Waterloo Falls is a 20-foot waterfall on Spring Creek in Overton County, Tennessee, on the Putnam County line. The falls sit on private land, and the public reaches them with a paid day pass from Waterloo Venue & Events.
The falls
Spring Creek drops about 20 feet in a single ledge here; lidar data gives this figure, while earlier surveys listed 35 feet. Spring Creek is a state scenic river, and the falls lie in the limestone country of the Interior Plateau, where streams spill over rock ledges.
Getting there
The venue is at 145 Virgil Murphy Circle, Cookeville. Its river access day pass includes parking and more than 2,000 feet of creek frontage, from the bridge down to the lower falls, plus restrooms, picnic areas and Wi-Fi. For fall 2026 the pass runs daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., $10 for adults and $5 for children 4 to 13, except during private events; some days close early at 2 p.m. Tickets are booked online. Park only in the marked areas, not on the road shoulder.
When to go
Day passes are offered around the venue's event schedule, so check the calendar before driving out.
On site
The operator warns of uneven ground, slick rocks and flash flooding, as well as ticks, snakes and biting insects; wear sturdy shoes. Leashed dogs are allowed, glass is banned, and all trash must be packed out.
History and name
The owners, the Davey family, came across the falls during the Muddy Roots music festival in 2018. They say the land once held moonshine stills and mills and had been neglected for about 60 years before they cleared it.
Nearby
Mill Creek Cascades is about 0.5 mile away, Roaring River Falls about 3.6 miles and Flat Creek Falls about 4 miles. The town of Dodson Branch is about 3.7 miles to the west.
Distances are straight-line.