Hiking Down to Ozone Falls Tennessee: Short and Steep

Intro

Looking for a highly rewarding short hike?  Look no further than Ozone Falls Tennessee!

Ozone Falls is just off of i-40 and is a stunning and easily accessible waterfall.  The hike may be steep, but it’s short and fairly easy to climb down the well laid stone steps.

As you descend, the thundering waterfall gets louder and louder and soon enough the crystal clear blue water will come into view.  

Yes, the water is truly this blue!  

But I’m getting ahead of myself.  Let’s go over the location and where to park first!

Location

Located in Ozone Falls State Natural Area, this stunning waterfall is less than an hour west of Knoxville, TN and about 2 hours east of Nashville, TN.  

And while this hike is very short and very rewarding, I would pair a trip here with Upper Piney Falls, as it’s only about a half hour away.  2 waterfalls for the price of one road trip is pretty awesome!

Parking

There isn’t much parking right at the trailhead, maybe enough room for 8 cars.  So I suggest getting to Ozone Falls Tennessee early if you can.  

Ozone Falls is easily accessible and is a very popular place to swim.  And because it is just minutes off of i-40, people can hit this attraction very easily.  

Long story short, you will want to park here.  Follow Google Maps and let the GPS do its thing.  

But if there isn’t any parking left, there is a large pull-off area where you can park as well.  The pull off is actually closer to the falls, cutting your hiking practically in half.  But either way, it’s a pretty easy trail, just a little steep. 

The Trail

Alright, so now you know where to go, where to park and you’re ready to take a quick trip to Ozone Falls Tennessee.  

But let’s be clear, while the trail is quite short (less than a mile round trip), it’s pretty steep and rocky.  

However, if you think about going down a few flights of stairs in order to view this beautiful waterfall, I would definitely say it’s worth it!

Trail Stats

• 0.8 miles (Round Trip)
• Elevation Gain of 120 feet

What to Expect

Assuming you park at the trailhead, the first part of the trail is flat and easy, albeit a bit rocky.  

Basically, from the right corner of the parking area, you will begin on the trail and head straight.  Once you have reached the cliff’s edge, you will head to the right and the trail will lead you to the only challenging part of the trail.  

My husband and I hiked to Ozone Falls Tennessee in January, right after a decent snowfall.  But even with the icicles and the snow around the trail, you can clearly see how steep the stone steps are.  

But before you worry about heading back up those steep stairs, you will first have to descend them.

Down you’ll hike, following the curvature of the cliff.  As the rocky cliffs stretch above you, the roar of the falls beckons you to continue on.

Once the ground has leveled out, the 110 foot waterfall known as Ozone Falls will come into view.  Next you will see the brilliantly blue pool of water below the falls and feel inclined to keep hiking.  

Because of the snow on our visit, we couldn’t get all the way down to the water, but in the spring, summer or fall, you can easily trek all the way down the base of the falls.  

Back to the car

We spent a decent amount of time here watching the water flow over Ozone Falls and crash into the pool below.  We even witnessed a few large icicles smash onto the rocks below, which was a little terrifying.

But what goes down the trail, must come back up.  

The trail is largely stone steps at this point and has about 120 feet of elevation.  So take your time, stop for water if you need it, and step carefully.  

Once you clear this steep section, it’s just a simple walk back to the parking lot the way you came.  

Final Thoughts 

Ozone Falls Tennessee gives you quite the bang for your buck!  For less than a mile of hiking you can get up close and personal to this stunning waterfall.  

Tennessee has some amazing waterfalls and we have enjoyed hiking to them.  This easy hike and inspiring waterfall are definitely high on our list and we would recommend Ozone Falls to anyone.   

If you want more specific information about Ozone Falls Tennessee and Ozone Falls State Natural Area, you’ll want to follow this link and read up.  

And as always, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out via email to averagewildexperience@gmail.com and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible!

Happy Hiking!