It’s finally been warm enough in the evenings to de-winterize our camper! This weekend, we went on our first trip of the year in our R-pod for a Fall Creek Falls State Park camping trip in Tennessee. My hubby came across this gorgeous place on one of those lists on Facebook. “5 best parks in the South” or something of that nature. It was the only one on the list that we hadn’t been to yet. Robert took off work on Friday, so we loaded up the pups, food, beer, and hiking gear in my truck, hitched up the camper and headed west. Thankfully, our dogs are road trip pros at this point, so they took the 6.5 hour drive in stride.
Fall Creek Falls is Tennessee’s largest and most visited park, and after going ourselves, I can definitely see why. With over 26,000 acres of park land and more than 34 miles of trails, there really is something for everyone. In this post, we will detail the trails that we hiked, including those leading to all of the park’s falls, and all of the suspension bridges within the park. For those looking for backpacking options, there are also 2 longer backpacking loops. I cannot wait to go back and hike those too someday (with less pups).
Day 1 – Off to a rough start
The first hour of our camping trip was a complete disaster, to put it mildly. We got to the campsite and backed in the trailer like we’ve done so many times. No big deal. Except the sites here are NOT EVEN CLOSE to level and our trailer is on a steep angle forwards. Bring out the leveling blocks, get the camper level left to right… by the time that’s level, the rear of the camper is even higher off the ground than when we started.
Long story short, we have a crappy tongue jack and the silly yellow “foot” at the bottom made it impossible to get enough clearance to add any blocks to the front and level out the camper… we tried to lift it enough to level it a little and it FELL. The camper fell!!! The foot of the jack buckled and the camper lunged forward, wheel chocks be damned.
You have GOT to be kidding me.
The next 45 minutes are a blur of cursing, fiddling, and head scratching. If I’m being completely honest, I was ready to throw in the towel. The park was booked solid, so we couldn’t get another site and it’s not like there was a Camping World down the street to get a new jack. Thankfully, my husband is more headstrong than I am and a bit less shaken by falling campers. We had my tiny little hydraulic jack for my truck, which we managed to use to lift the front of the camper JUST enough to get it back upright and back on the tongue jack. In the end, we did the best we could but still ended up with a seriously uneven camper.
At some point, enough is just enough and you decide it’s as good as it’s gonna get, sit down with the dogs and crack open a nice cold beer. And then apologize to your spouse for getting testy, hug it out, and decide to go hiking to destress.
(We put a new, MUCH BETTER jack on our Amazon shopping list as soon as we got home. Lesson learned!)
Friday Excursion
We knew that Fall Creek Falls was a popular park and bound to be busy over the weekend, so we headed out to a few popular spots to check them out without the crowds. Our first stop was a pristine day use area along Cane Creek. Gorgeous aquamarine water, rock cliffs, and not a soul around. After the long drive, it felt great to stretch our legs and breathe in that mountain air.
We wanted to see more but were exhausted after a long day of traveling and trailer issues, so after a bit of exploring we decided to do a short hike before calling it a day. We headed to our first waterfalls of the weekend, Cane Creek Cascades and Cane Creek Falls. They were amazing! Little did we know that these were nothing compared to the sight we would see on Saturday!
After checking out the falls, we thought we would do a test run on one of the suspension bridges before our big day of hiking the next day, knowing there would be many more to cross for the dogs along the way. It was fairly quiet, so we could take our time and let the dogs get acclimated at their own pace.
Dogs vs. Suspension Bridge
So, some of the coolest features of this park are the really long suspension bridges that cross over raging aquamarine waters and gorgeous waterfalls. We were really excited to see them but a little nervous about how the dogs might react, having never crossed one before. These bridges, as you can imagine, are really popular picture spots and get pretty crowded on the weekends, so we decided to hit one on Friday evening to enjoy it without the crowds.
I am happy to report that the dogs did surprisingly well! Helo and Roxie crossed the wobbly bridges like total champs, not hesitating a bit, like it was a normal occurrence. I was blown away! Boomer started strong and then got a bit nervous when it started to wobble about halfway across, at which point she pulled out her signature “army crawl” stance. Legs spread a little wider, chest close to the ground, full speed ahead… Ringo hesitated a bit and would occasionally slow down and fall behind, but did great with some extra encouragement. Once we crossed a second time, they were all seasoned pros! SO proud of my little adventure pack.
Day 2: 8+ Miles of hiking, vistas & waterfalls
We woke up bright and early on Saturday (okay, dark and early), made some breakfast and headed out to the more popular trails in the park before all the day hikers had a chance to show up. We headed to the nature center, where most of the trails start, back over our practice bridge from the day before, and started the day with the Gorge Overlook Trail, which took us past 4 GORGE-OUS overlooks. See what I did there? HAHA.. I couldn’t resist!
