Greeter Falls: trail, swimming and access
Greeter Falls packs two waterfalls and a swimming hole into one short, free loop trail: Upper Greeter Falls, a 15-foot drop, and Lower Greeter Falls, a 50-foot plunge into a pool that draws swimmers on warm days. Both sit inside the Savage Gulf section of South Cumberland State Park, and our waterfalls in Tennessee guide lists the same park system's other free falls nearby.
No sourced coordinates are on file for this spot yet — see methodology.
Fact box
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 35.435°N, 85.696°W, Grundy County, per USGS topographic data |
| Height | Upper Greeter Falls, 15 ft; Lower Greeter Falls, 50 ft, per Tennessee State Parks |
| Flow | Runoff-dependent; fullest in spring, thinner by late summer |
| Access | About 1.2 miles round trip on a loop trail, with steep, sometimes slippery sections |
| Fee | Free, no permit |
| Legal status | Public land, South Cumberland State Park (Savage Gulf section), Tennessee State Parks |
| Season | Open year-round |
Trail and access
The Greeter Falls Trailhead sits off TN Highway 56, about two miles north of Altamont, and leads onto a roughly 1.2-mile loop through the Savage Gulf section of South Cumberland State Park. The loop passes both falls: Upper Greeter Falls first, a modest 15-foot drop, then a set of stairs and switchbacks down to Lower Greeter Falls, a 50-foot plunge into a wide, popular swimming pool. Spur trails from the same trailhead area also reach nearby Blue Hole Falls and Boardtree Falls for hikers who want to extend the walk.
There's no fee or permit for any of it. The steepest, most exposed sections come on the descent to the lower falls, where wooden steps and a narrow rock ledge along the bluff require careful footing, especially with wet leaves or after rain.
The falls
Upper Greeter Falls is the smaller of the two, a straightforward 15-foot drop visible early in the loop. Lower Greeter Falls is the main event: a 50-foot plunge into a swimming-hole-style pool, deep enough and popular enough that it functions as one of the more reliable free swimming spots on the Cumberland Plateau in summer. Like most of the smaller falls on this list, flow through both drops depends heavily on recent rain, thinning by late summer in dry years.
How this guide was researched
This page was compiled from Tennessee State Parks' official park information for South Cumberland State Park and USGS topographic data. We haven't visited this site ourselves. Trail conditions change with weather and season; verify current conditions before you go. Last checked August 2026.
FAQ
Is Greeter Falls free to visit?
Yes, no fee or permit is required.
How long is the trail to Greeter Falls?
About 1.2 miles round trip on a loop that passes both Upper and Lower Greeter Falls.
Can you swim at Greeter Falls?
Yes, at the pool below Lower Greeter Falls. There's no lifeguard, and the surrounding rock is often slippery, so swim with care.
Are Upper and Lower Greeter Falls the same hike?
Yes, both sit on the same roughly 1.2-mile loop trail from the Greeter Falls Trailhead.
How tall are Greeter Falls?
Upper Greeter Falls drops about 15 feet; Lower Greeter Falls, the taller and more visited of the two, drops about 50 feet.
We haven't visited these places ourselves, and every page says so rather than implying otherwise. Details are compiled from public land-manager, USGS and NOAA sources and cross-checked where possible; conditions, access rules and fees change without notice, so confirm with the managing agency before you go. Page last checked August 2026. Read our full methodology.