Cane Creek Falls

2 hours from Nashville

½ Mile Hike

Cane Creek Falls are not the most impressive falls I have ever seen. (I can be picky.) But what they lack in size and force, they make up for in the sweet hike to get there and the swimming once you’ve arrived.

If you are visiting Fall Creek Falls State Park (and you should – it is amazing), it is worth the short but strenuous hike to Cane Creek Falls. There is a large area for swimming, and the falls are pretty.

This is one of the 8 Best Waterfall Hikes near Nashville – learn about all of them in this post!

To access these falls, you are going to take the Cable Trail. For some reason, any trail that involves me having to hold on to a rope (or in this case a cable), makes me feel like more of a badass.

Leave the Betty Dunn Nature Center (there’s a bunch of parking here) from the back and hike towards the overlook, sort of on the road. There will be signs and maps at the nature center. Or check out this map. Hike uphill, and you’ll see the official trail. You will see a VERY steep trail, 45° steep, with a cable; that’s where you’re heading. Hike down and then take some time to enjoy the falls for a bit. Roundtrip is less than half a mile.

Once at the bottom, take a dip in the water and swim near the falls. Wear water shoes if you have them. It’s very rocky, and I constantly felt like I was going to cut my foot or fall over.

If you can’t or don’t want to do the cable hike, you can do a 1 mile RT hike to an overlook of Cane Creek Falls. From the same parking lot as listed above, take the Woodland trail toward Fall Creek Falls. Cross the awesome swinging bridge then take a right at the first fork. This is the Gorge trail and will give you an overlook from a spur trail on the right.

Nurse tips

Please BE CAREFUL. One of our friends slipped on the way up and really skinned her knee/leg. I am not lying when I say it’s really steep. Take your time, help each other out, and bring a first aid kit in case this happens.

Unfortunately, I don’t have many pictures from this hike because I lost all my photos when my iphone crashed. If you’ve been, post some photos below!

To see 7 more beautiful waterfalls near Nashville, head to this post.

More on Nashville: Free and Cheap Yoga.

Betty Dunn Nature Center Address: 10821 Park Rd, Pikeville, TN 37367

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