The River Trail is 1.5 miles roundtrip which includes a steeper downhill trek from a main overlook observation deck to the top of the waterfall.

Burgess Falls State Park, Sparta: Address, Phone Number, Burgess Falls State Park Reviews: 4.5/5.

Burgess is not the tallest waterfall in the state, but it is one of the most impressive. "The area above the dam is badly silted in, which is part of the reason why the dam had to be reinforced," said Bentley.

Best check the State Parks site before you go if you would be interested in going to the bottom. We will definitely be coming back once the construction is done!Visit BEAUTIFUL Burgess Falls! Even above the main falls is a mini fall with lovely, striated rocks. United States ... road gravel road easy hike beautiful hike nice playground short hike the river tree roots big waterfall day trip picnic area flood damage nice walk trail mist beauty tennessee rocks hikers trek interstate stroller. !The Falls are beautiful! The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers investigated the dam's long-term stability, and after evaluating water and silt loads, the Corps concluded that the dam did not meet minimum safety criteria for all load cases. "The dam stabilization project was a long process with many starts and stops, said Safe Dams Chief Lyle Bentley of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. When you first begin the trail, you see the little waterfall, and it is very impressive, but just a foreshadowing of the middle and big falls! Family fun, great hiking trails, fishing and the falls are simply amazing. United States ... road gravel road easy hike beautiful hike nice playground short hike the river tree roots big waterfall day trip picnic area flood damage nice walk trail mist beauty tennessee rocks hikers trek interstate stroller. Burgess Falls State Park: Unexpected beauty, unfortunate flood damage.

"In 1996, the State of Tennessee opened the dam's sluice gate to allow water to drain freely through the barrier. This is the dam above Burgess Falls, Sparta, Tennessee. Burgess Falls State Park Scenic USA on Facebook. In 1928 a flood destroyed the dam and the city replaced it with a concrete dam. Burgess Falls is the easiest of the three to access from the main highways of Tennessee.

One of the original overlooks is blocked off due to damage and will eventually be fixed.The park is in the middle of upgrading facilities such as bathrooms and area before the trail head. It sits 20 minutes past Cookeville on I-40 E. Burgess Falls State Park features a large parking lot, restrooms, a butterfly garden, a playground towards the park’s main entrance and a large covered pavilion with grills and picnic tables that can be reserved for groups and has a scenic view of the river. Also, there were Park Rangers there to discuss the Falls and the wildlife there in the park.

Presently the overlook is also closed and only a portion of these falls … I would only take my waterproof camera.I was a little worried when I saw the sign that said 3/4 mile strenuous hike because I don't have much hiking experience, but it was well-worth the trip and the hike was not as "strenuous" as I was expecting.

Downstream from Middle Falls, where the river bends westward again, is the 136-foot (41 m) The entrance to Burgess Falls State Park is located just off Tennessee State Route 135 roughly halfway between Cookeville and Sparta. At the Falling Water Cascades, located just downstream from the old Burgess Falls Dam, the river gradually spills over a 10-foot (3.0 m) embankment of rocks. Dropping the water level would adversely affect the wetland areas upstream and wash years of sediment behind the dam down into Center Hill Lake. I wonder how often crawdads go over the falls.

The Burgess family used the river's rapids to power a grist mill and eventually a saw mill which supplied early settlers with corn meal and lumber.
The City of Cookeville built an earthen dam along the river in 1924.
Finally, you come to the main overlook.

The park is open year-round, but is closed on days of high precipitation due to the Falling Water River's volatility.

"Thirty-four 60-plus-foot-long, 1 ¾-inch diameter, grade 150 ksi steel bars were embedded into the dam. The area was originally populated by Native Americans of the Cherokee, Creek and Chickasaw tribes. "The dam also required repairs to keep water from seeping through cracks in its concrete. But I don't want to scare anyone away from the experience.