Cummins Falls State Park
Tennessee State Park · Cookeville, Tennessee
A 75-foot waterfall in the Blackburn Fork gorge north of Cookeville, on land privately owned for two centuries and made a state park only in 2011. National outdoor press has repeatedly named the plunge pool one of the best swimming holes in America, which is exactly why the gorge is now permit-gated: a limited number are issued for each day, the route down is a wet scramble along the riverbed rather than a path, and the gorge closes outright when rain upstream makes a flash flood likely.
390 Cummins Falls Lane, Cookeville, Tennessee, 38501, United States
Park and overlook open daily year round, free, generally 8 AM to sunset. GORGE ACCESS BY PAID TIMED PERMIT ONLY, booked in advance at tnstateparks.com and limited daily. The gorge closes entirely on flood risk, sometimes at short notice — check the park status before travelling.
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