Day trips from Nashville · Waterfall
Ozone Falls
125 miles from downtown Nashville · about 2 hours
Ozone Falls State Natural Area, Cumberland County, near Crab Orchard, TN
Ozone Falls drops 110 feet into a plunge pool inside a natural amphitheater of rock, just off I-40 near Crab Orchard. It is one of the shortest walks to a big waterfall anywhere in the state, which is exactly why it gets busy.
- Height
- 110 feet
- Trail
- A rugged three-quarter mile descent into the gorge
- Hours
- Sunrise to sunset
Permits, fees and access
Free, open sunrise to sunset. Rappelling is prohibited. Leashed pets are allowed although the state discourages them given the terrain.
One thing to know first
The rock shelf at the top of the falls is unfenced and it is slick. The trail down is genuinely rugged despite being short, so wear real shoes rather than sandals.
Access rules, fees and closures verified August 15, 2026 against the agency that manages this place. They change, sometimes without notice. Check before you drive.
I keep this list because it is genuinely how people spend weekends here, and because almost every guide to it is out of date. If you are weighing a move to Middle Tennessee and want to know which part of it puts you closest to the things you actually like, ask me. No pitch.