Gorge Overlook Trail: Difficulty: Easy | Duration 1.1 Miles
A nice easy warmup hike with amazing vistas! This trail has 4 official overlooks which give you amazing views of Cane Creek falls, Cane Creek Gorge, and last but certainly not least, the namesake of the park, the incredible Fall Creek Falls.
Descending to Cane Creek Falls Overlook
Gorge Overlook Trail: Fall Creek Falls Overlook
This is the main falls overlook (and the most developed). There is actually a parking lot right by this spot so that it’s accessible for people of all fitness levels, as well as those with disabilities. While that’s a nice option for some, we’re more the “take the scenic route” type, plus the dogs were in heaven on the trails. This waterfall was so awesome that we knew we needed to get a closer look, so we decided to hike down to the bottom for the “up close and personal” perspective.
Base of Fall Creek Falls Trail: Difficulty: Moderate | Duration .8 miles out and back
The trail to the bottom is only about a half mile, and I’d call it a “moderate” difficulty level. The trail is uneven and rocky, and wet in some places, but if you take your time and watch your footing, it’s not a bad hike at all. The dogs had a BLAST jumping over rocks and really enjoyed this little detour that we took through some rock formations along the way.
Taking the scenic route and doing some scrambling
Almost to the falls! Even from a distance, you can hear and feel the sheer power of the falls. The load roar, the temperature dropping, and the mist starting to fill the air.
BEHOLD the mighty Fall Creek Falls! The highest single plunge east of the Mississippi! Seeing this amazing fall from the overlook was one thing, but it doesn’t even begin to do it justice.
Standing feet from the bottom of the plunge, hearing nothing but rushing water, and getting coated in a cold wet mist, you can’t help but feel small and insignificant. You can’t help but be in complete awe of Mother Nature. And cold.. if it’s 7-8am in the morning in early spring and the sun is barely up, also cold. We stood in awe, snapped some pics, took it all in, and then we hiked out in search of warmer air and sunshine! The hike up was a bear, but it was so worth it to see the magnificent falls up close and truly experience them, especially with out another soul in sight. Definitely go in the morning if you can, this place gets PACKED during the day, especially on weekends.
Woodland Trail: Difficulty: Easy | Duration .8 Miles
On the way back, we took the Woodland Trail back to the Nature Center where we started and then headed “home” (to the campsite) for some lunch and a quick rest before heading out on the next trail. This trail was easy and fun, nicely shaded, and had a few creek crossings where the dogs got to take a dip and cool down from the hike back up from the falls.
Paw Paw Trail: Difficulty: Easy/Mod | Duration 2.6 Mile Loop
After lunch and a quick rest, we decided to hit some of the less popular trails to avoid the crowds. Still beautiful, but not the ones with the “main attraction” waterfalls. Again we were rewarded with solitude and trails all to ourselves. And more suspension bridges!
Hiking this trail was the perfect way to spend the afternoon. As the sun was getting higher in the sky, the temperature was getting warmer. This trail is mostly wooded and nicely shaded, with great views of the Cane Creek Gorge and lots of perfect little rest spots along the water.
When we finished Paw Paw trail, the dogs were still rearing to go, and we knew there was just one more thing we wanted to see. Piney Creek Falls!
Piney Creek Side Trails: Difficulty: Easy | Duration: Maybe .75 mi total
We hopped in the car and took the Gorge Scenic Drive Motor Nature Trail, which ends at the Piney Creek Overlook Trails. The “trails” are more like 2 short walks from a parking area and are perfect for people who can’t/don’t really hike. They’re more than scenic pull-offs and still give you the feeling of hiking without needing the ability to walk long distances. That being said, they were also busy. BUT SO PRETTY! We didn’t stay long, especially after a lot of people and dogs started showing up in the small area, but it was well worth the quick stop for this epic view.
After this last stop, we went back to the campsite and hung out. I chilled in the hammock with Ringo and Robert napped with the other dogs in the camper. We made brats for dinner (which we shared with the dogs of course) and enjoyed some downtime.
After some chill time at the campsite, we headed to the less developed part of this huge park to find a little more (crowd-free) hiking. We tried to drive up Fire Tower Road, a 4-wheel drive only type of dirt road deep in the woods, hoping to find a fire tower and a cool view, but were stopped 1/2 mile from the end by a big orange gate. We parked and hiked a bit of a seemingly nameless trail, marked only by a sign that said “foot traffic only.” It was unimpressive and we only lasted about a mile before the dogs were hot and we were all tired and decided to call it a day.
