Cane Creek Cascades

Fall Creek and Coon Creek Falls, Tennessee

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Fall Creek Falls (left) and Coon Creek Falls (right) in December 2009

It’s not often that I get to describe two waterfalls at once, and I could probably describe them separately. That seems counter-intuitive, though, as you’re going to see both Fall Creek Falls and Coon Creek Falls at the same time, assuming Coon Creek Falls is flowing.

Fall Creek and Coon Creek Falls are very easy to view, as you can drive to a parking area which leads to a viewing platform. At just over 250′ tall, Fall Creek Falls is very impressive. Coon Creek Falls is thinner, but is still interesting. The day I visited, it was rather windy, and so the falls, especially Fall Creek, were being pushed from side to side. It was rather cool to watch!

If you’re interested, there is a trail that leads down to the base of the falls. Now, from what I have read it’s a short trail. You’ll be descending over 250′ in a rather short distance, and this didn’t hold much appeal to me at the time, so I skipped that. I felt like there were pretty good views to be had without much hiking, though I now imagine it would be pretty cool to get a different view of the rock layers.

If you’re looking for a number of waterfalls within close distance of each other, Fall Creek Falls State Park is a really great place to visit. Cane Creek Cascades, Cane Creek Falls, Rockhouse Falls, and Piney Creek Falls are all in the same park.

Directions:

  1. From one of the entrances, you want to head toward the Fall Creek Dam. (Google seems to call it Park Road.)
  2. You’ll end up on a one-way road, if I remember correctly. Go to the turnoff for Falls Creek Falls and drive to the parking area for the falls.

Accessibility: 10/10 (easy)
Height: 256′
Length of Hike: negligible

Where in the World is Fall Creek and Coon Creek Falls?

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Cane Creek Cascades, Tennessee

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There are numerous waterfalls in Falls Creek Falls State Park. In one portion of the park, you can see three waterfalls: Cane Creek Falls and Cane Creek Cascades, along with Rockhouse Falls. The first two are found along the same creek, with the cascades being found just upstream of the falls. While there is an official viewpoint for Cane Creek Falls, any good viewpoints are blocked by trees.

On the other hand, the Cane Creek Cascades can be seen very easily from its official viewpoint. When I visited in December 2009, very near Christmas, there was a considerable amount of water on the creek. The cascades were very beautiful, even in the slightly drizzly and very windy windy weather. Take some time to enjoy the cascades. I don’t think I took the time because I was trying to figure out how to get better views of the other two falls, when I should have been enjoying the cascades that were so easy to see! (To make it clear, I think there are other ways to get views of the other falls, they’re just not as obvious.)

Directions:

  1. Follow the signs toward Falls Creek Falls State Park.
  2. As you enter the park, you’ll want to pay attention to the signs. You’re going to head toward the nature center.
  3. Once you find the parking lot for the nature center, which is also the parking lot for Cane Creek Falls, Rockhouse Falls, and the Cane Creek Cascades. Cane Creek Cascades is the easiest to view, and requires very little effort to visit.

Accessibility: 10/10 (easy)
Height: 45′
Length of Hike: 0.2 miles round-trip

Cane Creek Cascades in December 2009

Where in the World is Cane Creek Cascades?

Rockhouse Falls, Tennessee

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Much of the same information that could be said about Rockhouse Falls has been discussed in a previous post about Cane Creek Falls, another waterfall that is just a hundred feet or so from Rockhouse Falls (maybe even less). Cane Creek Falls is wider than Rockhouse Falls, though they both seem to be about the same height. Rockhouse Falls might be just a tad bit taller.

As with Cane Creek Falls, the “view” provided at the overlook nearest to the parking lot does not provide a great view at all. Rockhouse Falls is actually blocked by shrubs. If the shrubs weren’t there, the view might not be half bad. Oh well…For possible better views, check out out the other post.

Directions:

  1. Follow the signs toward Falls Creek Falls State Park.
  2. As you enter the park, you’ll want to pay attention to the signs. You’re going to head toward the nature center.
  3. Once you find the parking lot for the nature center, which is also the parking lot for Cane Creek Falls, Rockhouse Falls, and the Cane Creek Cascades, park there and try the various routes leading to the falls.

Accessibility: 10/10 (from poor viewpoint), ?/10 (from suspension bridge), 1/10 (from rope to base)
Height: 125′
Length of Hike: 0.1 miles (to poorer viewpoint)

The rather poor view of Rockhouse Falls in December 2009

Where in the World is Rockhouse Falls?

Cane Creek Falls, Tennessee

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A poor view of Cane Creek Falls in December 2009

First off, I guess I’m not sure why I had such difficulty trying to find a better viewpoint for Cane Creek Falls. There are much better viewpoints, I just wasn’t successful in getting to them. That was partly my fault, partly just poor direction on the part of the state park.

When arriving at the parking area for Cane Creek Falls, which is right near the Nature Center in Falls Creek Falls State Park, a sign directs you to Cane Creek Falls. At first, you’ll be excited because it seems very short…that is until you realize that the view you’ll see is really poor. It’s blocked by trees, even in winter.

I knew about two other viewpoints from the book about Tennessee waterfalls. The first was to cross the pedestrian suspension bridge above Cane Creek Cascades, which is pretty easy to find. There were NO signs indicating that this led to another viewpoint of the falls, and it actually looked like the trail led off in the complete opposite direction, so I stopped. It was also getting very windy, and I’m not a big fan of bridges that swing above water, though I have to admit it wasn’t too bad, as the bridge isn’t that far above the water.

The second option was to head in the opposite direction of the suspension bridge from the parking lot. You’ll be heading in the direction of Rockhouse Falls, which is a smaller waterfall that also gets blocked from view. I don’t really think there’s a designated trail, but you’ll be able to tell a trail exists. As you walk along, I think you’ll have to walk on the main road for a short bit, and then get back on the trail. Pay attention for a thick, METAL rope hanging from a tree. This metal rope will lead you down a rather steep hill to the base of both Cane Creek and Rockhouse Falls. This is NOT for the faint of heart, and for me, it was also not for people that were alone. I would have done it if I had somebody else there, but oh well.

Directions:

  1. Follow the signs toward Falls Creek Falls State Park.
  2. As you enter the park, you’ll want to pay attention to the signs. You’re going to head toward the nature center.
  3. Once you find the parking lot for the nature center, which is also the parking lot for Cane Creek Falls, Rockhouse Falls, and the Cane Creek Cascades, park there and try the various routes leading to the falls.

Accessibility: 10/10 (from poor viewpoint), ?/10 (from suspension bridge), 1/10 (from rope to base)
Height: 85′
Length of Hike: 0.2 miles round-trip

Where in the World is Cane Creek Falls?