Foster Falls is a 70-foot plunge waterfall on Little Gizzard Creek in Fiery Gizzard State Park, Marion County, Tennessee. It pours off a sandstone rim into a broad pool in a rocky gorge, and the park allows swimming in that pool.
The falls
Little Gizzard Creek drops in a single leap over the edge of the Cumberland Plateau into a wide plunge pool ringed by rock walls. Lidar data puts the drop at about 70 feet; other sources give 60 or 80 feet.
Getting there
The Foster Falls trailhead is at 498 Foster Falls Road in Sequatchie, off US-41, and the park is open from 8 a.m. to 30 minutes after sunset. The park has no general admission fee. A paved sidewalk and boardwalk behind the picnic area lead to an overlook; it is wheelchair-friendly but has worn boards. Waterfall Valley Guides puts the overlook 0.1 mile from the lot and the base 0.8 mile round trip, or 1.7 miles to take in the base and the view from the opposite rim. Marion County Tourism describes the path down as short but steep, with rocky footing, stone steps and roots, and a full loop over a suspension bridge of about 2 miles.
When to go
Flow is strongest from March to May, summer is the busiest season, October and November bring lower water and fall color, and hard freezes can partly ice the falls. January and February are less crowded.
On site
The pool is a swimming spot with no lifeguards. Jumping from the falls is not allowed because of submerged rocks and logs and shallow water; stay out after heavy rain. A visitor drowned at Foster Falls in June 2017. Tennessee State Parks allow leashed pets, with restrictions at designated swimming areas. The gorge is also a bolted sport-climbing area, and a campground of about two dozen sites sits at the trailhead.
History and name
The park was known as South Cumberland State Park until 2025, when it was renamed Fiery Gizzard State Park. Foster Falls marks the southern end of the Fiery Gizzard Trail, which runs roughly 12 miles north to Grundy Forest.
Nearby
Small Falls is about 0.3 mile away. Still Falls is about 3.2 miles away and Perpendicular Falls, on Perpendicular Creek, about 4 miles.
Distances are straight-line.