Activities at the Park: 

• GOLF:  A beautiful and challenging 18-hole championship golf course designed by renowned golf course architect Joe Lee. A three-time selection by Golf Digest as one of the Top 100 Public Places to Play. Link to the course. 

• HORSEBACK RIDING:  Just a few miles down the road, Fall Creek Falls Riding Stables offers “guided trail rides for riders of all levels. Whether you've ever been horseback riding or not, you can ride with us! We've had riders of all ages. Our guided trail ride is a 2.5-mile trail that takes approximately 45 minutes to complete. Please visit this link for more information and times. 

• SWIMMING: Fall Creek Falls State Park offers swimmers an Olympic-sized pool, a children's wading pool, modern bathhouses, and a snack bar. The Lodge at Fall Creek Falls also offers a heated outdoor pool open to its lodge and cabin guests. 

• CANOPY CHALLENGE: The Fall Creek Falls State Park describes this experience as "2.5 hours of zip-riding, heart-pounding, bridge-crossing, breath-taking, tree-climbing, eco-friendly, and unforgettable fun!" The adventure includes aerial obstacles such as ladders, wobbly bridges, rope swings, cargo nets, balance beams, and zip lines. Options are available for children as young as four years of age to active seniors in moderate to good health. Large groups are welcome. Call for group pricing and details.

• BIKING: ​

  • Upper Loop Trail (Moderate – 13.5 mile single track) 

  • Chinquapin Ridge Mountain Bike Trail (Moderate – six miles out and back) 

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Video used with permission 

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Hiking, Rock Climbing and Waterfalls 

Did you know the waterfall at Fall Creek Falls is the highest free-fall waterfall east of the Mississippi River?

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Please visit AllTrails for detailed information about all the various types of hikes available in Fall Creek Falls State Park. AllTrails has 15 great trails for hiking and more. 

 

Looking for a more strenuous hike? The Cable Trail gives hikers a challenging hike down a steep cliff to explore the lazy creek below with its cascading waterfall. A cable runs through the trail, and hikers must use it to navigate their way back to the top.  

 

Also, other hiking and caving spots to explore nearby include: 

• Burgess Falls has won awards for its butterfly garden. 

• Prater Place and Hemlock Falls Trail 

• Lost Creek Falls & Cave Trailhead 

  • Lost Creek Falls is a 60-foot, beautiful waterfall. Formerly located on private property, this spot has remained a secret until fairly recently. In 2012, the well-known Fall Creek Falls State Park purchased the land to add to their park system. 

• Virgin Falls   ​

• Big Branch Falls

• Ozone Falls  is located in nearby Crossville, TN, and is described by tnvacation.com as a “43-acre natural area” that boasts a waterfall “plunging 110 feet over a sandstone cap rock into a deep blue, rock-strewn pool.”

• Big Laurel Falls  

• Sunset Rock, one of the Southeast’s premier rock-climbing sites. 

• Copperhead Rock is a popular destination for top roping and rappelling. 

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Caves and Caverns: 

Along with waterfalls and overlooks, Fall Creek Falls State Park has the second-most caves of any park in the eastern U.S., according to Wikipedia. 

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• Rumbling Falls Cave, which has the second largest cave chamber in the United States, is located in the park's Dry Fork section of the park  

• Camps Gulf Cave is another large cave located in the park that contains very large chambers. 

• Lost Creek Cave has five entrances and contains a waterfall and 7 miles (11.3 km) of passageways.  

 

Nearby Cumberland Caverns, located in McMinnville, offers a variety of tours for all ages and adventure levels! Their Rocky Topper Tour is offered every Saturday with “muddy passages, tight squeezes and cave crawling”. Also they offer Daily Walking tours every day as well as Family Days for kids and adults!   

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Kayaking and Floating the Caney Fork:  

• Canoe The Caney wants to give everyone a chance to enjoy the outdoors by offering some of the best Tennesse kayaking and canoeing trips in the area. Canoe The Caney is one of the most enjoyable and affordable family activities you will find. They offer 11 different tours, including a haunted canoe trip at certain times of the year, as well as family trips! 

