Venturing off the beaten path often leads to the most beautiful destinations, such as Roaring River Falls in Cookeville, Tennessee. A gorgeous Tennessee waterfall only a short walk from the trailhead is always an excellent adventure for your itinerary.
This article will give an easy and quick rundown of everything you need to know about Roaring River Falls in Tennessee.
The first thing is that this is the Roaring River Falls in Cookeville, Tennessee. Not the Roaring River Falls found in the Kings Canyon National Park in California.
Roaring River Falls, also known as Crawford Mills Falls, is based on the old mill that used to stand here. It also goes by Hardy-Reagan Falls, which is from the name of the nearby bridge where TN136 crosses the river.
The Trailhead is located at 1634 Standing Stone Hwy, Cookeville, TN, 38506. Roughly 20 minutes from Dale Hollow Lake and 10 minutes outside of Livingston, Tennessee, in Overton County.
The trailhead is not labeled, and the parking lot is easy to miss as it is small. There isn’t any signage, so I recommend placing the address in your GPS and slowing down as you approach your destination to not miss the turn into the tiny parking lot.
Once in the parking lot, you will be able to hear the falls as soon as your exit your vehicle.
The trailhead is steps from the parking lot behind a barrier to keep vehicles out. Once on the trail, you begin your descent into the gorge. Visitors will find the path reasonably easy to navigate. Some portions are paved, and parts are gravel, along with some rocky areas leading down to the falls. About a five-minute walk will have you at the falls.
The trailhead will take you to the top of the falls overlooking the impressive cliff of dozens of different bedrock strata. It is easy to access the top of the falls from this location. However, the falls have a 13 ft drop, so explore responsibility.
Tip: A trail takes guests to the waterfall’s base for those not wanting to climb the boulders down.
The best times to visit waterfalls are in the spring or after a good rainfall. We visited the falls after a night of showers, so it flowed nicely in the middle of July. The falls have a dramatic cliff with tons of rock formations giving the waterfall character.
The kids loved exploring the shallower upper portion of the falls before venturing to the base. There are some deep areas around the falls, so keep your eye on little explorers. The older kids loved climbing the big rocks around the waterfall, which can get slippery. Come prepared with proper footwear.
Make out a whole afternoon of adventure by venturing to all these nearby waterfalls in the area. Pack a picnic and enjoy an entire day chasing waterfalls.
Flat Creek Falls ~1.10 miles
Upper Waterloo Falls~ 3.48 miles
Waterloo Falls ~3.58 miles
Mill Creek Cascades~ 3.91 miles
West Bow Falls ~3.92 miles
Upper Mill Creek Cascades ~4.31 miles
Dave Falls ~4.84 miles
One of the best pieces of advice for chasing waterfalls is to come prepared. Map out your day, have backup plans, and be ready to get wet! Here is a list of our top things to pack with you for a day of waterfall hunting:
Looking for another great hidden waterfall? Check out Fallsville Falls in Ohio!
Pin It For Later
If you’ve ever stumbled across a flight deal that feels too good to be true,…
If you’re craving a quick, easy escape that feels equal parts charming, walkable, and just…
Ohio may seem like a “flyover state” at first glance, but dig a little deeper…
If you’re looking for a unique, budget-friendly outing in Ohio, the Johnny Appleseed Museum in…
Bloom Quest is a self-guided spring adventure encouraging families to explore Cincinnati’s most beautiful FREE…
Swimsuits are always in season when you plan to visit one of the many indoor…