Savage Gulf State Natural Area

Steven Pitts

2024-05

Gorgeous scenery in the park...beyond the park...not so much. I camped for 2 days at the east entrance ti Savage Gulf at the savage campground. Other folks were easily heard as was seeing other campfires. I prefer more solitude but this works in a pinch. Also, I learned by staying in site no. 8, walking by the outhouse is the quickest route to the site.If I were staying here again, I'd look into more remote sites for privacy. Beautiful but heavily used trails. Lots of pink lady slipper orchids around the area. Several leashed and unleashed dogs around. No showers.

Peak of human evolution

2024-01

This state park is breathtaking. We visited Savage Gulf State Park December 2023 and this time we visited during Thanksgiving week. Beautiful trails, plenty of parking, bathrooms, picnic areas, camping grounds and scenic views. Waterfall close to the parking lot. This time it did not have a lot of water due to the drought. Dog friendly!

Madelynn M

2024-05

My boyfriend and I LOVED hiking here! This place is breathtaking, clean, well marked, and FULL of absolute treasures.

William McCrary

2024-06

Savage gulf has my favorite hikes of Middle TN. Great views, a good variety of trails for all fitness levels. Highly recommend it if you’re looking for hikes around here.

Jess Canter

2023-09

This state park is just gorgeous!! We took a weekend backpacking trip with our pups from the North to South rim and had a wonderful time. The trails are well maintained and marked. Available water sources were scarce, but we went in June, so be sure to pack enough. Beautiful views and the campsites were well maintained too!

P Kerr

2024-06

Perfect weekend break. Plan ahead, download Azenza Maps and get the FREE Savage Gulf Maps. If you go deep enough, you have no phone signal and could be hours away from help. PLAN AHEAD and pack right.

Globe Trotter

2023-06

BEAUTIFUL! The entrance to this area is pretty small. There are signs, but it’s easy to miss if you’re going a little too fast. Once you get inside, there’s a small Ranger Station that was closed. However, the bathroom were open and clean. There’s also a bulletin board with a map of the area and trails. You can either take a picture of it or download an app that has the trails on it. You can find free wifi close to the ranger station.There trails are wonderfully marked. My family and I only did a small loop to see the gorge. With the fresh fallen, it looked so incredible. The trails weren’t busy when we started early afternoon, but certainly started to pick up as we were hiking out.I believe there’s a camping area close to the entrance, but we didn’t see or here any campsites. So if you’re looking for a peaceful area to camp for a few nights, I think this would be perfect.I would definitely recommend giving this place a visit!

Larry H

2023-06

The greater area known as Savage Gulf State Natural Area, is also known as South Cumberland State Park and has four entrances, East, West, North, South. Today we entered at Savage Gulf East, 3157 State Road 399, Palmer, TN. 3 of the 4 trail heads host scenic water falls. Savage Falls is on this trail. Since this park is actually a State Natural Area, it is not as developed as most parks are. If you are interested in connecting with nature, this park will help. There are picnic areas, camp grounds, canyons, trails, water falls, and more scenery . Fallen trees are allowed to lay where they fall and are cut only to clear a trail. Since this park is in the Cumberland Mountains, it's high elevation subjects it's trees to lofty high winds. The area has lots of Mt Laurels and when they are in bloom (around May), it would be like walking through a flower garden. The trails are not handicap accessible and at this location neither are the restrooms. I would rate this area a 5 for beauty and 3.5 for accommodations.South Cumberland State Park is comprised of 10 distinct units scattered over 100 square miles covering more than 30,800 acres.UPDATE. Savage Gulf has been named Tennessee's newest State Park as of Sept, 2022. Stay tuned for updates and renovations to this area.

Linda Becar

2022-06

Really beautiful state park. The hiking trails are very nice and clear 99% of the hike. They need a better blazing marker system, they need to be more than just white. This completely threw me off and I ended up way out in no man's land. Little to no cell service, so be very careful. This area is very remote and is wonderful to take a day and hike leisurely and enjoy it. Gorgeous spring flowers on the Collins Rim Trail. The Collins Rim Trail is the gorge so be prepared to hike through lose rocks and either up or down the gorge. Some of the nicest Rangers I have ever met work the Natural Area.

