United States · Putnam County
Burgess Falls
The Burgess Falls is a cascade waterfall on the Falling Water River located within the Burgess Falls State Park, in Putnam and White counties, Tennessee, in the United States. The waterfall spills approximately 136 feet into a large limestone gorge enclosed by sheer 100–200-foot walls.
Facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia, compiled September 2026; season and access are our estimate, not a visit report. How we build these pages.
Burgess Falls drops 41 metres (135 ft) on the Falling Water River, inside Burgess Falls State Park. It is a plunge-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Putnam County, United States. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
As a plunge waterfall, water leaves the rock entirely and falls free through the air.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Burgess Falls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Putnam County are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Spring rains make March to May the full-flow months in the South-east; summer thunderstorms bring short surges.
Getting there
- Base town Putnam County, United States
- Country United States
- Region Putnam County, United States, North America
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Burgess Falls
United States
Height41 mWidth—
Most similar
Rockhouse Falls
United States
Height38 mWidth—
Also a plunge waterfall, of similar height and in the United States too
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
Angel Falls is 24× taller than Burgess Falls. Victoria Falls is 2.6× taller. We don't have a reliable crest width for Burgess Falls yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
On the map
36.04417, -85.59418
Quick answers
Where is Burgess Falls?
Burgess Falls is in United States (Putnam County), inside Burgess Falls State Park. The nearest base is Putnam County, United States. Its coordinates are 36.0442, -85.5942.
How tall is Burgess Falls?
Burgess Falls drops 41 metres (135 feet). It is a plunge-type waterfall on the Falling Water River.
When is the best time to visit Burgess Falls?
Peak flow is March to May. Spring rains make March to May the full-flow months in the South-east; summer thunderstorms bring short surges.
What can you do at Burgess Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
How do you get to Burgess Falls?
The usual base is Putnam County, United States. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
Nearby
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