American Travel Journal: Foster Falls - South Cumberland State Park

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Foster Falls - South Cumberland State Park

Little Gizzard Creek free falls 60 feet from the Cumberland Plateau into Robinson Cove. I haven't been able to determine why it is named Foster Falls. The Foster Falls Small Wild Area is one of ten parcels of land spread across four counties that comprise South Cumberland State Park in southeast Tennessee. The Foster Falls property is owned by the Tennessee Valley Authority, but managed by the Tennessee State Parks. This section of the park is located just west of US 41 between Tracy City and Jasper. To reach the park from the Chattanooga area, head west on Interstate 24 and take exit 155 to Jasper. Turn north on Tennessee 28. In 1.5 miles exit TN 28 to US 41 and turn left. Following the US 41 routing north through Jasper requires making a right turn onto Betsy Pack Drive in 0.8 miles. After driving 1.2 miles on Betsy Pack Drive, turn left onto US-41 north toward Tracy City. Drive 7.5 miles to Foster Falls Road on the left. A brown information sign denotes the location. Drive about one half mile to the end of Foster Falls Road and park in the large parking area.

The trail to an overlook from the parking area is listed as 125 yards. It is ADA compliant with a solid trail surface of concrete or wooden boardwalk. The trail is basically level. The only foreseeable problem for wheelchair users might be the amount of sand that has covered the concrete where the trail passes under power lines and crosses an old road near the overlook.

The trail to the base of the falls is only one third of a mile from the parking area and includes a stop at the overlook. This trail is definitely not ADA compliant as it descends over 100 feet utilizing a variety of wooden stairs, timber steps and rock steps. I visited in early June 2017 after a rainy and stormy spring. The storms had uprooted or blown over several trees along the trail that required either ducking under or clambering over. Even though the trail was well marked with white blazes on numerous trees, following the intended route instead of numerous social trail shortcuts required constant attention. Instead of retracing my steps from the base of the falls back to the overlook, I chose to hike downstream on the Climbers Loop trail to the first exit to ascend back to the top of the bluff. At the top of the climb, the exit trail joins the final Fiery Gizzard Trail. I then walked the final mile of the 12.5 mile Fiery Gizzard Trail back to the overlook and parking area.

This post only covers the overlook and descent to the base of the falls. The hike out via the Climbers Loop Trail can be found here.