Will Cook

2023-06

Had a great backpacking trip around the entire park, 4 days of hiking and every second was filled with the gorgeous outdoors. The park rangers were super helpful in pointing out areas water would and wouldn’t be, and noted locations that trees had fallen on the trail that they hadn’t cleared on the trail (yet). Campsites were clean and very reasonably priced for overnights. Must recommend to anyone looking for a great hiking location. Bring tweezers for tick removal, some trails have taller grass on the rims that you will want to stop and check for ticks after walking through. After our trip the Park Ranger took time out of his day to review our map of areas that had water and where we noted downed trees, thank you Erin!

Rebecca Hackett

2024-03

Very pretty park with easy trails.Public bathrooms were very clean.

Brian Karr

2023-08

Great way to spend the day. Several different areas throughout the park to visit; a couple entrances off Rt. 56 and a couple off 108/399. Some nice hiking with several different waterfalls. We take our bike and the roads are motorcycle friendly.

Mattman

2023-10

This place is simply breathtaking and a hidden Gem so glad I went cannot wait to go back They do have a campground don’t know any particulars on that but worth looking into to extending your stay to enjoy the park more

Jacob Mcdaniel

2019-06

This is a very beautiful little park. Some of the trails are pretty easy going someone more kind of rough. It's a good park for a family hike and maybe a nice picnic or cooking out. Today got to see a lot of beautiful plant life and a little bit of the wildlife running around the park. The ball for beautiful Know the call's that overlook couldn't see because of the trees But over all this park is a very nice park to explore to hike.

Neil Thoney

2022-06

This hike was great. Started at the ranger station hiked to the falls and a bit more to check out the campground. There is plenty of water sources. It was muddy because of recent rains but I was able to avoid the mud using my trusty Trekking poles. Its a fairly easy hike but i recommend use the trekking poles.

viengxay kao

2023-11

Love all the trails here, especially the stone door. It can be difficult to go up and down the stone stairs, but welll be worth it. Pack some lunch and have a picnic at one of the looking points.

Roby Dorsett

2024-02

Savage Gulf State Park in Tennessee is a nature lover's paradise, earning a solid 5-star rating in my outdoor adventure book. The trails here are a dream for hikers of all levels. From super easy beginner paths for those just starting their hiking journey to challenging trails that satisfy the cravings of seasoned hikers, Savage Gulf caters to all.What sets this state park apart are the breathtaking views that unfold along the trails. The scenic beauty is unparalleled, with each step revealing new wonders of nature. Whether you're tackling a challenging ascent or strolling through beginner-friendly paths, the landscapes are nothing short of amazing.The maintenance of the trails is commendable. They are well-marked and well-maintained, making navigation a breeze. It's evident that the park rangers and staff take pride in their work. Their friendliness and willingness to assist visitors add a welcoming touch to the overall experience.For those looking to extend their stay, the campsites at Savage Gulf are top-notch. Well-equipped and nestled in the heart of nature, they provide a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself fully in the park's beauty.In essence, Savage Gulf State Park is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. With its diverse trail options, stunning views, attentive staff, and excellent campsites, it's a gem in Tennessee's natural landscape. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or a beginner, this park offers an unforgettable experience that showcases the best of Mother Nature. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a slice of outdoor paradise in Tennessee.Restrooms: super clean and warm!

eric pierce

2018-06

Amazing area, full of unique rock features and some of the best waterfalls in the area. Some of the trails can be very technical and rough, particularly those that go down into the gorges. One of my favorite places to hike.

anthony stroud

2019-06

Nice easy hiking trail to a beutiful waterfall area, with several nice suspension bridges along the way. We stopped at Fall Creek Falls State Park and decided to check out this hidden, lesser known gem of a park, and glad we did! Looks like a tornado came through recently, but they did a great job clearing the path. Found out from their informational board at the entrance that it's the largest park in Tennessee, by the amount of land it's on.

