On Highway 70, near the town of Crab Orchard, Tennessee, in Cumberland County, outdoorspeople can find the trailhead to the 110-foot-tall Ozone Falls, a towering freefall of a Tennessee water feature.
From the small parking area (and visitors can find more parking across the road or along the highway if the small lot is full), the trail that leads to the falls starts on large, flat rocks, making for a very level walk along this portion.
Suddenly, those venturing to Ozone Falls come to a steep bluff, and walk for a short section along the top of this cliff before the trail turns downhill.
Descending to the base of the falls, rocky overhangs create some small sheltered areas carved into the hillside. Reportedly, these areas were popular gambling sites for card and dice players years ago.
This bit of the trip makes for a fairly challenging journey down the rocks—certainly not an easy degree of difficulty.
Hikers must go over boulders and step from rock to rock for the full climb down, descending at a steep angle. The trail does not require a total vertical rappel, but does require a degree of surefootedness that many public hiking trails do not.
By just taking it one step at a time, watching where they are stepping, many waterfall seekers can make it without incident.
And then, there it is: the splendid, tall Ozone Falls plummets into a rocky pool, surrounded by massive stunning cliffs along the basin walls, making a picturesque indentation in the hilly Tennessee countryside.
The falls does not make a huge pool, but it contains enough water for a few folks to jump in and swim around. The pool can apparently grow a good bit based on periods of heavier rainfall. Really, as cool and shady as the tucked-away falls pool is, most will want to get into the water on only the hottest of days.
Walking upon the sometimes slick rocks that encircle the feature, one can walk right under the 100-foot-plus Ozone Falls and stand directly underneath the sharply falling water as Fall Creek plunges into the pool from its course above—for those familiar with area waterfalls, this is not the same Fall Creek of Fall Creek Falls, located about 50 miles away; although a Tennessee waterfall enthusiast could definitely take in both of these Fall Creek waterfalls in the same day trip, if they are interested.
Incidentally, both Ozone Falls and Fall Creek Falls were filming locations for the 1994 film version of The Jungle Book.
Ozone Falls did not contain an incredible water volume on a recent July day, but the impressive, rocky basin, and the site’s easy access from I-40, make the Ozone Falls State Natural Area worth a visit for those wanting to take in the unique topographical features of Tennessee.
IF YOU GO:
Ozone Falls State Natural Area
14563 TN-1, Rockwood, Tennessee
