Everything you need to know about hiking to Denny Cove Falls
Don’t visit this hidden gem waterfall in South Cumberland State Park without reading my guide first!
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Nestled within the peaceful hardwood forests, towering bluff walls, and gentle rolling hills of South Cumberland State Park in Tennessee lies a total hidden gem waterfall— Denny Cove Falls! The trailhead to this relatively unknown waterfall hike is located just 10 minutes from the super popular Foster Falls.
Due to its abundance of impressive rock walls, Denny Cove has been a popular spot for climbers for decades, and as South Cumberland State Park acquired the area in recent years, there is now an easily accessible road, parking lot, and clearly marked trail to Denny Cove Falls.
Upper and Lower Denny Cove Falls
Before we dive in, you should know a few things about this trail:
Denny Cove Falls are best experienced after a significant amount of rainfall. I visited these falls once in the summer, and while the hike was beautiful, the falls were just a tiny trickle off the side of the bluff! (I recommend doing most waterfall hikes in Tennessee in the winter or spring!)
This trail is VERY rocky. There are several sections of the trail where you will have to watch your footing as you climb over rocks of various sizes. Make sure you wear proper, supportive footwear to hike this trail!
The road to the trailhead can be quite bumpy. It’s a gravel road marked with a fair share of potholes. If you have a vehicle that doesn’t handle bumpy roads well, you might want to adjust your plans!
Most of the photos shown in this blog post were captured on a beautiful January hike— if you need any recommendations for cold weather hiking gear, check out my winter gear list here! (Hiking with babies or toddlers? I know everything you’ll need— click here!)
Overlook at Denny Cove Falls Trail
Getting There
Located just outside of Tracy City in Sequatchie, this trail is super easy to find. It’s about an hour and a half southeast of Nashville and an hour west of Chattanooga. The address to the trailhead is 5501 US-41 Scenic, Sequatchie, TN 37374, but if you type “Denny Cove Falls” or “Denny Cove Trailhead” into Apple Maps, Google Maps, or even AllTrails, you’ll get the correct directions.
About the Trail
This trail is just under 3 miles out-and-back. It is very well-marked and easy to stay on trail without getting confused. Toward the beginning of the trail, there is a split where you can go to an overlook on the right or continue to the falls on the left. If you visit the overlook before heading to the falls, your total hiking distance will be just over 3 miles. As previously mentioned, this trail is very rocky. The trail is rated moderate and has almost 400 feet of elevation gain. Due to having to scramble over rocks for a good portion of the trail, this one might not be for you if you have bad ankles or knees! As for hiking with kids, I would bring a carrier if possible or maybe do this one kid-free (I’ve done this trail twice and haven’t tried it with my daughters yet!)
This trail offers beautiful views throughout— from the overlooks of the rolling mountains of the Cumberland Plateau, to the towering bluffs and gently flowing mountain stream. Denny Cove has a little bit of everything! Reminder to visit after a rain for the best experience on this trail!
South Cumberland State Park is FREE to visit (all Tennessee State Parks are), and dogs are allowed on this trail! However, if you have a pup who might have trouble with scrambling over lots of rocks, you might want to check out a different trail in the area.
If you’re thinking about visiting Denny Cove Falls, here’s another reminder to do so in the winter or spring. Below is a picture of what the falls look like in June!
Above all, please respect and care for our state parks when you visit them. Follow the 7 principles of Leave No Trace by making sure you stay on marked trails and pack out EVERYTHING you bring in with you. Let’s all do our part to keep Tennessee beautiful!
Denny Cove Falls in June
