Things To Do in the Upper Cumberland

Burgess Falls is one of Tennessee's most dramatic waterfall hikes, stringing four waterfalls along a 4.5-mile round-trip trail on Falling Water Creek. The grand finale - a 136-foot main falls - is the kind of view that makes you understand why people keep coming back to the Upper Cumberland. Entry is free.

Center Hill Lake is an 18,220-acre Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Caney Fork River, just south of Cookeville. With wooded shoreline, multiple marinas, campgrounds, and excellent fishing, it's the most accessible major lake in the Upper Cumberland and a summer fixture for Putnam County families.

The Cookeville Depot Museum preserves the city's 1909 Louisville & Nashville Railroad depot - a handsome brick structure that tells the story of how the railroad shaped Cookeville and the Upper Cumberland. Free admission, a restored passenger car outside, and exhibits that cover local history from settlement through the 20th century.

The Cumberland Homesteads Tower Museum in Crossville tells the story of one of FDR's most ambitious New Deal experiments - a planned community of 252 homesteads built for struggling families during the Depression. The distinctive octagonal stone tower is a landmark, and the museum inside is one of the more genuinely moving historical sites in Tennessee.

Cummins Falls is Tennessee's ninth largest waterfall - a 75-foot plunge into a deep swimming hole that requires a gorge hike to reach. It's more of an adventure than a stroll, but that's exactly what makes it feel earned. Located just outside Cookeville, it's one of the Upper Cumberland's most beloved natural escapes.

Dale Hollow Lake is one of the clearest lakes in the eastern United States, a 27,700-acre Army Corps reservoir straddling the Tennessee-Kentucky border near Celina. With 620 miles of mostly undeveloped shoreline, world-record smallmouth bass fishing, and crystal-clear water, it's one of the Upper Cumberland's greatest natural assets.

The Highland Manor Inn is a well-regarded bed and breakfast in Crossville offering a comfortable, personal alternative to chain hotel lodging on the Cumberland Plateau. A good home base for exploring Crossville's golf, theater, and state park options.

Rock Island sits where the Caney Fork, Collins, and Rocky rivers meet - a confluence that creates a landscape unlike anywhere else in the Upper Cumberland. The Great Falls of the Caney Fork, a natural swimming beach, camping, and miles of trails make this one of the most complete state parks in Tennessee.

The TTU Arboretum is a 12-acre public garden on the edge of Tennessee Tech's campus with over 300 labeled plant species, walking paths, and native plant collections. Free and open to the public every day, it's one of Cookeville's quietest and most underrated spots.