Rock Island State Park in east-central Tennessee is home to waterfalls, a gorge, and lots of opportunities for outdoor fun!
Most of our Tennessee hikes up to now have centered around the Smoky Mountains on the far eastern side of the state.
But the national park can be crowded at certain times of the year, and there are dozens of state parks that are also worth exploring. One of these is Rock Island State Park (in central Tennessee, between Nashville and Knoxville).
We met up with friends there for a short summer getaway. From our group, some went kayaking, some played on the beach area, and we went on a couple of (very wet) waterfall hikes.
Camping at Rock Island State Park
The park has a nice campground. We didn't stay there, but our friends who did highly recommended it.
The main campground is open year-round and has electric hookups and bath houses with hot showers.
Even though there’s no phone signal in the park (or there wasn’t when we visited), the campground apparently had a pretty decent wi-fi (if that matters to you).
There are also several three-bedroom furnished cabins available to book year-round.
What Makes the Park Special
It’s known for its water! The park is surrounded by rivers and a manmade reservoir called Center Hill Lake. Two waterfalls (Great Falls and Twin Falls) make for some especially pretty scenery.
We were there on a hot, humid day in peak summer, so all the water features at this park were a relief!
A Safety Note for Rock Island State Park
A sign at the Old Mill Gorge trail said there have been over 100 drownings on that trail, so please stay aware of scheduled water release from the Great Falls dam. There is absolutely no access to the gorge allowed when that is happening.
In general, you should always keep an eye out for slick rocks and swiftly moving currents.
Swimming is allowed only in certain areas of the park due to hidden currents.
Blue Hole Trail
The Blue Hole trail is less than half a mile and starts at the Blue Hole Picnic Area. It comes with lots of warning signs.
It was indeed straight down into the gorge: you walk on metal stairs, then a metal ramp, and occasionally you have a cable to hold onto.
We thought it was extremely fun, but I definitely recommend being aware of your limits because you do have to climb back up.
Your feet will absolutely get wet on this trail. Avoiding the inevitable will be counterproductive. Just walk straight through the center of the trail.
I was glad to be wearing very grippy shoes. I wore Altra Lone Peak 9s (non-waterproof so they dried quickly), but hiking sandals may have been an even better option.
A friend did a hike down to Twin Falls and said it was just metal stairs, so if you want a slightly less adventurous route down, check that trail out instead.
Old Mill Gorge
We also hiked into the Old Mill Gorge Trail area and walked along the banks. That trail is also fairly short, but can be slick and steep.
Life jackets were available at the top of this hike (we didn’t notice them until we were back up there), and they’re recommended if you plan on getting in the water (or if you’re walking on the edge where you could fall in).
The other option for accessing the gorge is the possibly less challenging Upstream Trail, which starts from the Twin Falls overlook.
There are several other trails in the park. None are more than three miles long, but they're all moderate to strenuous level hikes.
Nearby Food Options
Foglight Foodhouse is a Cajun restaurant just outside the park. It overlooks Caney Fork River and the food is delicious.
Also within a couple minutes' drive from the park, you can get burgers, hot dogs, and ice cream at the Rock Island Trolley Stop. It's a walk-up shop with a little bit of outdoor seating.
If you get a chance to visit this state park, I hope you enjoy it! Let me know your favorite hikes.
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