An Afternoon at Burgess Falls: The perfect short hike

The Old Bridge, Burgess Falls State Park TN

Sometimes, there's just not time for a full day's hike. Sometimes you're coming home from the office, and you simply want to stop and be in nature for awhile. 

   Burgess Falls State Park is one of my favorite places where you can choose the length of your hike. Whether you're stopping by the playground to let the kids run off some energy, stepping down to the stream access for a quick way to get your toes wet, or hiking all the way down to the base of the big falls, there's a trail for you. 

The Big Falls at Burgess Fall State Park, Tennessee

The Park

   Burgess Falls State Park is one of Middle Tennessee's shorter hiking loops, and one of its more popular parks. There are multiple lots for parking your car, but beware! They fill up quickly during the holidays and on weekends, so you'll want to get to Burgess Falls early. There is an ADA-accessible area, a playground for the kids, and clean bathrooms. It's a great place to bring the family for a picnic and quick hike!

   There is also a nearby RV park, so my friends who are planning on taking their new rig out for a test run, this may be an excellent choice! Down the road lies a beautiful Farm to Table restaurant and store, where you can grab a bite, or take home some farm-fresh milk or locally made ice cream. 

   The hiking loop itself isn't ADA Accessible, unfortunately. It's a beautiful space for an afternoon hike, and for my friends with weak knees it's pretty friendly (though I will not that the trail is on an incline, and there is a section with lots of steep-ish stairs, so if you need a brace it may be helpful). The loop is shorter, I think it's 2 and a half miles, and is a perfect hike for beginners.

The Hike

   My favorite way to hike the Burgess Falls loop  is to go counterclockwise (like I do most of my hikes). Leisurely climbing a gravel hill and stopping by the interesting flora along the side of the trail warms up your muscles without a lot of demand on them. There seems to always be a new plant or bug to discover on my hikes, and this hike was definitely a mushroom hike. Once you start to descend into the ravine, your gravel hiking trail turns to a well-kept forest trail, and your surroundings become hushed and verdant. Keep an eye out in the plants that kiss the side of the trail, there are plenty of native wildflowers and mushrooms to discover. 

​    My first time hiking Burgess Falls, I was delighted to find that there's not just views of one waterfall, but 2! You'll find that after exploring the big falls, you'll come across a smaller waterfall just up the trail on your way back. It's a beautiful spot to take a rest, and is usually less busy than the big falls overlook (so if you're wanting pictures with the waterfall, it's a great spot!). Hiking further will bring you down the stairs of doom, and across a beautiful bridge.

   I don't want to spoil the whole loop for you, so I'll leave it there. There are lots of beautiful surprises on the trail, and even though the loop itself is short, it's a very rewarding hike without it being too strenuous. 

Housekeeping

   Friend, I hope that in these tumultuous times, you find the space to get outdoors. Connecting with the world around us, without the distraction of our favorite little rectangular obsession, is so, so important for your mental health. I hope that you can step out and linger-even just for an extra moment. 

   I'll be trying my best to, too. 

Thanks for reading, Friend. I'm glad you're here.