• Smooth Rapids offers three different float lengths to suit your needs. They recommend the shortest float for those with young children as it starts at the city park, where there are plenty of other family activities available. The medium float is the most popular choice and gives between 4 and 5 hours on the river, a great way to spend a morning and enjoy the scenery. The longest float is also very popular and gives the most of the day on the water to admire the views and explore beyond the river. 

 

Fishing and Other Water Activities: 

Woodhaven has three ponds,  each of a different size, that are stocked with fish! Guests of our venue are welcome to try their hand at fishing in these ponds at no charge. 

 

Those wanting to spend their time on Fall Creek Falls Lake, located within the state park, must do so with one of its boats. Kayaks, canoes, paddle boats,  and flat-bottom boats are available for rent. Private boats are not allowed on the water. 

 

ATV-Guided Trail Riding 

• Bee Creek Adventures:  This off-road experience would be a fabulous time for the guys in your wedding party to join together and have some great fun. This family-owned and operated small business is near Pikeville, TN, and Fall Creek Falls State Park. Offering three different off-road tours, their family's mission is to give you a 5-star service and an adventure that your family will remember forever!  

 

Historical Sites and Discoveries:  

For those not wishing to hike or explore the outdoor beauty of the Cumberland Plateau, there are many options to discover historical sites. 

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• Trail of Tears

• Fall Creek Falls:  According to the Fall Creek Falls website, “The park sits in a historically significant area, being home to many Civil War battlefields and military installments. Archeology buffs will delight in the Native American sites, and the historical buildings and museums will amaze even those not normally captivated by history. 

• Chattanooga, just 40 miles south of Fall Creek Falls, offers a plethora of historical opportunities. Craven’s House, Silverdale Confederate Cemetery, The Dent House, and the Terminal Station are great places to start. Armchair archeologists will enjoy a visit to the Moccasin Bend Archeological District near Chattanooga.  

• Remnants around Fort Harry, located about 60 miles from Fall Creek Falls, deserve a little investigation, too. For those who love all sorts of history, Hiram Masonic Lodge No 7, Rhea County Courthouse, or Oak Ridge National Laboratory are great destinations, all within about 50 miles of Fall Creek Falls. 

• Historical Rock House: This small stone Rock House, originally built to collect tolls on a private road, was built between 1835 and 1839 by Barlow Fiske, who operated a stagecoach inn and stables nearby. The Rock House catered to traffic along an important wagon road between Knoxville and Nashville, offering badly needed lodging and supplies to travelers who had just crossed the rugged Cumberland Plateau. It is on the National Register of Historic Places, State Historical Commission, and the State Register of Historic Places - 1961 

 

Wineries, Distilleries And Breweries  ​

• Calfkiller Brewery:  Calfkiller Brewery strives to make their beers "Unparalleled Drinkability, Paradoxically Balance by Uncompromised Complexity”. With a gift shop on site that offers a few free beer samples and the chance to purchase growlers, they invite you to stop in, look around, and enjoy their wonderful beer garden. Tours are available most Saturdays by appointment only. 

• Happy Trails Brewing company: Happy Trails Brewing Company is a small brewery and taproom that is located in downtown Sparta, TN. Their mission is to provide great beer and a unique, family-friendly atmosphere that showcases great music and the beauty of Sparta and the surrounding area.  

• Northfield Vineyards: Northfield Vineyards is a family-owned winery tucked back in the hills of White County, Tennessee. The farm on which the winery and vineyard sit has been in the Ray family since 1904 and proudly grows not only grapes but hosts the stars of Northfield Vineyards, Burt, and Rube. Two Percheron-bred draft mules are the inspiration for the wine label and fun around the farm. They offer tastings on our wines, hard cider, and locally crafted beers seven days a week during regular business hours!

 

Shooting Experiences 

• DeadZero Shooting Park: A Premier Shooting Destination that offers an Electronic Target rifle range; eight enormous 15-lane Pistol/Carbine bays, two world-class sporting clay courses, and 5-stands created by celebrity designer Marty Fischer, a full-service park with a Club House, Class Room, outdoor pavilion, and even a pro shop. Skeet/Trap Fields are coming soon! 

 

 

Please note that some of the activities listed above are open seasonally. We recommend you check out the sites and investigate this thoroughly yourself before including in your weekend itinerary!