Tennessee is home to some of the most outlandish rock formations in the Southeast, rewarding adventurous hikers and road trippers with dramatic scenery in wild settings. Here are 11 standouts worth every rugged mile:
Fiery Gizzard Trail (South Cumberland State Park)
Known for enormous boulders, Raven’s Point overlook, and mossy stone stretches, this national top-25 trail passes bizarre rock gardens, cliffs, and lush woodlands.
Stone Door (South Cumberland State Park)
A legendary fissure in the plateau creates a “stone doorway” with panoramic bluff vistas, towering cliffs, and remarkable, weathered geological shapes along just 1.5 miles.
Virgin Falls (Virgin Falls State Natural Area)
This one-of-a-kind waterfall gushes from a cave atop a cliff and drops into another cave, surrounded by rugged bluffs and unique underground passages, all reachable by strenuous hiking.
Pickett CCC Memorial State Park (Jamestown)
Hazard Cave and dramatic rock shelters punctuate remote hiking trails, with sand-dusted caves and otherworldly formations hidden deep in the forest.
Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area (Jamestown)
Trailside cliffs with Swiss-cheese textures, arches, and narrow columns give this canyon a ghostly, surreal character, ideal for enthusiasts of wild geology.
Colditz Cove State Natural Area (Jamestown)
Northrup Falls spills over a large cove-like rock structure, creating a sunlit stone bowl surrounded by cliffs—an adventurous and fairytale-worthy hike.
Lost Creek Cove State Natural Area (Sparta)
Features a spectacular waterfall that flows directly into a cave, with a massive cave opening behind the falls; the remote drive and hike are especially memorable.
Sewanee Natural Bridge (Sewanee)
A stunning 25-foot-high natural arch, easily reachable by a short but dramatic trail, offers the chance to walk atop and beneath this ancient rock bridge.
Middle Creek Nature Trail (Big South Fork)
Easy trails access huge rock shelters and “rock houses” featuring glow worms and odd icicle formations in winter in the Cumberland Plateau’s wildest region.
Backbone Rock (Shady Valley)
Called “the shortest tunnel in the world,” Backbone Rock boasts a blast-created tunnel through solid stone, jaw-dropping views from the top, and a wild creek below.
Perimeter Trail (Sewanee)
Stretching nearly 20 miles, this long bluff trail passes unique cliff formations, stone outcroppings, and steep drop-offs with unforgettable views.
These outlandish rock formations deliver pure scenic drama and a sense of wild adventure, making them must-see destinations for hikers and explorers seeking Tennessee’s geological treasures.
Sources
(https://mississippirivercountry.com/outdoors-recreation/6-hikes-in-tennessee-you-have-to-see-to-believe/)
(https://www.tennessee-glamping.com/top-6-hiking-trails-in-south-cumberland-state-park/)
(https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nature/tennessee/quiet-trails-parks-tn)
(https://backyardknoxville.com/12-favorite-big-south-fork-hiking-trails/)
(https://www.tripadvisor.in/Attraction_Review-g55331-d1546643-Reviews-Backbone_Rock-Shady_Valley_Tennessee.html)
