Photo: Nicolas Raymond from Bethesda, Maryland, USA · CC BY 2.0Bald River Falls
Worth the drive
Is it plungeworthy?
A segmented on Bald River.
The details
- Type
- Segmented
- Watercourse
- Bald River
- Coordinates
- 35.32431, -84.17778
About Bald River Falls
Bald River Falls is a 80-foot segmented in Tennessee, on Bald River.
It's fullest after rain, and flow can drop off during dry spells — plan around recent weather.
Plungeworthy rates Bald River Falls 8/10 — worth the drive. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.
What you'll find
The Cherokee National Forest's roadside cathedral: the Bald River pouring 80-odd feet beside the Tellico River Road bridge — now viewed from a brand-new observation deck after a two-year rebuild reopened the road in May 2025. Wheelchair-viewable from the bridge rail.
Getting there
- Trailhead
- Roadside on Tellico River Road, near Tellico Plains
- Parking
- Pullout at the bridge
- Road
- Paved scenic river road
- Hike
- 0 mi round trip (easy)
- Heads up
- Rock-scramble paths drop to the base for the spray version.
When to go
Year-round; winter storms and spring rains give it thunder, and the drive along the Tellico is half the trip.
Rules & fees
- Fee / pass
- None
- Dogs
- Leashed
- Camping
- Cherokee NF campgrounds along the river
- Warnings
- Wet rock below the viewing deck.
Researched from WBIR — Bald River Falls reopening. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Bald River Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.
Where it is
Before you go
The pin marks the feature, not a trailhead or a legal route in. Some sit on private land or need a real hike, and conditions change with season and rain. Check local access, don't trespass, and never enter water — hot or cold — where it isn't safe.
Common questions
How tall is Bald River Falls?
Bald River Falls drops about 80 feet, in Tennessee.
Where is Bald River Falls?
Bald River Falls is a waterfall in Tennessee, at 35.32431, -84.17778.
Is Bald River Falls worth visiting?
Worth the drive — Plungeworthy rates it 8/10.
Gear for the trip
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