Greeter Falls. If you travel about 1.5 hours south down the Cumberland Plateau, you’ll find the small town of Altamont, Tennessee. Its location makes it another easy day trip from Nashville, Chattanooga or Knoxville. And here, nestled into a gorge in what’s known as the Savage Gulf State Natural Area, you’ll find Greeter Falls.

The drive is well marked and ends in an ample parking lot that usually has spaces available even on the most popular days. The trail is a short two-mile, out-and-back loop, easily navigated and mostly pet friendly. You will soon come to a fork which leads right for the upper falls and left for the lower falls. The upper falls are twice as wide as they are tall (a small 15 foot drop) and there are areas in the surrounding rocks for a picnic spread or a shaded rest if you would like to enjoy the more serene of the two falls. However, don’t let the calm fool you - because of the shallow depth and the pull of the lower falls, you’ll want to save your swimsuit for the pool at the lower falls. The trail loops back to the fork and the descent to the lower falls is a bit steep but still fairly short. An often slippery spiral staircase leads you down the last steps into this magical pocket of southern paradise. The water here falls a full 50 ft. and pools into a fantastic swimming hole surrounded with rocky outcroppings for exploring, chilling and hanging out with friends.

You don’t have to wait for a sunny day to enjoy these waterfalls. Rain has a huge impact on the flow of these Tennessee streams, sometimes leading to amazing surges in the different falls. The sights and roar of the raging falls on an overcast day are unforgettable.

Another aspect that makes Greeter Falls such a perfect destination is that it also has some impressive neighboring attractions if you want to add more to your trip itinerary. Boardtree Falls is another nearby waterfall stop - particularly worth it after some rainfall to the region.

Additionally, hike the Great Stone Door area. Change it up from the waterfalls and check out what can only be described as the “Grand Canyon of Tennessee.” You’ll find it just a five-minute drive further past Greeter Falls. A quick one-mile hike brings you to the top of towering cliffs reaching more than 100 ft. that wrap around the Big Creek gorge. The actual Stone Door is a 100 ft. tall by 10 ft. wide crack deep in the sandstone bluff which allows foot traffic into the gorge below. Some of the best camping in Tennessee can be found here in the South Cumberland State Park and Stone Door area. Consider Greeter Falls for that iconic dual camping/waterfall experience.