Between Chattanooga And Mammoth Cave Is Tennessee's Fall Creek Falls State Park Gateway With Small Town Charm

Tennessee has some of the best natural landscapes in the country. While a certain national park in the Smokies gets the most attention, Tennessee's state parks are also worthy of your time and admiration. They also often come with cute gateway towns like Spencer, Tennessee. This small rural town of 1,500 people doesn't have much beyond the essentials, a small park, and a history museum, but it's known as the "Gateway to Fall Creek Falls," one of the biggest state parks in the state. What's more, it's also surrounded by several other smaller-but-equally-impressive state parks, like Rock Island, Bone Cave, and Virgin Falls.

Spencer's location — between Chattanooga and Mammoth Cave, Kentucky — puts it squarely in the center of Tennessee, making it an easy-to-reach day trip from most of Tennessee's largest cities. It's only an hour from Chattanooga or two hours from Knoxville or Nashville, leaving plenty of time in the day for adventuring. Spencer isn't a big city, but it has gas stations, restaurants, and grocery stores in the middle of an otherwise very rural area, all welcome amenities before or after visiting the nearby state parks. Tuck into a good meal, visit the local history museum, grab some snacks for the road, and fuel up the car before heading home.

Spencer's claim to fame is as the gateway to Fall Creek Falls State Park, a paradise of cascading waterfalls and breathtaking trails including the tallest free-falling waterfall east of the Rockies. There are several waterfalls and miles of hiking trails within its 29,800 acres.

Many visitors stopping in Spencer are here solely to visit Fall Creek Falls. That said, it's not the only state park in the area, nor the only one with waterfalls. If you plan it right, you can use Spencer as your base of operations and visit two or three state parks in one day.

Scott's Gulf Wilderness is Tennessee's newest state park near Spencer, featuring Virgin Falls State Natural Area and over 30 miles of hiking trails. The hike to Virgin Falls is difficult both in elevation and distance and takes most of a day to accomplish. The upside is this keeps the crowds down, making it a quieter option than the popular Fall Creek Falls State Park. The Virgin Falls trailhead is a 45-minute drive from Spencer, but the Lost Creek Trailhead (with its easier quarter-mile-long trail) is only 20 minutes from Spencer.

Rock Island State Park is a wonderful place to swim, hike, and camp and only 25 minutes from Spencer. Stay in Rock Island and use one day of a long weekend day trip to Spencer and Fall Creek Falls. Take the Blue Hole Trail and be prepared to get wet! Lastly, Bone Cave State Natural Area is 20 minutes west of Spencer and offers a similar experience to Mammoth Cave. Bone Cave got its name from a giant ground sloth skeleton that was discovered here in 1811. It also has a well-preserved saltpeter mining operation and is designated a National Natural Landmark, one of only 13 in Tennessee. Guided tours are required to enter the cave and can be scheduled through the Rock Island State Park office.

Spencer may not be a big place, but it's a welcome respite full of small town charm as well as a convenient stopping point near the parks. The town offers places to eat, refuel, and learn about the people who settled this rural area. In town, stop by the Van Buren County Historical and Heritage Museum located in the 1906 county courthouse and catch up on the county's history with real artifacts like a settler's wagon and memorabilia from Burritt College, the first school in the area, which opened in 1849. The school's impressive stone arch still stands in town, as well as a few buildings which are now a recreation center and the town's library.

For a tasty meal, try Mel's Old Times Cafe or The Ugly Mug Bar and Grill. Both are local favorites and highly rated among visitors, who praise the service, food, and atmosphere at each restaurant. Mel's is a cozy country kitchen serving breakfast in the mornings and burgers, sandwiches, and country plates for lunch and dinner. The Ugly Mug serves wings, burgers, and sandwiches and is your best bet if you prefer a cold beer with your meal. The Ugly Mug is also dog-friendly, so don't hesitate to stop in, rest, and refuel after a busy day out in the parks. They'll welcome your furry family member with a water bowl of their own.