reduced its total area.
The Grundy Lakes section contains remains of coal mines and coke production facilities from the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company operations.
The park maintains twelve trailheads, one campground for vehicles at Foster Falls, and four backcountry camping areas for outdoor enthusiasts.
Foster Falls stands as the highest waterfall in the park, while the Fiery Gizzard Trail presents diverse geological formations and natural features.
Location: Franklin County
Website: https://tnstateparks.com/parks/south-cumberland
GPS coordinates: 35.25900,-85.78900
Latest update: May 14, 2025 04:28
Tennessee offers a notable mix of geological formations and historical sites that document different periods of American history. The state extends from the Appalachian Mountains in the east to the Mississippi River in the west, encompassing extensive cave systems, waterfalls, and forested areas. Underground attractions include The Lost Sea Adventure near Sweetwater, one of the largest underground lakes in America, and Tuckaleechee Caverns near Townsend with its flowstone formations. Ruby Falls in Chattanooga takes visitors 1,100 feet (335 m) below ground to an underground waterfall. The state's natural parks protect waterfalls of varying size and accessibility. Fall Creek Falls near Spencer drops 256 feet (78 m) and ranks among the highest waterfalls east of the Mississippi. Burgess Falls and Cummins Falls offer hiking trails to cascades, while Ozone Falls is accessible directly from the roadside. Big South Fork National River includes gorges and whitewater sections in the Cumberland Plateau. Historical sites document the Civil War through battlefields like Fort Donelson and Shiloh, and through preserved structures such as the Carter House in Franklin. Belle Meade Plantation near Nashville shows life on a 19th-century horse farm, while Chucalissa Archaeological Museum presents pre-Columbian settlements of the Mississippian culture.
Arnold Air Force Base
30.8 km
Nickajack Cave
34.1 km
RyeMabee
4.3 km
Fiery Gizzard Trail
3.7 km
Nickajack Lake
32.3 km
Great Stage Park
34 km
Cowan Tunnel
20.7 km
Sewanee Natural Bridge
16.8 km
Lost Cove Cave
19 km
DuBose Conference Center
4 km
Hundred Oaks Castle
31.6 km
Marion Memorial Bridge
34.1 km
Northcutts Cove Chapel
28.5 km
Bridgeport Depot Museum
35.3 km
Bridgeport Historic District
35.2 km
Haynes House
26.2 km
Coalmont Bank Building
11.9 km
Asia School
27.6 km
McKendree Methodist Episcopal Church
25 km
Col. A.M. Shook House
4.4 km
Franklin County Courthouse
30.5 km
Valentine Square
30.8 km
Estill-Fite House
30 km
Wilkinson-Keele House
36.5 km
Russell Cave
31.5 km
Sewanee Fire Lookout Tower
10 km
Gilbert H. Grosvenor Visitor Center
31.3 km
Bridgeport Swing Bridge
34.8 kmReviews
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