I Have Now Found My Absolute Favorite Waterfall in Tennessee

I have chased a lot of waterfalls in Tennessee (and beyond) as an adventurer, but recently, I have stumbled upon what I think is now the best waterfall in the state. Rock Island State Park is a fantastic place to explore and enjoy nature, but it also houses Twin Falls. This waterfall has an instant wow factor by just looking at the pictures, but it is even better to see it in person. If you are an avid nature lover or just a casual explorer looking to find a beautiful spot to take your family, this waterfall is an absolute must. 

During the summer months, we took off on a local trip to see waterfalls, hike amazing trails, and so much more. One of our stops was at Rock Island State Park, where we planned to camp for the night. We have been to many Tennessee State Parks and each of them has unique features and is well worth the visit, but this one struck us as very clean and well presented. The archway leading into the park with the name was a nice touch, but having great signs and clean camping sites was a welcome addition. We set up our tent, grabbed a snack but then headed out to see Twin Falls in Tennessee before the sun went down. 

Across the river and down some side roads later, we found ourselves at the trailhead. From here, there are two ways to get closer to the waterfall: the stairs on one side and a long gravel slope on the other side. We were expecting a hike, but it really was just a simple walk down, and in seconds, we were already seeing the mighty rush of water through the trees. Even though there is a trail that parallels the river you can choose your own adventure on how you get down to the base of Twin Falls. After walking for a bit, we descended the boulders and found ourselves lost for words, staring at the best waterfall in Tennessee. 

I was simply blown away by this waterfall. I felt tiny standing in front of this 80-foot cascade that spans a massive length across the rock cliffside. With many main sections of the waterfall drawing your attention the longer I stared in awe the more I seemed to notice. Smaller streams of water were flowing down like a slinky dissenting a staircase, and yet in other places, the water flowed like it was seeping directly out of the cracks in the wall.

A few people and a couple were sitting on the flat rocks in front of the waterfall. We also explored the rocks and watched Twin Falls for a while. We noticed that dozens of unnamed waterfalls were flowing out of the rock face further down the river. This beautiful flow of water was just a bonus to see as we explored the area further. We were expecting to have to hike to see the amazing cascade in front of us, but it was really just a simple walk down, making it incredibly accessible to enjoy the waterfall. Since it was so easy, I would say this is a must-see location when you visit Rock Island State Park, but even if you don’t want to take the stairs, you can see the waterfall from the edge of the parking lot. 

Because of Twin Falls, Rock Island State Park has become one of my favorite state parks in Tennessee. The waterfall was undeniably beautiful in sheer size but also in the way the water cascaded down. It took my breath away, and I can guarantee it will be yours too, when you visit. The park also has a lot more to offer than just that waterfall, so I would suggest downloading the AllTrails app so you can pair all of the hikes in one helpful place right on your phone. Check out this Adventuring in the Moment video to see footage of this stunning waterfall. 

For another incredible waterfall experience, make sure to head down the road to another state park to see Burgess Falls.