Cummins Falls State Park: Blackburn Fork River/John Cummins Loop (Blog Hike #877)

Trails: Blackburn Fork River and John Cummins Trails
Hike Location: Cummins Falls State Park
Geographic Location: northwest of Cookeville, TN (36.25335, -85.56524)
Length: 1 mile
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: September 2021
Overview: A short rim-top loop to the main overlook for Cummins Falls.
Park Information: https://tnstateparks.com/parks/cummins-falls
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=887491
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: Near Cookeville, take I-40 to SR 56 (exit 280).  Exit and go north on SR 56.  Drive SR 56 north 7.7 miles to SR 290 and turn right on SR 290.  Drive SR 290 east 1 mile to Cummins Mill Road and turn left on Cummins Mill Rd.  Drive Cummins Mill Rd. 3 miles to the signed park entrance on the left.  Turn left twice to enter the park, and park in the large parking lot near the park's Visitor Center.

The hike: Purchased by the Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation in 2011, 282 acre Cummins Falls State Park is one of the newest state parks in Tennessee.  The day-use park is centered around its namesake 75-foot waterfall, which is the 8th largest waterfall in Tennessee by water volume.  The park and falls are named for John Cummins, who purchased this land in 1825.  Cummins built 2 mills along the Blackburn Fork River near the falls, and the land remained in the Cummins family for more than 180 years.

            Adventurous visitors will enjoy hiking through the gorge to reach the base of Cummins Falls, but this route requires wading/swimming in the river along with some rock climbing and boulder scrambling.  Also, descending into the gorge requires a pre-purchased Gorge Access Permit, and park rangers were stationed on the trail checking for permits when I came here.  For less fit or energetic hikers, Cummins Falls can also be viewed from a rim-top overlook.  Because 3 trails go from the Visitor Center to the overlook, you can choose 1 trail to hike out, 1 trail to hike back, and have 1 trail to spare.  This hike goes out on the north route, comes back on the south route, and foregoes the shorter but more heavily used middle route.

Trailhead at Visitor Center

            Begin on the wide gravel trail that starts at the back of the breezeway between the Visitor Center and restroom buildings.  The trail quickly heads into the woods, which is dominated by oak and beech trees.  In only a few hundred feet, the trail forks.  Turn right to head for the Blackburn Fork River Trail, which is the north route to the rimtop waterfall overlook.

            After a few hundred feet of gradual descending, you reach another trail intersection.  The trail going right is the route that leads down into the gorge, so you want to turn left to begin hiking along the rim.  Marked with green plastic circles, the Blackburn Fork River Trail heads southwest with a wooden railing separating you from the sheer drop into the gorge on the right.  Some large hemlock trees grow along the rim, and overall the hiking here is very pleasant.

Hiking along the rim

            Just after passing a couple of emergency gorge escape routes, you reach the main overlook of Cummins Falls at 0.5 miles.  The Blackburn Fork River provides plenty of water to fall, and the tall vertical cliffs that line the gorge below the waterfall make for a stark setting.  This overlook is the most popular spot in the park, so you will likely need to wait your turn to get the best waterfall pictures and views.

Cummins Falls

            Past the overlook, you quickly reach another trail intersection with options going left and right.  The trail going left is the middle and shortest route back to the parking area, but I chose to turn right to begin the John Cummins Trail, the southern route back to the parking area.  Marked with orange plastic circles, the John Cummins Trail is the most primitive trail on this hike, and it features some short but steep ups and downs.  Some side trails lead down to the river above the falls, but the riverside area is closed to visitors.

Old barn at picnic area

            Near 0.9 miles, you pass a wooden overlook platform that seems to overlook nothing in particular, although you might get a glimpse of the river during the leafless month.  After walking through a picnic area that contains an old wooden barn, you return to the parking lot to complete the hike.  The park has several other trails that beckon exploration, and if you want a second visit to the waterfall overlook, why not try the middle yellow-blazed trail, the route not used on this hike?