There’s something humbling about waterfalls. They have the potential to stir up a sense of awe as we look upon their mesmerizing beauty. Whether they’re massive cascades hundreds of feet tall or significantly smaller, they are captivating forces. If you love spending time in nature and enjoy seeking waterfalls, you’ll want to check out Burgess Falls State Park and Natural Area near Sparta, Tennessee.
The state park is home to four breathtaking waterfalls, the most popular being the 130-foot-tall Burgess Falls. Falling Water Cascades, Little Falls, and Middle Falls (Big Falls) are the others. If you’re feeling adventurous and want to get up close, you can take a pontoon or kayak tour to Burgess Falls’ base. Otherwise, you can hike to see it from the shore. However you decide to go about the adventure of witnessing the waterfalls, you’ll find yourself in a park brimming with incredible beauty — everything from the trees to the water to the wildlife lurking about makes for a spectacular experience.
Witnessing waterfalls from land or water
If you want to see all four beautiful waterfalls at this Eastern state park, you’ll want to hike along the challenging River Trail. The 1.5-mile loop (0.8 miles each way) isn’t easy, but its beauty is certainly worth the effort. Alternatively, there’s the shorter but just as challenging Ridge Top Trail that gives you a unique view of the Falling Water River’s main canyon. On the hikes, you can witness a variety of wildlife. Search for birds like the Carolina chickadee and white-breasted nuthatch and animals like the eastern cottontail rabbit and the common snapping turtle as you trek through the woods.
The kayak tours to Burgess Falls’ base are $55 through Kayaking Adventures of Tennessee for about five to six hours. In addition to kayaking, you can also go fishing. Note that you’ll need a Tennessee fishing license if you plan on doing so. So whether you spend your time on the land or the water, you’ll be sure to make some memories in the great outdoors.
Picnics and views
The park has no admission fee, and hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, all year long. You can spend the day exploring its trails, enjoying a picnic at one of its many picnic tables that also have grills, or paddling about on the water, learning about the region’s history and wildlife.
If you’re itching to catch sights of waterfalls and spend time amongst nature, then consider making a day trip to the lovely Burgess Falls State Park and Natural Area. “This is a beautiful park with a stunning waterfall. There are strenuous and less-strenuous views of the park,” a visitor wrote on TripAdvisor. “The staff is phenomenally kin,” they continued. The park itself offers nature programming throughout the year, so if you’re interested in the region and want to learn more about the park and its ecosystem, plan your trip around such programs. Check out the park’s website for more information.
