Jackson Falls is a 55-foot tiered waterfall on Jackson Branch at milepost 404.7 of the Natchez Trace Parkway, Hickman County, Tennessee.
The falls
Jackson Branch was captured by the Duck River, which cut a new channel through faults and diverted the branch down into the Duck River valley. Jackson Branch is intermittent, but seepage commonly persists on the moist rock walls. The falls drop in two tiers for a lidar-measured 55 feet, up from an older figure of 40 feet.
Getting there
The National Park Service maintains a signed stop at milepost 404.7 with auto parking, picnic facilities, grills, a trailhead and trash receptacles. A paved, 900-foot one-way route drops very steeply to the pool at the base, with stairs, some boardwalk, a handrail and a bench about halfway down; the surface is 4 feet wide but the grade keeps it from being an accessible route. There is no fee and no reservation, and the hike is open year-round during the day.
On site
The trail ends at a clear pool at the base. Do not climb on the falls: the rock is very slick, and falls here can cause significant injuries. Pets are allowed on a leash, and owners must remove waste.
History and name
Park brochures attribute the name to Andrew Jackson.
Nearby
Falls Branch Falls is about 6.5 miles away, Hampshire Falls about 9.9 miles, and Jenkins Falls about 10.6 miles.
Distances are straight-line.