Updated July 2026
Benton Falls
Benton Falls is a 65-foot tiered waterfall in the Ocoee/Chilhowee area of the Cherokee National Forest in Polk County. The well-marked, blue-blazed trail runs about 1.5 miles each way from the Chilhowee Recreation Area, descending gently to the falls.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Cherokee National Forest (USFS) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Benton Falls drops about 65 feet. That makes it the 346th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 50% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The Benton Falls Trail reaches it about 3 miles (out-and-back), rated easy. The nearest town is Benton. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Cherokee National Forest (USFS) for closures and current conditions.
Spring; year-round. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More Tennessee waterfalls
- Abrams Falls · 20 ft
- Bald River Falls · 90 ft
- Big Falls (Old Stone Fort) · 30 ft
- Burgess Falls · 136 ft
- Cane Creek Falls · 85 ft
- Coker Creek Falls · 40 ft
- Conasauga Falls · 35 ft
- Cummins Falls · 75 ft
Sources
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