Cookeville, TN
Parks, Trails & Outdoor Recreation
Cookeville is on the rim of the Cumberland Plateau. Burgess Falls and Cummins Falls are about 10 miles from town. Center Hill Lake starts about 15 miles southwest. Fall Creek Falls is 45 miles southwest.
Waterfalls
Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0Burgess Falls State Park
Four waterfalls. The main falls drop 136 feet. Admission is free. The trail is 1.6 miles round trip.
The trail follows the Falling Water River and passes four waterfalls. The main falls drop 136 feet. Swimming is not permitted. Spring flow is higher after rain. The park is 10 miles south of Cookeville.
- 136-foot main falls
- 1.6-mile round trip trail
- Swimming not permitted
- Dog-friendly on leash
Tip: Parking fills by 10 a.m. on weekends in summer.
Ingogermany, CC BY-SA 4.0Cummins Falls State Park
Tennessee's 8th largest waterfall. The drop is 75 feet. It has a swimming hole. A gorge permit is required in season.
Cummins Falls is on Blackburn Fork State Scenic River and drops 75 feet into a plunge pool. The overlook is on a separate trail. Gorge access requires a seasonal permit and includes water crossings and uneven rocks. Check current permit availability and price before visiting.
- 75-foot waterfall
- Natural swimming hole
- Gorge permit required in season
- Short hike to overlook
Tip: The gorge closes in high water. Check the park website or call before the drive in spring.
State Parks
Jsfouche, CC BY-SA 3.0Fall Creek Falls State Park
The waterfall is 256 feet. The park is on the Cumberland Plateau. Admission is free. It is 45 miles southwest of Cookeville.
Fall Creek Falls State Park covers about 25,568 acres on the Cumberland Plateau. The waterfall drops 256 feet. The park has overlooks, cascades, trails, a lodge, cabins, campgrounds, golf, and a canopy course.
- 256-foot waterfall
- About 25,568 acres
- Camping and cabins
- Zipline and canopy tour
- Golf course
- Hiking trails
Tip: Trail and facility conditions change. Check the official park page before the drive.
Michael W. Neu, Public DomainRock Island State Park
Great Falls is 40 feet. The park has a sandy swimming beach on the Caney Fork. Admission is free. Camping and cabin fees apply.
Rock Island is at the meeting of the Caney Fork, Collins, and Rocky rivers. The park has a sandy beach on the Caney Fork. The water is clear and cold. Great Falls is 40 feet. The park has less traffic than Fall Creek Falls. Admission is free. Camping and cabin fees apply.
- 40-foot Great Falls
- Sandy swimming beach on the Caney Fork
- Kayaking and canoeing
- Camping
- Fishing
Tip: The swimming area can close when TVA releases water from Center Hill Dam. Check before a summer trip.
David Ratledge, CC BY 4.0Edgar Evins State Park
The park has 6 miles of hiking trails and camping on Center Hill Lake. It is 20 miles west of Cookeville.
Edgar Evins is on Center Hill Lake. The park has 6 miles of hiking trails through hardwood forest, with ridge views. The marina rents pontoon boats and kayaks in season. Cabins and RV sites are available. Marina, camping, and cabin fees apply.
- 6 miles of hiking trails
- Marina on Center Hill Lake
- Rental cabins and RV sites
- Fishing and boating
City Parks
Park View Park
570 Scott Ave, Cookeville, TN 38501
Park View is a neighborhood park with four baseball fields, a skate park, playground equipment, and a picnic shelter with a charcoal grill. Cookeville Leisure Services maintains 10 parks, including Park View.
- Four baseball fields
- Skate park
- Playground
- Picnic shelter
Dogwood Park
30 E Broad St, Cookeville, TN 38501
Dogwood Park is downtown, across from the Cookeville Municipal Building. It has an interactive fountain, a performance pavilion, a rose garden, restrooms, and the Heart of the City Playground.
- Interactive fountain
- Performance pavilion
- Accessible playground
- Rose garden
Cane Creek Park
201 CC Camp Rd, Cookeville, TN 38501
Cane Creek Park is the largest city park in Cookeville, about 300 acres around a 56-acre lake. It has paved trails, a mountain-bike trail, fishing piers, an 18-hole disc golf course, playgrounds, courts, picnic shelters, non-motorized boat rentals, and a separate dog park.
- 56-acre lake
- Paved and mountain-bike trails
- 18-hole disc golf
- Fishing and paddling
- Playgrounds and courts
- Dog park
Names, addresses, and amenities verified with Cookeville Leisure Services on Aug. 6, 2026.
Lakes & Water
Tyler White, Public DomainCenter Hill Lake
Starts about 15 miles southwest of Cookeville
Center Hill Lake is an 18,000-acre Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Caney Fork River. The water is cold and deep and stays blue-green through the season. The lake has bass, walleye, and crappie fishing, boating, and multiple marinas and boat launches. Campgrounds include Ragland Bottom, Hurricane Bridge, and Floating Mill Park.
- 18,000 acres
- Cold, deep water
- Multiple marinas
- Bass, walleye, crappie fishing
- Camping at several sites
Cordell Hull Lake
About 45 miles north of Cookeville
Cordell Hull Lake is a Cumberland River reservoir managed by the Corps of Engineers, about 45 miles north of Cookeville. It has bass, catfish, and crappie fishing, boat ramps, and camping. Crowds are smaller than at Center Hill Lake. Dale Hollow and the Obey River are in this area.
- Cumberland River reservoir
- Bass, catfish, and crappie
- Multiple boat ramps
- Camping available
Trails & Long Hikes
Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0Cumberland Trail State Park
The Cumberland Trail is a 300-mile trail on the Cumberland Plateau, from the Tennessee River Gorge to Cumberland Gap. Several sections are within a drive of Cookeville. Day hikes and multi-day hikes follow the plateau rim, with cliff-edge views.
More infoPiney River Trail (Frozen Head State Park)
Frozen Head State Park is about an hour west of Cookeville. The Piney River Trail follows a clear mountain stream through old-growth forest. Frozen Head Mountain Road is the start of the Barkley Marathons.
More infoBefore you go
- Burgess Falls and Cummins Falls are both under 15 minutes from downtown Cookeville.
- Center Hill Lake water levels change with TVA dam operations. Call ahead or check TVA lake information before boating.
- Fall Creek Falls is crowded from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Weekdays have fewer visitors.
- Most Tennessee state parks are free to enter. Camping, cabins, and some activities have fees.
- AllTrails lists reviews and current conditions for trails near Cookeville. Check it before an unfamiliar hike.
Cookeville events and business updates
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