Big Falls (Old Stone Fort) Hike
Waterfall · about 30 ft high | Tennessee
1.4 mi loop
Big Falls (Old Stone Fort) Hike at a Glance
The Big Falls (Old Stone Fort) hike via the Enclosure Trail is 1.4 mi loop.
| Falls height | About 30 ft |
|---|---|
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 990 ft |
| Trail | Enclosure Trail |
| Distance | 1.4 mi loop |
Your time: about 30 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 35 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 260 kcal. No elevation gain is published for this route, so climbing time isn’t included.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 1.4 mi distance for this hike is verified (tnvacation.com), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Big Falls (Old Stone Fort)
Big Falls (Old Stone Fort) is a waterfall in Tennessee, about 30 feet high, on land managed by Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park (Tennessee State Parks). Its height is from tnvacation.com.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Enclosure Trail: 1.4 miles as a loop. Distance from tnvacation.com.
Before You Go
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park (Tennessee State Parks) for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Big Falls (Old Stone Fort)?
The Enclosure Trail to Big Falls (Old Stone Fort) is 1.4 miles as a loop.
How tall is Big Falls (Old Stone Fort)?
Big Falls (Old Stone Fort) is about 30 feet high.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
3:00 PM
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Big Falls (Old Stone Fort) Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- tnvacation.com
- Distance
- tnvacation.com
- Falls height
- tnvacation.com
- Falls location
- topoquest.com
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.