How many waterfalls are near Knoxville?

Our map has 108 named waterfalls within 50 miles of Knoxville, 6 of them within 25 miles. The count uses USGS and OpenStreetMap names as of 2026-09-23; unnamed and seasonal falls are extra.

What is the closest waterfall to Knoxville?

Boyd Hollow Falls, about 5.2 mi ESE of the city centre in a straight line. The drive is usually longer; use the Directions link in the list above.

What is the tallest waterfall near Knoxville?

Among falls with a height recorded in OpenStreetMap, Buzzard Roost Falls at about 130 ft, 43 mi ESE of Knoxville. Published heights vary between sources.

When is the best time to see waterfalls near Knoxville?

Rain falls year round, so the falls run in every season, but winter and spring are strongest. By late summer in a dry year the plateau falls can thin to ribbons.

Waterfalls Near Knoxville: 108 Falls Within 50 Miles

108 named waterfalls within 50 miles of Knoxville, nearest first, with height and directions.

Waterfalls around Knoxville at a glance

There are 108 named waterfalls within 50 miles of downtown Knoxville. The nearest is Boyd Hollow Falls, about 5.2 mi ESE in a straight line. Most of the falls around the city lie to the south: 69 of the 108. The radius reaches into 2 states, led by North Carolina (71) and Tennessee (37).

Distances here are straight lines from the city centre. Roads bend around ridges and rivers, so a fall 20 miles out can take an hour to reach. Search your own street or tap Find falls near me above to measure from where you are.

How far you have to drive

Within	Named waterfalls
10 miles of Knoxville	1
25 miles of Knoxville	6
50 miles of Knoxville	108

Well-known falls within reach of Knoxville

Abrams Falls (24 miS), Laurel Falls (27 miSE) and Grotto Falls (33 miSE) are among the best-known waterfalls within 50 miles. Each is described on its state page: waterfalls in Tennessee.

The 15 nearest waterfalls to Knoxville

Waterfall	Distance	Height	Where
Boyd Hollow Falls	5.2 mi ESE	not recorded	Tennessee
Cane Creek Twin Falls	24 mi SSE	not recorded	Tennessee
Meadow Branch Cascade	24 mi SSE	not recorded	Tennessee
Meigs Falls	24 mi SE	not recorded	Tennessee
Abrams Falls	24 mi S	not recorded	Blount County, Tennessee
White Oak Sinks Falls	24 mi SSE	not recorded	Tennessee
Meigs Creek Cascade	25 mi SE	not recorded	Tennessee
Crooked Arm Cascades	25 mi SSE	not recorded	Tennessee
Spruce Flats Falls	26 mi SSE	not recorded	Tennessee
Mannis Branch Falls	27 mi SE	not recorded	Tennessee
Laurel Falls	27 mi SE	not recorded	Sevier County, Tennessee
Lynn Camp Falls	28 mi SSE	not recorded	Tennessee
Marks Creek Falls	28 mi SE	not recorded	Tennessee
Cataract Falls	28 mi SE	not recorded	Tennessee
Thousand Drips	30 mi SE	not recorded	Tennessee

Tallest recorded waterfalls near Knoxville

Heights as recorded in OpenStreetMap. 7 of the 108 falls have one; the rest are often small ledges and cascades. Why published heights differ.

Waterfall	Height	Distance
Buzzard Roost Falls	130 ft	43 mi ESE
Mingo Falls	120 ft	47 mi SE
Falls Branch Falls	98 ft	43 mi S
Tom Branch Falls	49 ft	44 mi SE
Upper Cold Branch Falls	39 ft	43 mi S
Yellow Creek Falls	26 ft	37 mi S
Indian Creek Falls	11 ft	44 mi SE

Counties with the most falls near Knoxville

Graham County, NC (6), Sevier County, TN (5), Morgan County, TN (2), Swain County, NC (2) and Blount County, TN (1). County is from the USGS record, so falls mapped only in OpenStreetMap are not counted here.

Before you go

The map shows where falls are, not whether a trail reaches them or the land is open. Check the land manager for closures, fees and parking, and stay on the trail near the water. See waterfall safety, waterfall hikes near me and the best time to see waterfalls.

Waterfalls near other cities: Gatlinburg, Asheville, Brevard, Chattanooga, Greenville.

Waterfalls near Knoxville