Photo Credits (5)
Difficulty
Moderate
Trail Length
4.8 miles
Trail Type
Out And Back
About Laurel Falls
Laurel Falls is an 80-foot plunge on Laurel Creek in the Laurel-Snow State Natural Area, on Walden Ridge just north of Dayton, Tennessee. It is reached by a 2.4-mile (one way) hike on the Cumberland Trail's Laurel-Snow segment and the Laurel Falls spur. The falls are fullest outside the dry late-summer months.
The Setting
Laurel Falls sits at 1,575 feet within Laurel Snow Pocket Designated State Natural Area, in the hills of Tennessee. The falls drop 80 feet.
Height: 80 feet
Trail & Hike Details
Trail Description
From the Laurel-Snow trailhead, the Cumberland Trail follows Richland Creek through the gorge for about 1.7 miles to a fork, where the Laurel Falls spur climbs about 0.7 mile by switchbacks to the base of the falls. The round trip is about 4.8 miles. The spur continues past the falls, steeper and more rugged, to Bryan Overlook at mile 3.3.
What to Expect
The falls cascade 80 feet. Dogs are welcome.
Accessibility
The trail is not wheelchair accessible. Uneven terrain and elevation changes require steady footing.
Frequently Asked Questions
🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Laurel Falls?
✅ Dogs are allowed
Leashed dogs are allowed on the Cumberland Trail, including the Laurel-Snow segment.
Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?
🆖 No fees required
🏊 Is There Swimming at Laurel Falls?
❌ Swimming is not allowed
When to Visit
Spring and fall are the best times to visit due to pleasant weather and seasonal scenery. Summer is also popular, but the trail can be crowded.
Seasonal Access
The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited.
Safety Information
The Laurel Creek crossing near the top of the falls can be impassable in high water. Rocks near the falls are slippery, and the trail beyond the falls becomes steep and rugged.
Know when to go.
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Is Laurel Falls Frozen?
Updated about 17 hours agoNot frozen highs above freezing lately
Laurel Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 42°F to 35°F.
- Days below freezing
- 0 of the last 14
- Current cold streak
- 0 days
- Freezing days ahead
- 0 of the next 7
- Flow
- no gauge
Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.
Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail.
Weather Forecast
The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR
Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.
Along the line through the falls, the bare ground drops about 240 feet, most of it in one sheer step, the signature of a plunge waterfall. The falls are listed at 80 feet; the extra comes from the ravine that continues below the base. The ground at the falls is roughly 1,575 feet above sea level.
The whole reach is steep: about 121 feet of descent in the 500 feet above the falls and another 197 feet in the 500 feet below. The falls face southwest and glow in afternoon and evening light.
Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.
- Ground elevation
- 1,575 feet
- Measured by 1-meter lidar
- Drop at the falls
- About 240 feet
- Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
- Faces
- Southwest
- Glows in afternoon and evening light.
A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading southwest).
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
Location & Access
Getting There
From US 27 on the northeast side of Dayton, turn northwest onto Walnut Grove Road, go about 0.75 mile, turn left onto Back Valley Road, then after about 0.7 mile turn right at the Laurel-Snow sign onto the gravel road (Richland Creek Road). It dead-ends at the trailhead parking area in about 1 mile.
Get Directions on Google MapsParking
Park in the Laurel-Snow State Natural Area lot at the end of the gravel access road. The lot can fill on summer weekends, so arrive early or come on a weekday. Vehicles left in gated areas after closing may be locked in or towed.
Elevation
1,575 feet above sea level
Coordinates
35.547569° N, -85.024121° W
Land Management
Managed by SPR
Visitor Tips & Gear
The natural area is open 8 am to 7 pm Eastern; plan to be back at your car before the gate closes. Wear sturdy shoes for rocky, rooty trail and bring water.
Where to Stay
Sleep Inn & Suites Dayton South
Econo Lodge Dayton North
Best Western Dayton
Comfort Inn Dayton South
Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby
Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses
Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip
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Additional Information
Nearby Attractions
The same trailhead leads to Snow Falls and Buzzard Point on the other branch of the Laurel-Snow segment, about an 8-mile round trip.
Wildlife
The area is home to diverse wildlife, including black bears, deer, and various bird species. Always maintain a safe distance from wildlife.
Cities near Laurel Falls
Nearby Waterfalls
LiDAR
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