Upper Cumberland
At 1,800 feet elevation, the Cumberland Plateau is a natural playground — ancient hardwood forests, sandstone gorges, cascading waterfalls, and 80,000 acres of open wilderness all within an hour of Crossville.
State Parks & Natural Areas
Crossville, TN
Tennessee's largest mountaintop park
888 acres of hardwood forest surrounding a 50-acre lake — minutes from downtown Crossville. Camp, rent a cabin, fish Byrd Lake, paddle, or set off on trails through old-growth woodland.
15 min from Crossville
110-foot waterfall, 5 min off I-40
A short trail drops into a sandstone gorge to one of Tennessee's most accessible waterfalls — stunning in any season.
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45 min from Crossville
Dramatic gorge overlooks
A natural rock passage into a deep gorge system with sweeping plateau views. Part of South Cumberland State Park.
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Near Crossville
80,000 acres of open wilderness
One of Tennessee's largest WMAs — vast backcountry for hiking, wildlife watching, and primitive camping on the plateau.
Learn more →Hiking Trails
From easy lakeside strolls to challenging gorge descents — the plateau has a trail for every pace.
Hard Dramatic overlook above the Collins River gorge — one of the most rewarding hikes on the plateau.
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Easy A peaceful lakeside loop through Cumberland Mountain State Park — great for families and first-timers.
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Moderate Short but rewarding descent to a 110-foot waterfall tucked in a sandstone gorge just off I-40.
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Moderate Sweeping valley views from the rim of Grassy Cove, a scenic basin ringed by mountain ridges.
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