State Park · Tennessee
A 457-acre natural area in Jackson County with a 75-foot waterfall plunging into a natural swimming pool, requiring a Gorge Access Permit and a strenuous hike through the Blackburn Fork gorge to reach.
Field briefing
Cummins Falls State Park starts with access, not mileage.
Before you go
Children 5 and under are discouraged from the gorge descent; children 12 and under must wear life jackets at the plunge pool. Get the Gorge Access Permit before you go, check the park Facebook page for closure status on the day of your visit, and plan to arrive early as parking fills on summer weekends. There is no camping at Cummins Falls.
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Cool with high creek flows after winter rains; falls are powerful but gorge can be subject to closures.
Pack Waterproof shoes, warm layers for cold water wading, and a permit in hand before arriving.
Warm and popular; the plunge pool is the destination and crowds are at their highest.
Pack Water shoes, life jacket for children under 13, sun protection, and a gorge permit.
Cooler and less crowded after Labor Day; the gorge stays hikeable into October.
Pack Waterproof footwear, warm layers for water crossings, and a permit for gorge access.
Cold; the gorge closes in wet or high-water conditions and is not suitable for swimming.
Pack Insulation, waterproof boots, and flexibility for gorge closures due to weather.
Cummins Falls gorge hike and 75-foot waterfall
The signature experience: a strenuous hike with stream crossings, rock scrambling, and slippery terrain leading to a 75-foot waterfall plunging into a natural swimming pool. A Gorge Access Permit is required and the gorge closes on rainy days.
Falls Overlook Trail
A shorter, accessible trail leading to a wheelchair-friendly overlook above the gorge with views of the falls without the gorge descent. All-terrain wheelchairs available for reservation.
Blackburn Fork State Scenic River fishing
The section of the Blackburn Fork running through the park is too shallow for boating but offers wade and bank fishing for bass and bluegill. Fishing is not allowed in the plunge pool.
Put the access rule first: shuttle, parking, timed-entry, or reservation windows should decide the order of the day. For one day in Cummins Falls State Park, make Cummins Falls gorge hike and 75-foot waterfall the non-negotiable, add Falls Overlook Trail only if the first stop runs clean, and keep Blackburn Fork State Scenic River fishing as the flexible finish.
Turn Cummins Falls's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around access
Plan the transfer before the trail list.
Plan your trip
2 quick tools, already seeded for Cummins Falls State Park. Tune the route, pack weight, weather margin, and overnight setup after the access plan is real.
Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.
Kit Authority
Cummins Falls State Park packing list
0 of 15 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
Checklist mode
15 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
The buying guides that match what Cummins Falls asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
There is no campground at Cummins Falls State Park. Cookeville, about 12 miles east, is the practical base with hotels, restaurants, and full services. Standing Stone State Park (about 45 minutes north) and Burgess Falls State Park (about 20 minutes west) offer camping if you want to stay in the region's state park system.
Camping reservations
There is no overnight camping at Cummins Falls State Park. Plan it as a half-day to full-day excursion and use Cookeville or nearby parks for overnight stays.
Reviewed June 11, 2026
Booking window
No camping reservation needed; day-use only with Gorge Access Permit required to visit the waterfall base.
Where to book or verify
Purchase your required gorge permit here before visiting the base of the waterfall.
Official Tennessee State Parks page for safety rules, trail details, and permit requirements.
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
Campgrounds to know
Plan the handoff from arrival to shuttle.
Parking, pedestrian entrances, and shuttle timing decide how calmly the first morning starts.
Getting there
Arrival note
Cummins Falls State Park is at 390 Cummins Falls Lane in Cookeville, Tennessee, Jackson County, about 12 miles west of Cookeville off Highway 290.
Car strategy
From Interstate 40, take Exit 286 and follow signs toward Blackburn Fork Road and Cummins Falls Lane.
Local movement
Parking is limited and fills fast on summer weekends; arrive by 9 AM on busy days or plan for a wait.
Pair this with lodging: sleep where the park transfer is simple, especially if your route needs an early start.
Yes. A Gorge Access Permit is required to descend into the gorge and visit the base of the 75-foot waterfall. Purchase the permit at reserve.tnstateparks.com before your visit. The overlook trail does not require a permit.
Children 5 and under are discouraged from making the gorge descent. Children 12 and under must wear life jackets at the waterfall and plunge pool. The hike is strenuous with rock scrambling, stream crossings, and slippery terrain.
The gorge closes any time the water level is too high due to rainfall, including when it is raining upstream but not at the park. Check the Cummins Falls State Park Facebook page the morning of your visit for current gorge status before driving out.
No. Cummins Falls is a day-use natural area only, with no campground. Base overnight in Cookeville or at nearby state parks with camping such as Burgess Falls or Standing Stone.