Winding Down
The rest of our Saturday was spent hanging around the campsite, eating snacks, drinking a nice cold beer, and sitting around the fire, surrounded by happy, tired pups. This is what it’s all about!
Tips for a successful camping trip with dogs:
1. Always check the dog-friendliness of a park before you go. If you’re camping, check to see what their policies are for pets at the campsites. Max number, leash laws, etc.
2. Know your dogs and what they can handle. We did a lot of hiking this weekend, but our dogs hike multiple times a week and are conditioned for it.
3. Remember to watch your dogs when you’re outside and stop if they get tired or weak. Take breaks and bring lots of water.
4. Safety First! Be careful around ledges, cliffs, and fast-moving water. Our dogs were on leash the entire weekend and wore harnesses for extra control in precarious situations.
5. Bring extra food for your dog and lots of snacks. They need energy just as much as you do, especially if they’re burning a lot more calories than normal.
6. Go with the flow. Something will go wrong. Maybe your camper won’t fall over, maybe you’ll forget your tent poles or forget to pack socks, but something will not go perfectly. It’s all part of the fun and it makes for great stories.
7. Have fun and take lots of pictures! The memories will last a lifetime.
Considering a Fall Creek Falls State Park camping trip?
Click here to view the park brochure for more info including address, hours of operation, activities and special events.
Do you have a favorite camping spot or camping memory? We’d love to hear from you. Leave us a comment below. 🙂
Thanks for reading!
Debbie & the MUTTS
You might also like
30 Comments
What a pawsome adventure, simply loved the pictures of your camping trip experience with the dogs. Your dogs definitely walked over that suspension bridge like pro’s tackling a round of agility.
Aww, thanks! Camping is like our favorite thing ever 🙂 Our dogs hike and explore all the time and are SO in their element on the trail. I was pretty impressed with how they handled the suspension bridge though! They kinda rock 🙂 Thanks for reading!
Love all of it – other than the rough start YIKES! We don’t really camp – as in ok we don’t but we do Glamp last year we stayed in tree houses for a long weekend and that was epic. This year we will be trying a YURT on the beach in the Gaspe area (Canada). I think one of the benefits of a tiny dog is the ability to carry them – those bridges are a not even a concern when all you have to do is scoop. KUDOS to your bigger pups for braving it across! wooohooo!
Yeah, it didn’t start off too well, but the rest of the trip more than made up for it. The bridges were a bit of a concern at first, but thankfully our dogs did really well. Our little one is the most fearless, so scooping is usually not even necessary. It’s the big ones who can be a little intimidated sometimes, and of course scooping isn’t really an option for them, so luckily they managed really well. 🙂
We love actual camping, but having some creature comforts is awesome too, which is why we love our baby camper. Treehouse glamping sounds awesome! That’s on our bucket list. Unfortunately, there aren’t really any pet-friendly ones near us at all. Yurts are on the list too. I bet you’re going to have an amazing time on your beach yurt trip! Can’t wait to see pics 🙂
I don’t think anybody would get me on that bridge! LOL
HAHAHA! There were a lot of people who went over one at a time and went REALLY slow. As far as suspension bridges go, these ones were pretty sturdy, but VERY HIGH up! Thanks for reading
What an absolutely beautiful area! I adore that first shot, but you have several amazing pics. I hope to get Penny on our favorite suspension bridge this spring!
Thank you! It really was a gorgeous place to explore. Good luck with Penny and her first bridge. I hope it goes really well 🙂
OK. I must go. Yes, I must. I think Dexter would totally LOVE this park. He might not love the bridge, but he’d do it.
Thanks for this. I must go!
Absolutely! I hope you do check it out. This place is truly magical. I wish it was closer so we could go all the time. I bet Dexter would love it! And you may be surprised about how well he handles the bridges. We sure were! Thanks for reading!
Except for the trailer, it sounds like a great time! When I was growing up my family had a trailer and it was great. My husband and I have always gone tent camping, but to be truthful, I’d much rather be in a trailer these days.
That’s so cool that you had a trailer growing up! I bet you made a lot of great memories in it! Our trip definitely got much better once the camper situation was resolved.. lol. Thank goodness. We do a lot of tent camping too, but in the last few years we’ve had to cancel SO MANY camping trips due to thunderstorms that we got tired of it. With the trailer, if we show up and it pours, oh well, we play some games and we can still cook and we make the most of it. It’s super helpful now that we have 4 dogs too. That’s just too many for one tent! I love our little R-pod, it’s just big enough, easy to haul and was really reasonably priced. Thanks for reading!
Wow beautiful pics and great info! I am afraid I’m not a camper, but it does seem like more fun with the pups along. Kind of scary about the camper issues.
