Sycamore Falls: A Hiking and Swimming Hole Guide Near Chattanooga

Clear creek pools, mossy boulders, and a whole string of waterfalls on one hike: Sycamore Falls is one of the best day trips from Chattanooga. Tucked into Grundy Forest on the Cumberland Plateau near Tracy City, it’s the payoff at the end of a creekside hike past Blue Hole Falls and Black Canyon Cascades along the famous Fiery Gizzard trail system.

At about 12 feet, Sycamore Falls won’t win any height contests. But a curtain of water spilling over a broad sandstone ledge into a swimming hole, surrounded by old hemlocks? That’s a summer day worth the drive.

Sycamore Falls at a glance

• Location: Grundy Forest, Fiery Gizzard State Park, Tracy City, TN
• Trailhead: Fiery Gizzard North (Grundy Forest) Trailhead, 131 Fiery Gizzard Road, Tracy City, TN 37387
• Drive: About 45 minutes to an hour from Timberroot stays
• Hike: About 3 to 3.6 miles, depending on your route
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Waterfall height: About 12 feet
• Cost: Free, including parking
• Facilities: Restrooms and a historic picnic shelter at the trailhead
• Dogs: Allowed on leash
• Best for: Waterfall hikes, photography, and summer swimming holes

Getting to the trailhead

Start at the Fiery Gizzard North Trailhead, also called the Grundy Forest Trailhead, just past Tracy City Elementary School. Search for the trailhead name in your GPS, not “Sycamore Falls,” since the falls are deep in the forest.

1. Take I-24 west toward Monteagle.
2. Take Exit 135 toward Monteagle and Tracy City.
3. Follow US-41 toward Tracy City.
4. Turn onto 3rd Street and follow signs for Grundy Forest and the Fiery Gizzard North Trailhead.
5. Continue to Fiery Gizzard Road and the parking area.

Get directions to the trailhead.

Parking

Unlike many small waterfall trailheads around Chattanooga, Grundy Forest has a real lot, with restrooms and a picnic shelter built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Parking is free.

It still fills on summer weekends and fall foliage days, so get there early. If the lot is full, don’t block the entrance, access roads, or private property.

Traveling with a group? Carpool up the plateau. Fewer cars makes parking easier, and the picnic shelter makes a great meeting spot before and after the hike.

The hike, step by step

1. Start at the picnic shelter

Find the trail entrance by the shelter and follow signs for the Grundy Forest Day Loop and Fiery Gizzard Trail. The path drops gradually into shady forest toward Little Fiery Gizzard Creek, past tall hardwoods, mountain laurel, and sandstone boulders.

2. Blue Hole Falls

One of the first highlights is Blue Hole Falls, a roughly 9-foot waterfall pouring into a natural pool ringed by rock. It’s one of the most photographed spots on the loop and a popular place to cool off in summer.

3. Fiery Gizzard Trail junction

Keep following the creek to the junction with the Fiery Gizzard Trail. The footing gets rockier here, with roots, uneven steps, and stretches right along the water. Cross the bridge to stay on the Fiery Gizzard Trail, then continue past Black Canyon Cascades, where the creek rushes between dark sandstone walls.

4. Sycamore Falls

A short spur leads to Sycamore Falls, where Big Fiery Gizzard Creek drops over a wide sandstone ledge in several streams. Enjoy it from the established viewing areas, and skip any unmarked scrambles down steep rock, especially when it’s wet.

5. Back to the trailhead

Retrace your steps to the junction, then follow the Grundy Forest Day Loop back toward the lot. Depending on your direction, you may pass more cascades, rock formations, and Hanes Hole Falls. Follow current trail signs, since high water or maintenance can close sections.

How hard is it?

It’s a moderate hike with uneven sandstone, roots, rocky steps, and a few steep stretches along the creek. It isn’t paved or stroller friendly, and wet rock gets slick.

Mixed group? Blue Hole Falls and the Day Loop make a great shorter outing for little kids or anyone who’d rather take it easy, while the rest of the crew pushes on to Sycamore Falls.

Can you swim?

The pool below Sycamore Falls is a big part of its summer appeal, along with Blue Hole Falls. These are undeveloped swimming holes with no lifeguards, though, and depth, current, and underwater obstacles change after rain.

• Check current park rules and advisories before getting in.
• Never dive or jump from the surrounding rocks.
• Stay out from directly under the falls, where turbulence and hidden obstacles are hard to see.
• Skip it when the creek is high or after heavy rain.
• Wear water shoes. The rocks are extremely slippery.

The best time to visit

• Spring: Usually the strongest waterfall flow, plus wildflowers and fresh green.
• Summer: Swimming hole season, with shady trails and cool creek water. Flow can drop in dry spells.
• Fall: Bright hardwoods across Grundy Forest.
• Winter: Bare trees open up the gorge, but wet sandstone and ice make it tricky.

