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Roaring River Falls trailhead
4.6 ★★★★★ 126 Google reviews · Running trail in Cookeville, Tennessee · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Roaring River Falls trailhead's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Trail, flanked by rock formations, features a waterfall and a swimming area.
What runners say about Roaring River Falls trailhead
“Since we've not had a good rain there was small waterfalls but still beautiful!”
The parking area is small so I can see why it would be jammed in Summer for people wanting to swim. The walk from the parking area to the waterfalls took maybe 5 minutes. Just be careful as there are roots loose stone and big stones on the path.
The falls are really amazing. A short hike and very worth it. The parking area is small, rocky, and easy to miss. It comes right up on ya, and if there wasn't a lot of cars already parked, we would have had a hard time finding it.
Really great spot. Beautiful. Quick walk from parking. Limited parking spots, my guess is very hard to.come by on a hot day. Waterfalls & bluffs are beautiful. Too bad the graffiti has marred that. I just can't understand the need to do that. I would love to find some old historic pics of the mill when it was standing.
Had fun with the kids swimming. Short walk to the falls. Was only 1 other person there. Was nice, private, and secluded. Loved it. Definitely a spot to check out at least once if you can find a few minutes to spare.
Trail conditions & character
“Easily accessible waterfall, minimal parking, kind of hides along the side of the road”
“The parking area is small so I can see why it would be jammed in Summer for people wanting to swim.”
“Just be careful as there are roots loose stone and big stones on the path.”
“Easily accessible waterfall, minimal parking, kind of hides along the side of the road”
Plan your run at Roaring River Falls trailhead
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
Hours
| Monday | 9 AM–5 PM |
| Tuesday | 9 AM–5 PM |
| Wednesday | 9 AM–5 PM |
| Thursday | 9 AM–5 PM |
| Friday | 9 AM–5 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–5 PM |
| Sunday | 9 AM–5 PM |
Running trails near Cookeville
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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