It did start a bid dodgy, but we love camping. It’s such a great escape from the “real world” and everyday life. The pups love it too 🙂 Thanks Lorie
Your dogs have a lot of confidence to go on that suspension bridge, scrambling, etc.! Did you have to coax or train any of them to be so brave? Dear Mishu is usually afraid of bridges/heights….
They are super brave. We have had to do some encouraging over the years to get our dog to where they are, well, some of them. But… they all hike and explore a lot and really thrive in that environment, so they do most of it on their own. The little one especially, she came to us completely fearless. She’s still a pup and is scared of absolutely nothing. I bet with lots of practice and treats Mishu can become more relaxed when it comes to heights. Ringo was/sometimes still is the same way. We have a really tight bond though and he trusts me implicitly and will do what I ask and trust that I’ve got him, which has really helped.
Gorgeous pictures! Nice that they make it possible for people of all fitness levels to enjoy the falls. I love the pictures on the suspension bridge. I have always been a bit nervous on suspension bridges – not sure how Ruby would do on one either.
We haven’t camped with Ruby yet, but hope to give it a try this summer.
It was really cool that the park took everyone’s needs into consideration. So often, the really beautiful stuff is not accessible to people with physical limitations, or they go to the other extreme and make the whole place a parking lot. They balanced it really well at FCF. The bridges were definitely different, but added a whole new level to the experience. My husband doesn’t like heights, but he even really enjoyed them. The one of a kind perspective makes it worth it.
I hope you guys get to go camping this summer. I bet Ruby would love it! Thanks for reading 🙂
I think our camping trip would have been over when Indiana saw the suspension bridge. She would have dug her paws into the ground and not wanted to budge. Davinia on the other hand would have probably run across. She loves going on adventures in the mountains.
The hiking trails and the waterfall are beautiful though and I think the girls would like to climb on the rocks to get there. The other bridge since it wasn’t as high up I think Indiana would have been fine with. We tried glamping in the screened in porch a few weeks ago. Davinia wanted her bed (read my bed) but Indiana thought it was kind of cool to sleep on the ground together.
We were surprised how well our dogs handled the bridges! Really impressed. I bet your girls would love loved the trails and rock scrambling (maybe minus the bridges). The scariest part was the way they moved in the middle.
Aww, your porch glamping adventure sounds adorable. It can take some time for the pups to get used to sleeping in a new space, especially if their bed is close by! Thanks for reading!
OMG, what an incredible adventure! I cannot believe your camper actually fell. I also can’t believe your dogs went across that suspended bridge!
My Husky would never do it, there’s no way. She doesn’t even like the gratings in the city streets, she gets a bit freaked. This park is magnificent, and it’s HUGE! You’re very fortunate to live near a place like this. Thanks for sharing it.
I KNOW! I was so scared when the camper fell. I couldn’t believe it. Thank goodness I have an amazing husband that came to the rescue. But the rest of the trip was amazing and I was super proud of the pups for how well they handled the bridges. I just wish this place was closer so we could go more often. It’s about a 5.5 hour drive (6 with the dogs) but worth every mile! Thanks for reading 🙂
Amazing post and such a wonderful trip. Yeah been there with the catastrophic start BUT worth it all 1,000,000% right? Wonederful pictures!!! Thank you for a treat and a half!, it’s like being there!
Aww, thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed reading about our adventure. You are so right, it’s always worth it in the end, hiccups and all. It’s part of the adventure 🙂
Wow just amazing! We have hiking trails around here but nothing like this and NO waterfalls! The suspension bridges freak me out a little but I would do it if I had the chance.
We don’t have anything like this “close” either. This trip took us about 6.5 hours, but it was really worth it. I never even knew this park existed until my hubby found it online. So glad we found it. The bridges were really cool, especially the views of the water from above. I bet you’d be glad you crossed them if you got the chance 🙂
You guys are awesome! I’m not one for camping but you guys rock. Much respect. Sorry the trip got off to such a hairy start but the rest of the trip looks like it came together. Great pictures too. You’re dogs are so brave! I’m not sure I could handle a suspension bridge!
Thanks Kamira!! Camping is like our favorite thing ever 🙂 Our dogs hike and explore all the time and are SO in their element on the trail. I was pretty impressed with how they handled the suspension bridge though! They kinda rock. Thanks for reading!
So many suspension bridges! I don’t think we’ve gone on any hikes that had one. Stunning scenery.
There were a lot! I’ve only been on 2 before ever, one in NC and one in VA, but this was the pups’ first time. The park was amazingly beautiful and we all had a blast. Thanks for reading!