Upper Piney Falls Hike
Waterfall · about 80 ft high | Tennessee
2.2 mi round trip
Upper Piney Falls Hike at a Glance
The Upper Piney Falls hike via the Piney Falls Trail is 2.2 mi round trip.
| Falls height | About 80 ft |
|---|---|
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 1,450 ft |
| Trail | Piney Falls Trail |
| Distance | 2.2 mi round trip |
Your time: about 45 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 55 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 420 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 2.2 mi distance for this hike is verified (southeasttennessee.com), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Upper Piney Falls
Upper Piney Falls is a waterfall in Tennessee, about 80 feet high, on land managed by Piney Falls State Natural Area (Tennessee Division of Natural Areas). Its height is from tn.gov.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Piney Falls Trail: 2.2 miles round trip, from Piney Falls trailhead, Firetower Road, Grandview. Distance from southeasttennessee.com.
Before You Go
- The area is open sunrise to sunset. (tn.gov)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Piney Falls State Natural Area (Tennessee Division of Natural Areas) for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Upper Piney Falls?
The Piney Falls Trail to Upper Piney Falls is 2.2 miles round trip.
Where does the Upper Piney Falls hike start?
It starts from Piney Falls trailhead, Firetower Road, Grandview.
How tall is Upper Piney Falls?
Upper Piney Falls is about 80 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 Upper Piney Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- southeasttennessee.com
- Distance
- southeasttennessee.com
- Falls height
- tn.gov
- Falls location
- waterfallhikes.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.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Upper Piney Falls.