First Drop Rapids is a stretch of rapids in Scott County, Tennessee, in the Southwestern Appalachians region. It lies about 7.6 miles west of Huntsville and roughly 50.4 miles northwest of Knoxville as the crow flies.
The Southwestern Appalachians are the Cumberland Plateau and its escarpments, a sandstone tableland covered in oak and mixed mesophytic forest and cut by deep gorges. Creeks pour off the plateau rim over sandstone caprock into gorges, creating many tall, dramatic falls.
There are 6 recorded rapids in Scott County. Washing Machine Rapids, is about 1.1 miles away. The Ell, is about 1.2 miles away. Rions Eddy, is about 2.2 miles away.
First Drop Rapids is located at 36.4156° N, 84.6274° W. The listing is based on the USGS Geographic Names Information System, one of the sources compiled by the U.S. Geological Survey in its inventory of waterfalls and rapids of the conterminous United States. The position was verified on aerial imagery. Details on trails, parking and access have not been documented for this rapid yet.