Fall Creek Falls State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Not posted
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed
- Camping
- YesAlso cabins, lodge or inn rooms
- Official site
- reserve.tnstateparks.com(423) 881-5298
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Partial closure Trails ClosuresIn August 2023, Fall Creek Falls State Park was impacted by a tornado. As a result, the following areas remain closed: • Piney Falls Trail (FCF… (more)
In August 2023, Fall Creek Falls State Park was impacted by a tornado. As a result, the following areas remain closed: • Piney Falls Trail (FCF parking lot to Piney Falls parking lot) • Millikan's Overlook Trail (overlook is open, trail is closed)
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
In Van Buren County, about 20 miles north of Dunlap, Fall Creek Falls State Park covers about 1,495 acres.
The park supports golf, historic sites, canoeing and kayaking, boating, and swimming. Facilities for water recreation include a boat ramp and boat or kayak rentals. For overnight stays there are 13 camping areas (RV sites, tent sites, primitive or hike-in sites, and group camping). There are also cabins and lodge rooms for rent.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office | Not stated | 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | — |
| Campground | Please note that check-in time for camping is 4:00 pm (CDT) and check-out time is 12:00 pm (CDT). Quiet Hours in all Campgrounds are between the hours of 10:00 pm and 6:00 am. Please note that check-in time for camping is 4:00 pm. Check-out time is 12:00 pm. To check-in before 12:00 pm, please reserve the previous night. | ||
Official wording
Office Hours: 8:00am - 4:30pm
Park Office Hours: 8:00am - 4:30pm
Please note that check-in time for camping is 4:00 pm (CDT) and check-out time is 12:00 pm (CDT). Quiet Hours in all Campgrounds are between the hours of 10:00 pm and 6:00 am. Please note that check-in time for camping is 4:00 pm. Check-out time is 12:00 pm. To check-in before 12:00 pm, please reserve the previous night.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Chicago).
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- Tennessee State Parks reservation site (itinio platform) for camping, cabins, shelters, programs; some lodges/cabins via reseze.net; golf via foreUP
- Phone
- 1-888-867-2757 (888-TNPARKS)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed
Pets are allowed, but must be on a leash or under physical control at all times.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campground B | — | — | |
| Eli Field Group Campsite | — | — | |
| Old Corner Campground | — | — | |
| Backcountry Area 3 | — | — | |
| Piney Backcountry (Area 2) | — | — | |
| Backcountry Area 1 Status: Closed | — | — | |
| Area W Campground | — | — | |
| Campground Area E | — | — | |
| Campground Area D | — | — | |
| Campground Area A | — | — | |
| Campground Area C | — | — | |
| Campground Area C | — | — | |
| Cane Creek Group Camp | — | — |
Camping details from the park
Fall Creek Falls offers over 200 campsites located throughout five different areas. The park also offers backcountry sites for the more adventurous campers.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Cabins and lodging
Cabin: Fall Creek Falls State Park has two cabin areas available. The Landside Cabins o…
Lodge Room: Check Room Availability at Fall Creek Falls State Park
Things to do
CampingHistoric sites and toursBoatingFishingCanoeing and kayakingSwimmingGolfHikingBiking
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base of Falls Trail | 0.35 mi | Hard | Starting at the Fall Creek Falls Overlook, visitors will hike down to the base of the falls. Please note this is a very strenuous hike, as visitors will have a steep incline on the way back out.HikeNatural surface |
| Cable Trail | 0.1 mi | Hard | Starting at the Paw Paw Trail, visitors will hike to the bottom of the Cane Creek Falls and Rock House Falls. Please note, this is an extremely strenuous hike and should only be attempted by those prepared to hike it.HikeNatural surface |
| Chinquapin Ridge Mountain Bike Trail | 5.45 mi | Moderate | Located at the south end of the park between the Newton Ford Picnic Area and Group Lodge 1, this double-track trail allows mountain bikers to visit some of the more remote areas of the park. This trail has several moderate inclines/declines with some creek crossings.HikeMountain bikeNatural surface |
| Fall Creek Bike Trail | 0.65 mi | — | Starting at the Dam, visitors can hike to the Fall Creek Falls Overlook and then continue another 0.90 Miles to Piney Creek Falls.HikeBikePaved surface |
| Gilbert Gaul Trail | 4.15 mi | Moderate | This trail follows the shore of Fall Creek Lake with several open water views.HikeNatural surface |
| Lake Bike Trail | 1.3 mi | Easy | Starting at the Lodge or the Dam, visitors can hike along the shoreline of Fall Creek Falls Lake. Hikers have the opportunity to connect to the Fall Creek Bike Trail from this trail.HikeBikePaved surfaceAccessible |
| Link Trail | 4.45 mi | Moderate | Starting at the Piney Creek Camp, hikers can go around the lake and into the backcountry.HikeNatural surface |
| Lower Loop Trail | 12 mi | Hard | Status: closedHikeNatural surface |
| Millikan's Overlook Trail | 0.45 mi | — | Status: closedHikeNatural surface |
| Overlook Trail | 0.65 mi | Moderate | Starting at the Betty Dunn Nature Center, this trail features three opportunities to view waterfalls from an overlook.HikeNatural surface |
| Paw Paw Trail | 2.5 mi | Moderate | Starting at the Betty Dunn Nature Center, this trail features three opportunities to view the Cane Creek Gorge at the different overlooks.HikeNatural surface |
| Piney Creek Mountain Bike Trail | 6.8 mi | — | This trail starts at the Piney Creek Camp parking area which starts at the gate. Visitors should use this trail to access the Piney Backcountry campsites.HikeMountain bikeNatural surface |
| Piney Falls Path | 0.9 mi | — | HikeBikePaved surface |
| Prater Place Trail | 3 mi | Moderate | Starting near Cane Creek, hikers will have the opportunity to view Hemlock Falls.HikeNatural surface |
| Turkey Pen Ridge Trail | 0.6 mi | — | Starting at either the Visitor's Center or the Taft Village, hikers will traverse the Cumberland Plateau and connect to the Woodland Trail.HikeNatural surface |
| Upper Loop Trail | 13.6 mi | Moderate | The 13.5-mile single-track Upper Loop Trail follows a little used backpacker trail. Because the trail was initially designed for backpacking, it contains some tight and twisty singletrack interlaced with open and flowing sections. The trail goes over rolling hills, with rocky sections and a few nice climbs. The Upper Loop can be accessed from the north entrance at the original park headquarters.HikeNatural surface |
| Wheeler Farm Trail | 1.5 mi | Moderate | Starting north of the park, this loop trail features both a natural arch and seasonal waterfalls.HikeNatural surface |
| Woodland Trail | 0.95 mi | Moderate | Starting at on the suspension bridge, visitors will be able to see Fall Creek Falls at the Overlook.HikeNatural surface |
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic shelters
- Visitor center
- Nature center or museum
- Park or camp store
- Restaurant or food service
- Laundry
- Group facilities
Water
- Boat ramp
- Boat, canoe or kayak rentals
Camping
- Tent camping
- RV camping
- Primitive or backcountry camping
- Group camping
Lodging
- Cabins
- Lodge or inn rooms
Recreation
- Golf course
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Getting there
- Address
- 2009 Village Camp Road
Spencer, TN 38585 - Nearest town
- Dunlap — about 20 mi north (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 35.6548, -85.3557
- Phone
- (423) 881-5298
- State.Parks@tn.gov
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Tennessee State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- TDEC Bureau of Conservation 'State Park Boundaries Primary' public ArcGIS view
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology