Are you visiting Chattanooga Tennessee and looking to explore the most beautiful waterfalls near Chattanooga? Check out these 9 gorgeous falls worth exploring!
In Chattanooga, they receive around 53 inches of rain a year. Most of this happens from February to April. However, the positive of all this rain is that you can enjoy a variety of stunning waterfalls in Chattanooga, and its surroundings, that are absolutely 100% worthwhile exploring!
During this particular rainy period, all the creeks have plenty of water running through them, which brings these Tennessee falls to life.
As you have so many options to choose from, we have put together a guide to the most fabulous and impressive waterfalls near Chattanooga TN.
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9 Most Beautiful Chattanooga Waterfalls
Lula Falls in Chattanooga
Lula Falls is a beautiful waterfall near Chattanooga, Tennessee. This waterfall is a great place to go hiking or camping. However, it is common to confuse this waterfall with the Noccalula Falls found in Alabama.
There are upper and lower falls. In the upper falls, you will notice a beautiful cascade that will fall into Lula Lake. However, out of the falls, it is the lower falls that impress people the most.
The waterfall will flow all year round, but after a good rainy period, the fall will be much greater. The waterfall will spray a lot more and spray onto the trail above the falls.
There are many trails you can hike around this gorgeous Chattanooga waterfall. Alongside this, there are stairs leading to the bottom of the fall. It’s a nice place to go if you want to have a picnic or take pictures.
However, Lula Lake has a limited opening with a couple of days a month. This is to help restore the area due to many years of mining and logging.
Greeter Falls
Greeter Falls is made up of three waterfalls during a short Savage Gulf loop hike. However, the Great Falls is seen as one of the better waterfalls in this area. The Savage Gulf loop will lead you to the Boardtree Falls, Upper, and Lower Greeter Falls.
During the Lower Greeter Falls, you will descend into a gorge. However, this gorge is quite steep, hence the trail features a spiral staircase and a bit of scrambling down a wooden ramp by the base of the waterfall.
The pool is very picturesque, and visitors love to have a swim in the beautiful scenery.
The Upper Greeter Falls are also worth a visit due to the pleasing scenery that surrounds them. However, we cannot deny that the terrain is slightly rocky underfoot. Both falls are so beautiful, that you’ll be wondering why you haven’t gone to visit them sooner.
DeSoto Falls
There is a trail toward the base of DeSoto Falls, which gives you a pleasant view from across the lake. The DeSoto Fall can be found in the DeSoto State Park, however, we will admit this waterfall is a slight drive from Chattanooga. However, this trip is definitely worth it.
These falls were named after the Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto. However, there are a couple of falls with the same name over the country, including Georgia.
The DeSoto Falls is a much more accessible waterfall, as a short path from the parking lot which then leads to the overlook where you can witness this grand waterfall.
There are many trails around the falls that let you explore much smaller waterfalls, which makes for a great day out.
This waterfall is caused by water spilling over from the concrete dam and then cascading down, before falling off a shelf and then into a small lake.
There is no denying that this is a huge waterfall, and during summer you can be rigged to the waterfall cliff and abseil down into the lake.
Falling Water Falls
After a heavy downpour, Falling Water Falls is known to move a vast amount of water. You can find this waterfall in the Falling Water Falls State Natural Area.
It only takes up a small bit of land and has a tiny parking lot. There is only one trail that is quite short and leads you to the top of the very tall waterfall.
The Falling Water Fall is located at the end of the Cumberland Plateau. Where you will see this waterfall fall off a sandstone shelf. Then the waterfall falls straight into the rocky gorge below. As a result, these falls produce a lot of spray from falls 110 feet down.
Therefore, photo opportunities at the bottom of the waterfall are quite slim. When there is low water, it is possible to cross the creek and look down at the Falling Water Falls from an overlook on the side. However, we would say you should only do this at your own risk.
Laurel Falls
Just like with the falls we have just spoken about, Laurel Falls is another very high yet impressive waterfall.
You can find the Laurel Falls in the Laurel-Snow State Natural Area in Dayton; it is part of the Cumberland Trail. Alongside this, it is considered to be one of the most jaw-dropping parts of the trail.
The trail to these falls isn’t for everyone, as you will be climbing around and through large boulders. However, there is a beautiful pool where you have a break before you begin climbing to the highest point of the creek.
This is where you will see the Laurel Falls falling off the cliff above. An impressive sight, that is well worth the effort to get there.
Ozone Falls
Ozone Falls has one of the best swimming holes that you can enjoy during a hot summer’s day. This waterfall can be found in the Ozone Falls State Natural Area. You can also find it during the Crab Orchard Mountain part of the Cumberland Trail.
You can get access to the top and bottom of the fall. Again, we have another impressive waterfall that falls around 110 feet off a sandstone shelf.
The pool that the water falls into is a very popular swimming hole. Due to the height of the waterfall and the shape of the swimming hole, the air is almost filled with mist.
This is a really enjoyable feature during those hotter days. The Ozone Falls isn’t a very well-known waterfall, which makes for a great day out. It is somewhat of a drive out, at around 1.5 hours drive away, but it’s well worth the day trip to see this gem of a waterfall!
Foster Falls – Waterfalls Near Chattanooga
Another of the great waterfalls near Chattanooga is Foster Falls, which is located in the Foster Falls State Park. This park was created after the Tennessee Valley Authority built the nearby TVA Dam. The main attraction here is the Foster Falls itself.
This waterfall is made up of two separate falls, both of which drop off a sandstone ledge. The first fall drops approximately 50 feet, while the second drops around 30 feet. Both of these falls are spectacular and make for some amazing photos.
This waterfall is not the tallest waterfall that you will come across, but it does make for a good hike or camping trip. It is located near the entrance to the park, so if you don’t want to drive too far, then this is a good option for you.
However, it is a popular choice, so you should always expect lots of people to check it out.
Hemlock And Cherokee Falls
You may have never heard of either of these falls, yet they are both stunning waterfalls that can be found at Daniel Creek in Cloudland Canyon State Park.
Both waterfalls consist of a short hike starting from the parking lot, which is located at the edge of the gorge. However, both waterfalls require you to walk a very steep incline of around 600 stairs. Yet, these stairs are absolutely worth it.
Out of the two of these falls, Cherokee Falls is the shorter one, but it is still very beautiful to witness. The falls are surrounded by trees on the edge of the pool that the water cascades into.
However, you can not get access to the base of Hemlock Falls, but you can witness these attractive falls due to the observation platform that you can find at the end of the trail. Just in one state park, you can view two beautiful waterfalls.
Rainbow Falls – Waterfalls in Chattanooga
Rainbow Falls is one of the closest waterfalls to Chattanooga. Now, this is an 80 feet hidden waterfall, which is simply mesmerizing to look at. A rainbow mist is produced and visible on sunny afternoons.
Overall, the hike to Rainbow Falls can be quite daunting. If it has been raining the day before, then the trail may be quite muddy and slippery, so you need to be careful.
However, the hike is ideal for first-time hikers. During the summer, many hikers will take a dip in the area by the falls.
A beautiful waterfall that provides you with a chance to see an actual rainbow on a sunny day. Perfect for all the family, and this trail then leads onto other spectacular views.
Final Thoughts
There are so many gorgeous waterfalls near Chattanooga to choose from. Some of them are more well known than others, but they are all uniquely different and provide you with a chance to explore the surrounding areas.
You may be looking for somewhere to swim on a hot day, or just a good hike for a day out. As you can see, there are plenty of options to suit everyone and their needs and hopefully, we’ve inspired you to explore these stunning Chattanooga waterfalls on your next visit!
