Stinging Fork Falls State Natural Area

Location: Spring City

Stinging Fork Falls State Natural Area, located near Spring City, Tennessee, is a 783-acre protected area renowned for its scenic beauty and ecological significance. The centerpiece is the 30-foot Stinging Fork Falls, where the creek cascades over a fan-shaped rock formation into a tranquil pool below. Visitors can access the falls via a moderately challenging 1.9-mile out-and-back trail, which meanders through second-growth mixed mesophytic forests and along steep bluffs . The area is also a haven for birdwatchers, with species like Northern Bobwhite and Indigo Buntings commonly spotted . Open from sunrise to sunset, the natural area prohibits camping but allows fishing and leashed pets. To reach the trailhead, take Highway 68 west of Spring City, turn onto Shut-In Gap Road, and proceed approximately five miles to the parking area on the right .