Last updated: April 18, 2026
- Waterfall height: ~60 feet
- Stream: Little Gizzard Creek
- Small Wild Area: ~178 acres
- Park: South Cumberland State Park
- Access: Cumberland Plateau escarpment near the Grundy / Marion county line
Foster Falls is a waterfall on Little Gizzard Creek where the stream drops approximately 60 feet over the sandstone rim of the Cumberland Plateau into a plunge pool below. The falls and the surrounding Small Wild Area are part of South Cumberland State Park, and the site is one of the more heavily used recreation areas on the Cumberland Plateau.
Small Wild Area and hiking
The Foster Falls Small Wild Area covers roughly 178 acres around the falls and the head of the gorge. Hiking trails from the parking area reach the overlook, descend to the plunge pool, and connect to the Fiery Gizzard Trail, which continues north across the plateau toward Grundy County. The gorge below the falls supports hemlock, mountain laurel, and other cove-hardwood species in a microclimate cooler than the plateau surface.
Climbing
Foster Falls is a well-known sport-climbing destination, with routes on the sandstone cliff bands ringing the gorge. The climbing is managed in coordination with the Southeastern Climbers Coalition.
Denny Cove
Denny Cove is an adjacent unit of South Cumberland State Park a short distance from Foster Falls. It was added to the park in 2016 after a purchase coordinated by the Land Trust for Tennessee and other partners. Denny Cove includes sandstone climbing walls, hiking trails, and Denny Falls.
Related
About the Cumberland Trail →
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