Waterfall Hikes Near Knoxville, TN

Knoxville sits at the transition between the Appalachian foothills and the Cumberland Plateau, with the Tennessee River carving steep gorges, forested ridges, and river valleys dominated by mixed hardwoods and rhododendron-lined hollows. Within 50 miles most waterfall hikes are moderate—ridge-to-gorge ascents and canyon scrambles—alongside a few short roadside cascades, several strenuous technical routes, and some drive-up access points; the close elevation changes and river gorges create a wide variety of trail experiences within short drives.