Julia Falls is a 120-foot plunge waterfall in Middle Creek Gorge below Signal Mountain in Hamilton County, Tennessee. It runs mainly after rain and is seen from a named overlook a short, steep walk from Signal Point on the Cumberland Trail.
The falls
The water leaves the sandstone rim of the Cumberland Plateau in a single free drop on the far wall of Middle Creek Gorge. Lidar data indicates a drop of about 120 feet; earlier surveys listed 95 feet. The waterfall has not yet been confirmed in person.
Getting there
The walk starts at the Signal Point parking area, a free unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. Access runs up Signal Mountain on US-127, then along Mississippi Avenue, James Boulevard and Signal Point Road to the paved lot. From the overlook at Signal Point the Cumberland Trail drops about 200 feet on a series of ramps and staircases known as the "mousetrap," and Julia Falls Overlook comes at mile 0.4, about 0.8 mile round trip. There is no trail to the falls themselves. The park closes its units from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise.
When to go
The falls can be seen only with adequate rainfall, so plan a visit during or just after a wet spell. The steps get slippery in winter, and Signal Point's restrooms are closed from December 1 to March 15.
On site
The overlook faces the falls straight across the gorge. Steep bluffs, rough rocky ground and slick rock line this stretch of trail; stay back from the edge. Middle Creek has tested positive for E. coli.
History and name
The overlook and falls are named for Julia, daughter of Cumberland Trail founder Sam Powell, who came upon the view while scouting ahead.
Nearby
Rainbow Falls on Middle Creek is about 0.5 mile away and lies below the same trail at mile 0.9, though no trail reaches its base. Middle Creek Falls is about 0.3 mile away. Farther along the Cumberland Trail, Edwards Point at mile 2.8 looks over the Tennessee River Gorge, and Laurel Falls is about 5.6 miles away.
Distances are straight-line.