For the best flow, go after moderate rain once the creek is back to safe levels. Avoid the trail during heavy rain, storms, or flooding.

Summer weekends are peak season for swimming holes and for Chattanooga stays, so book early.

Make it a plateau day trip

Sycamore Falls is a bigger outing than most Chattanooga hikes, so plan for most of a day. A sample day:

1. Early morning: Coffee at your stay, then hit the road to beat the summer crowds to the lot.
2. Morning: Hike to Blue Hole Falls, Black Canyon Cascades, and Sycamore Falls.
3. Midday: Swim (if conditions allow), then picnic at the historic shelter by the trailhead.
4. Evening: Back to your stay for hot showers, dinner together, and the fire pit.

A little history

Grundy Forest is a 234-acre state natural area that the town of Tracy City donated to Tennessee in 1935 for a Civilian Conservation Corps camp. The CCC built the picnic shelter that still stands at the trailhead. The forest also holds traces of old coal mining, historic rock shelters, and hemlocks that are centuries old. Today it’s the northern gateway to the Fiery Gizzard Trail, one of Tennessee’s most celebrated hikes.

What to bring

• Hiking shoes with good traction
• Water shoes for the creek
• Swimsuit and towel, if you plan to swim
• Plenty of drinking water
• Snacks or a picnic lunch
• A downloaded trail map (cell service is spotty)
• Bug spray in warmer months
• A bag to carry out trash

Before you go, check the official Grundy Forest State Natural Area page and Tennessee State Parks for current trail conditions, especially after heavy rain.

Where to stay for a Sycamore Falls trip

Every Timberroot stay in Chattanooga is about 45 minutes to an hour from the trailhead, a straight shot up I-24, with a full Chattanooga trip waiting when you get back.

Quail Run Farm

About 45 minutes to the trailhead. The closest Timberroot stay to the plateau. Sleep in a converted grain silo, a cabin, a farmhouse, or a tiny home on a 120-acre working farm, then grill farm-raised beef after a day in the creek.

The Valley Collection

About 48 minutes to the trailhead. Whole homes on quiet streets in Lookout Valley, each with a full kitchen and room to spread out. Easy to hang wet towels, cook a big dinner, and bring the dog (at select homes).

Wauhatchie Woodlands

About 48 minutes to the trailhead. Tiny cabins and custom homes on 14 wooded acres, most with private hot tubs. Groups can book several cabins together or take over one of the homes.

Riverview Inn

About 50 minutes to the trailhead. Fuel up with a complimentary hot breakfast before the drive, then come back to two hot tubs and a heated seasonal pool overlooking the river.

Treetop Hideaways

About 51 to 57 minutes to the trailhead. Five handcrafted treehouses in two locations, one beside Ruby Falls and one in the Chattanooga Valley. Waterfalls by day, a night in the trees after.

Lookout Mountain Inn

About 59 minutes to the trailhead. Cottages, rooms, and apartments in the woods on Lookout Mountain, with breakfast included. A plateau day trip one day, Rock City and Ruby Falls the next.

Sycamore Falls FAQ

Where is Sycamore Falls?

In Grundy Forest near Tracy City, Tennessee, part of the Fiery Gizzard trail system, about 45 minutes to an hour from Chattanooga.

Where do you park for Sycamore Falls?

At the Fiery Gizzard North (Grundy Forest) Trailhead, 131 Fiery Gizzard Road, Tracy City. Parking is free, with restrooms at the trailhead.

How long is the hike to Sycamore Falls?

About 3 to 3.6 miles total, depending on how you combine the Grundy Forest Day Loop with the Fiery Gizzard Trail.

Is the Sycamore Falls hike hard?

It’s moderate, with rocky terrain, roots, and some elevation change. It’s manageable for most recreational hikers, but it isn’t flat or paved.

Can you swim at Sycamore Falls?

The pool below the falls draws swimmers in summer, but there are no lifeguards and conditions change fast. Check current park guidance, never dive or jump, and stay out when the creek is high.

Is Sycamore Falls kid-friendly?

Families used to hiking can manage it with close supervision near the creek. For younger kids, the shorter hike to Blue Hole Falls is a better fit.

Are dogs allowed?

Yes, on leash.

How many waterfalls can you see?

Several. The Grundy Forest trails pass Blue Hole Falls, Hanes Hole Falls, Black Canyon Cascades, and Sycamore Falls, depending on your route and which sections are open.

Is there a fee?

No. Day hiking and parking are free. Backcountry camping requires a reservation.

Where should we stay for a Sycamore Falls trip?

Every Timberroot stay in Chattanooga is about 45 minutes to an hour away, with Quail Run Farm the closest. You get the plateau for the day and Chattanooga for the rest of your trip.