The best hidden gem waterfalls in Tennessee are Virgin Falls, Laurel Falls, Little Falls and 7 more. Highly rated falls that few people review: 4.6 stars or better from 75 or fewer Google reviews.
See every waterfall on the Tennessee waterfalls page or the Tennessee waterfall map, or browse by town: Sparta, Roan Mountain, Manchester, Jamestown, Spencer, Madisonville.
How we picked: We took the 15 publicly accessible Tennessee waterfalls rated 4.6 stars or higher on Google by between 5 and 75 reviewers, then ranked them by a weighted rating that gives more credit to ratings backed by more reviews.
-
1. Virgin Falls
Virgin Falls near Sparta takes the top spot, rated 5.0 out of 5 from 41 reviews.
White County, TN 38583 (GPS 35.8392, -85.3308)
Read full write-up
Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 41 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 379 photos of it on Google Maps. The nearest town is Sparta, about 9.6 miles to the northwest. The nearest other named waterfall is Hemlock Falls, about 7.3 miles to the south.
-
2. Laurel Falls
Laurel Falls, near Roan Mountain, is next up, rated 5.0 out of 5 from 28 reviews. Visitors come here for riverside trail, lengthy hike, and hike difficulty.
Carter County, TN 37658 (GPS 36.2730, -82.1350)
Read full write-up
Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 28 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 86 photos of it on Google Maps. Reviewers mention "riverside trail", "lengthy hike", and "hike difficulty". The nearest town is Roan Mountain, about 6.4 miles to the southeast. The nearest other named waterfall is Coon Den Falls, about 1.6 miles to the southeast.
-
3. Little Falls
Little Falls, near Manchester, is next up, rated 5.0 out of 5 from 11 reviews.
Coffee County, TN 37355 (GPS 35.4840, -86.1041)
Read full write-up
Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 11 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 71 photos of it on Google Maps. The nearest town is Manchester, about 0.9 miles to the east. The nearest other named waterfall is Bluehole Falls, about 0.2 miles to the north.
-
4. Northrup Falls
Head to Northrup Falls near Jamestown, rated 4.9 out of 5 from 45 reviews.
Fentress County, TN 38556 (GPS 36.3581, -84.8719)
Read full write-up
Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 45 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 226 photos of it on Google Maps. The nearest town is Jamestown, about 5.8 miles to the northwest. The nearest other named waterfall is Magendanz Falls, about 1.1 miles to the west.
-
5. Great Falls
Great Falls near Spencer rounds out this stretch of the list, rated 4.9 out of 5 from 39 reviews.
Warren County, TN 38581 (GPS 35.8048, -85.6303)
Read full write-up
Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 39 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 88 photos of it on Google Maps. Older records also call it Horseshoe Falls. The nearest town is Spencer, about 10.0 miles to the southeast. The nearest other named waterfall is Rogers Falls, about 5.5 miles to the north.
-
6. Cane Creek Falls
Head to Cane Creek Falls near Spencer, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 74 reviews.
Van Buren County, TN 37367 (GPS 35.6628, -85.3505)
Read full write-up
Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 74 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 402 photos of it on Google Maps. The nearest town is Spencer, about 8.7 miles to the northwest. The nearest other named waterfall is Cascades Rockhouse, about 0.1 miles to the east.
-
7. Bald River Falls
Bald River Falls near Madisonville rounds out this stretch of the list, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 62 reviews.
Monroe County, TN 37385 (GPS 35.3242, -84.1771)
Read full write-up
Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 62 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 204 photos of it on Google Maps. The nearest town is Madisonville, about 17 miles to the northwest. The nearest other named waterfall is Bemis Camp Falls, about 9.9 miles to the east.
-
8. Piney Creek Falls
Piney Creek Falls near Spencer is another strong option, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 33 reviews.
Van Buren County, TN 38585 (GPS 35.6731, -85.3841)
Read full write-up
Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 33 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 165 photos of it on Google Maps. The nearest town is Spencer, about 6.9 miles to the northwest. The nearest other named waterfall is Fall Creek Falls, about 1.7 miles to the east.
-
9. Rainbow Falls
Rainbow Falls near Gatlinburg is worth the drive, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 9 reviews.
Sevier County, TN 37738 (GPS 35.6623, -83.4641)
Read full write-up
Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 9 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 19 photos of it on Google Maps. The nearest town is Gatlinburg, about 4.5 miles to the northwest. The nearest other named waterfall is Grotto Falls, about 1.1 miles to the northeast.
-
10. Cascades Rockhouse
Cascades Rockhouse near Spencer is another strong option, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 6 reviews.
Van Buren County, TN 37367 (GPS 35.6632, -85.3491)
Read full write-up
Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 6 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 19 photos of it on Google Maps. The nearest town is Spencer, about 8.8 miles to the northwest. The nearest other named waterfall is Cane Creek Falls, about 0.1 miles to the west.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best hidden gem waterfall in Tennessee?
Virgin Falls tops our 2026 list. Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 41 Google reviews. It is near Sparta in White County.
How many hidden gem waterfalls are in Tennessee?
15 of the 88 waterfalls we track in Tennessee qualify. This page ranks the top 10; every waterfall in the state is on the Tennessee waterfalls page.
How was this list made?
We took the 15 publicly accessible Tennessee waterfalls rated 4.6 stars or higher on Google by between 5 and 75 reviewers, then ranked them by a weighted rating that gives more credit to ratings backed by more reviews.
Which counties are they in?
The 10 on this list are in White County, Carter County, Coffee County, Fentress County, Warren County, and Van Buren County and others.
More Tennessee Waterfalls by Type
- 10 Best Historic Waterfalls in Tennessee 2026
- 10 Best Waterfall Hiking Locations in Tennessee
- 10 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Tennessee
- 5 Most Visited Waterfalls in Tennessee
- 5 Must-See Waterfalls in Tennessee
Or browse every type on the hidden gem waterfalls by state page and the waterfall types hub.