A Hiker’s Dozen Waterfalls

Derek and I have lived in Chattanooga for two and a half years now. During that time, we have hiked a lot of the area’s trails.

So many of these trails feature a waterfall. If you had told me three years ago that we would be hiking and seeing so many waterfalls, I would have thought you were crazy. Before this, the only waterfall I had seen was Niagara Falls.

This year, we have seen three new waterfalls: Foster Falls, Piney Falls, and Burgess Falls. I wondered, just how many waterfalls have we seen? In all, it comes to 13 waterfalls. I laughed to myself and thought about how a baker’s dozen is 13, so this is a hiker’s dozen.

Here is the list of 13 waterfalls, which a link to each corresponding blog post.

1.Hemlock Falls and 2. Cherokee Falls

3. Benton Falls

4. Foster Falls

5. Piney Falls

6. Winter Falls and 7. Sittons Gulch Falls

8. Lula Lake Falls

9. Glen Falls

10. Falling Water Falls

11. Burgess Falls State Park

12. Julia Falls Overlook

13. Blowing Wind Falls

This is a wide-ranging list. Some of these are tiny, some of these are large and powerful. Some of these you can hike right up to the edge, and others you see from far away.

The first waterfall I saw on this list was also the furthest away, vantage point wise. This was Julia Falls. Better viewed after a lot of rainfall, it can be seen on the side of the mountain across from Julia Falls Overlook, which is reached from Signal Point. At the time I wasn’t aware of other local waterfalls, and I didn’t think it could get any better!

The easiest one to get to is Falling Water Falls, located on Signal Mountain. It’s a short walk from the parking lot. You view this waterfall from above. 

The best trail for maximum views of a waterfall, in my opinion, is Foster Falls. The trail allows you to see the falls both far away and close, and on both sides.

The best overall trail and waterfall, I think, is Benton Falls. The trail is two miles there and back, but it is an easy gravel path. The waterfall is tall and large, and you can get right up close and go swimming, if you chose to do so.

A close second favorite is the waterfall trail at Cloudland Canyon State Park, where you can see three waterfalls. Winter falls is seen across the valley, on the side of the mountain, at the start of the trail. (A different trail does offer a water crossing at the bottom of Winter Falls.) The Waterfall Trail leads to both Hemlock and Cherokee falls.

Foster Falls38
Lula Lake Land Trust44
Piney Falls32

What is your favorite waterfall that you’ve hiked to?

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