Cumberland Falls is known as the Niagara Falls of the South.
Below are 5 things to do at Cumberland Falls State Park. You will have a great time during your visit!
1. See Cumberland Falls
Cumberland Falls is gorgeous! It’s 68ft tall, 125ft wide, and is the second largest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains. You don’t have to hike to see the falls. From the parking lot, it’s a short walk to the observation deck. From there, you can take the short walking trail down to a bottom observation deck. At the bottom one you will get a better view of the falls.
2. Have a Picnic
As you drive in you will see many picnic tables, and there are signs for designated picnic areas. You can stop at any of those, or you can go on and park in the parking lot for the falls. Once there, there are lots of picnic tables around the falls you can use.
If you don’t want to pack your own picnic, you can order food at the Moonbow Café. It is near the falls and is in the same complex as the visitors center and gift shop. They serve all types of food including pizza, burgers, walking tacos, ice cream, and more. Typically, there is also a food truck set up here too serving funnel cakes, fried Oreos, and more. After ordering your food, you can sit at one of the many picnic tables to enjoy it
3. Hiking
In total, there are 17 miles of trails in the park that range in difficulty. My boyfriend and I chose to do the Eagle Falls trail. There are many stairs, rocks, and elevation changes so it is definitely not an easy hike. But, the views are beautiful and worth it! However, we didn’t go all the way to Eagle Falls. We stopped and relaxed on a giant rock overlooking the water and the falls, then made our way back.
4. Relax on the Beach below Cumberland Falls
Below the falls is a beach area that you can get to without hiking. You get to it by a walking trail from the waterfall observation decks. There are many people with beach towels laying in the sun, getting in the water, and just having a good day.
5. See the Moonbow at Cumberland Falls
Cumberland Falls is one of two places in the world where a moonbow can be seen consistently. A moonbow, or lunar rainbow, is formed when moonlight is refracted through water droplets. It can only be seen at night when the moon is full and the sky is clear. Check the moonbow schedule to see if one will be visible during your visit! And remember, taking a picture of the moonbow is different than taking a regular picture. Read this guide to learn how to capture this amazing phenomenon.
Aside from these 5 things to do at Cumberland Falls State Park, there is so much more here!
You can go horseback riding, gem mining, camping, etc. Click here for a map of the entire park, including trails. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like me to assist with planning your visit. I would be more than happy to help you!
