Middle Falls is a 25-foot waterfall on the Falling Water River in Burgess Falls State Park, Putnam County, Tennessee, one of the four waterfalls the park strings along the river. It sits between Little Falls and the main Burgess Falls and is passed on the park's River Trail.
The falls
Lidar data puts the drop at about 25 feet, a wide horsetail with a single drop. Earlier surveys listed 30 feet, and the park's hiking page gives 80 feet. The falls face roughly northwest.
Getting there
The main trailhead is at 4000 Burgess Falls Drive, Sparta. The park's River Trail is a 0.75-mile natural-surface path rated moderate, and a 1.5-mile loop that returns on the 0.55-mile gravel service road passes all four waterfalls. The round trip to Middle Falls alone is about 1.0 mile. Entry and hiking are free.
In 2026, visitor-center construction has closed the upper parking lot; parking is very limited, and RVs and trailers can't be accommodated.
When to go
The River Trail is open. With the upper lot closed, the small lower lot is the main constraint on a visit.
On site
Middle Falls is seen from the River Trail. The park has no designated swim area. An ADA-accessible sidewalk serves the upper cascades, but step-free access to Middle Falls isn't documented.
Nearby
Little Falls is about 0.1 mile upstream, and Falling Water Cascades about 0.2 mile. Burgess Falls, the largest fall in the park, is about 0.2 mile downstream at the end of the River Trail. Window Cliff Falls, about 1.5 miles away on Cane Creek, lies in Window Cliffs State Natural Area, which has its own entrance.
Distances are straight-line.