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LakeQuality

Updated July 2026

Upper Piney Falls

Rhea County, Tennessee — about 80 ft, mid-height.

Little Piney Creek drops about 80 feet over Upper Piney Falls in this National Natural Landmark in Rhea County, where a concave ledge lets visitors walk behind the falling water. Lower Piney Falls drops another 40 feet downstream but is not trail-accessible.

Height
80 ft
Type
Plunge
Access
Moderate Hike
Trail
2 mi out-and-back
Elevation gain
Not documented
Best season
Spring (high flow)
Land manager
Piney Falls State Natural Area (TN State Parks)
Watercourse
Little Piney Creek

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 Piney Falls State Natural Area (TN State Parks) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.

Graded lakes within 25 miles

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Frequently Asked Questions

Upper Piney Falls drops about 80 feet. That makes it the 280th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 62% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.

The Piney Falls Trail reaches it about 2 miles (out-and-back), rated moderate. The nearest town is Spring City. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Piney Falls State Natural Area (TN State Parks) for closures and current conditions.

Spring (high flow). 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

Sources

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