Cummins Falls State Park

Cummins Falls State Park is a natural area with a waterfall in Jackson County, Tennessee, where water tumbles over layers of limestone into a wide pool. The trail leads through mixed woodland, then descends steeply toward the riverbed where you can stand among boulders and watch the flow.

A settler purchased the land in the early 19th century and built two mills that used the drop of the water to grind grain and cut lumber. A flood in the late 1920s swept both structures away and ended industrial use for good.

Locals still call the falls by the name of the mills once built here by a landowner, showing how people claim a landscape through labor. Many families in the surrounding area remember stories of grandparents who fished along the banks or made trips to see the rushing water.

You reach the base of the falls through a short but slippery descent with loose rocks, so watch your footing especially after rain. Wear sturdy shoes with good grip because the final stretch crosses wet boulders, and allow about half an hour for the uphill return.

The boulders at the foot of the falls show notches and grooves where wooden beams and metal rods once anchored the mill machinery. On dry summer days a deep pocket forms below the cascade where you can stand and feel the water falling directly overhead.