Hiking to Foster Falls Tennessee: Short and Easy

Intro

Foster Falls in Tennessee is quite the gem of a waterfall.  And with such easy access via an observation deck, or a short hike to the base of the falls, you won’t want to miss Foster Falls!

Tennessee is known for their beautiful waterfalls.  In fact, when the US states are listed numerically by amount of waterfalls, Tennessee comes in at number 6 with 700 falls!  

All the more reasons to check out the 60 foot sheer-drop waterfall that is Foster Falls Tennessee.  

Location

Foster Falls is located in a small section of South Cumberland State Park.  The falls are approximately 100 miles southeast of Nashville, TN and about 40 miles directly west of Chattanooga, TN.  

This makes it a great location for a day trip if you live anywhere in between those cities.

Parking

Considering that South Cumberland State Park is such a large and spread out park, I wanted to be specific with where to park so you don’t waste time trying to find Foster Falls Tennessee.  

In short, Park Here.  This link will take you directly to the parking lot via Google Maps.  You can then use your Google Maps app to guide you directly to the trailhead.  

The Trail

Once you park, you will see that there is a Trailhead Board towards the back of the parking lot.  There is also a set of bathrooms here so have no fear of having to wipe with a leaf!

Anyway, this trail is very short and quite easy.  In my humble opinion, these are the best kind of trails!  An easy effort hike paired with this stunning waterfall makes for a huge payoff at the end. 

Trail Stats:

• 0.8 miles out and back
• 200 feet of elevation gain

Trail Details: What to Expect

The first .2 miles of this trail are ADA compliant (YAY Tennessee State Parks!) and lead you to this overlook deck.  From here you can see Foster Falls down below you, and in Autumn, I would imagine this provides stunning leaf peeping!

From here, you will continue to the left, following the two signs that are directing you to the base of Foster Falls Tennessee.

You will then begin your descent.  This trail is a mix of stairs and sloping ground as you head down to the base of the falls.  The lower you go, the louder the falls become, on a good flow day of course.

As you wind down the path you will come to a suspension bridge, as well as your first views of Foster Falls.  Cross that bridge and you’ve done it!  You’ve reached the base of the falls where you can enjoy the beauty of a stunning Tennessee waterfall.  

In the summer, this is a popular swimming hole, but in the winter, I had this place all to myself!  I also recommend coming after a heavy rain for the best viewing results.  

Exit

The worst part about this trail is that you have to go up every bit that you just came down.  All those rocky and uneven stairs greet you again on your way out to your car.

Fortunately, there isn’t a whole lot of elevation to climb with this trail, but don’t be afraid to stop and catch your breath if needed.  

Final Thoughts 

Hiking to Foster Falls Tennessee was quick and easy!  Even with time to take some photos, we completed this hike in less than an hour.  

With less than a mile of hiking and a beautiful waterfall at the end, truly anyone can hike down to see this stunning spectacle.

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected] and I’ll do my best to help you plan any hiking trips you have coming up.

Happy Hiking!