Piney Creek Falls (TN)

Like a ribbon of silver streaming through a green velvet pillow, Piney Creek Falls cascades 75’ into a rugged, lush gorge.  The trees here have never been touched by the axe or cross-cut saw.  The narrow, “V”-shaped gorge below gives refuge to many large eastern hemlock, yellow birch, and yellow poplar.  Powerful and remote, Piney Creen Falls is the park’s most beautiful waterfall to many visitors.   - Wayside Informational Marker

Piney Creek Bridge

Piney Creek Falls is a hidden gem within Fall Creek Falls State Park.  Located at the end of a paved park thoroughfare, the falls can be enjoyed via two distinct trailheads; the Piney Creek trail and the falls overlook.  

View from the suspension bridge of Kristy & The boys cliffside at Piney Creek

Piney Creek trail is a moderate, well-maintained trail that leads to the highest suspension bridge we experienced to date.  It is solidly anchored to the sheer rock face of the upper trail, and is not obscured by any type of safety barrier that one would normally expect on a public trail with a 40’ cliff adjacent to the path.  

After crossing the suspension bridge, the trail descends towards the river, presenting an impressive panorama of rushing headwaters with a backdrop of sheer rock walls.  To the unassuming hiker, this river looks like any other aquatic flow; however, a mere 100-meters around a blind-bend in the stream is the top of Piney Creek Falls.  An unfortunate slip into the fast-flowing river at this junction may prove to be unrecoverable.

Wes & The Boys next to the unassuming Piney Creek

Although the landscape was nothing less than magnificent, the close proximity of dangerous cliffs & impending cascades reminded us of the perils that nature can sometime present.  We keep our hounds—as well as ourselves—on a short leash.

Kristy & The Boys enjoying a sunset viewing of Piney Creek Falls

The Piney Creek Falls overlook trailhead is adjacent to the Piney Creek trailhead, but places the objective viewer around the aforementioned bend in the river.  The falls are wide and powerful, giving an appreciation for the destination of the waterway that flows under the suspension bridge a short distance away.  Similar in geography, the overlook sits on a rocky outcropping that provides an unobstructed view of the falls; but demands respect of one’s surroundings and sure-footedness.

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