As Tennessee’s largest park, Fall Creek Falls has many activities and sites to offer patrons. Located just east of McMinville in southern Tennessee, Fall Creek Falls is the most visited park in the state.
You don’t have to be a backpacker or active hiker to enjoy Fall Creek Falls. Many sites and scenic places at this park are handicap accessible, plus there is a great nature museum at the Betty Down Nature Center.
Last weekend, a couple friends and I took the 12 mile, overnight, Lower Loop Trail, which is the more scenic of the two overnight trails and includes a gorge, multiple swinging bridges, Piney Falls, Cane Creek Falls and of course, Fall Creek Falls.
Overnight parking and access to the trailhead for the two overnight trails is from a retired maintenance lot near the north entrance to the park. You’ll need to visit the Nature Center for a backcountry permit and information before hitting the trail. You will enter the trailhead from the grassy parking lot by the retired maintenance building and choose right or left for the Upper Loop Trail or Lower Loop Trail.
There are two campsites on the Lower Loop Trail, campsite one at three miles and campsite two at six miles, which is the halfway point. While some backpackers choose to do the trail backwards, starting at the Nature Center and getting to campsite two the first day, my group wanted to save the scenic stuff for the end, which is a great treat after a long trek.
Starting from the trailhead, it’s fairly easy going to campsite one, with some minor inclines up and down the three mile stretch. The trail is a low impact, narrow trail, with dense growth on both sides for almost the entire length of the twelve mile trail.
Ferns and mountain laurel are just some of the abundant greenery along the trail. As far as wildlife, my group spotted a black snake, chipmunk, two deer and swatted plenty of mosquitos along the way. We also heard some foxes after dark at campsite one.
The beginning of the descent of the gorge is two miles from campsite one. Besides the overall length, the gorge is the real challenge of this trail, which is mostly flat but marked as strenuous. The gorge is only a little over a mile in length, but you’ll do some steep climbing for the both descent and ascent of the gorge.
For the gorge descent, hikers will climb down roots and rocks, passing some bamboo and many varieties of flowers and plants. Watch out for loose rocks during this part, which may make the
descent treacherous if you don’t watch your step. Once you make it to the bottom of the gorge there is a fire pit and flat spot to camp next to Cane Creek, which was dry on June 13 when my group crossed over it on the swinging bridge. This would be a great spot to camp on day one, saving the gorge ascent for the morning of day two.
Going up the gorge is pretty strenuous, especially carrying a pack with overnight gear. With lots of rock scrambling and dense greenery, you’ll need to look closely for the white trail markers to stay on track during the rocky ascent.
Once you make it to the top of the gorge, it is a short distance to campsite two, which has a very nice, refreshing pump well with cold, clean water suitable for drinking and cooling off. This campsite is a large open area, perfect for a starry night. 
After the gorge, the Lower Loop Trail merges with the Mountain Bike Trail for a short stint before verging off southward towards the three scenic waterfalls of the park. This three mile part of the trail, from campsite two to Piney Falls, is mostly flat with very little change in elevation along the way and dense greenery along either side.
The first waterfall you will come to is Piney Falls, which is hidden behind trees during the summer months, but the bountiful rocks make for a good resting spot.
Another two and a half miles and you will come upon the waterfall that the park is named for, the 256 feet high Fall Creek Falls, one of the highest in the Eastern United States. The overlook here has gorgeous views of the rest of the park as well as the falls.
Lastly, the final waterfall on the Lower Loop Trail is Cane Creek Falls, the smallest of the three falls on this trail and a great spot for swimming. It’s right next to the Betty Down Nature Center, so if you don’t feel like backpacking the twelve mile overnight trail, it’s easy to drive right up and park next to Cane Creek Falls.
From the Nature Center, it is about a little more than a half mile hike to the overlook at Fall Creek Falls, or you can drive up it as well. Many views in the park are handicap accessible.
With over 26,000 acres, the park is large with much to offer to all ages and people. There’s over 34 miles of hiking trails, an inn, a golf course, cabins, car camping and plenty of places to swim.
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