Justin Lindsey

2019-06

We showed up a little too late to do much exploring, but it seemed like a very awesome place to camp. There was one trail we walked for a while till we came to a suspension bridge and it was starting to get dark so we turned back.I loved how the leaves we're starting to change color more here than in Hamilton Co. where we drove from, it was a beautiful drive. Definitely going to pay another visit to this place.

Andrea Zoppo (Ms. Ladybug)

2022-06

The day loop trail is 1 mile from ranger station and parking lot. Trails well marked. The waterfall area is gorgeous!! Pretty easy hike. Beautiful and peaceful. Clean restrooms. Many groups come here to hike and camp.

Mark T

2018-06

Great park with really nice views and good hiking. I parked at Greeter Falls parking and hiked the loop through Stone Door, about 11 miles round trip. Along the river it was a little rough as it had just rained, but that made for great views along the river. The crossing to Ranger Falls was completely submerged which tells you how high the water was.

Susan Speicher

2023-06

Greeter Falls trail was closed so we went around to Broadtree trail and up to Ranger Falls. Some members of my group found this to be a challenging and rocky hike and recommend shoes that offer more support for your ankles. The hike itself was peaceful and fun. Ranger falls was nice but not overly rushing but from other reviews that I read if did have more water then the trail leading it it could have been covered with water as well.

Hikergirl Adventures

2019-06

This area offers breathtaking views, great trails, spectacular waterfalls . Something for everyone . There are spots for picnics and grilling out . You can walk easy trails or longer harder trails. The views are spectacular and there are several waterfalls that are in close proximity to each other. We visited Stone Door , Laurel Falls and Overlook then we drove a short 10 minutes to get to Greeter Falls which was gushing full of water after the rains the night before. It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL. I love this area and it was worth the 2.5 hours we drove to get there. Can't wait to return.

Nancy Kistler

2023-11

Laurel Overlook is breathtaking in October!Stone Door was interesting.Bathrooms are under renovation so there are portable bathrooms.Restrooms: Under renovation

Sam Dalton

2021-06

Having visited from Idaho I did not know what to expect in a state park in Tennessee. I was not disappointed. I'd classify the loop to the three falls as an easy to medium difficult hike. Mostly due to uneven paths. Although we missed the beautiful fall colors in their fullness, this area is still very pretty in November. The water around the falls is very chilly but I still enjoyed wading in it and experiencing the crisp refreshing feeling. I would love to come back in all seasons to experience the area in it's fullness.

Beth Young

2019-06

Very nice trail with some pretty vantage points and falls! The suspension bridges were fun, too. I think this trail was rated easy, but for someone with bad knees and a fussy IT band issue, I would call it moderate. The ranger station bathroom was clean and well-maintained. Bring plenty of water/snacks if you plan on doing the 5 mile loop. Some poles might be handy, too, if you have bad knees like I do. My mother let me use one of hers thankfully. It is a smooth trail in some spots and very rocky and rooty in others. Definitely worth it to see the great overlook and falls, though. I am sure it is gorgeous in the fall, too.

Jack Keen

2020-06

Great area for interesting trail destinations and back country primitive camping some interesting sites are Greeter Falls, Stone Door and Laural Falls among others. Many rock out croppings and over looks for picturesque views and great photography opportunities not to mention streams to cool off in, wade or just skip a rock.It's in a convenient driving distance from Fall Creek Falls state park as well outdoor possibilities are endless for the surrounding area.So do a little research do a day trip check things out and I'm sure you'll find something interesting for most anyone in your family.

Alyssa

2019-06

Awesome hike!! The water was great to swim in, it was pretty shallow (the rocks are pretty big to stand on and closer to the water). You can even stand under/ behind the waterfall! There are a couple swinging bridges (my fave) that add to the adventurous and feel good atmosphere. Bring some friends and make some epic memories. Only sad part is they dont sell postcards...they do, however, have the best bathroom i have EVER seen. Ive been to my fair share of dingy bathrooms at public parks, and this one was so nice. They even were thoughtful enough to have tampons in the womens room!

Mark McQuade

2024-03

This place is 19000 acres of beauty I will be back again for sure. The trails seemed very well maintained and the facilities were clean. Definitely one of my favorite TN state parks.