Fiery Gizzard State Park Photo: J. Michael Scarborough / CC BY-SA 3.0
United States › Tennessee

Fiery Gizzard State Park

ByWilderness Experts

Fast facts

  • Established: 2025, as a standalone park carved out of South Cumberland State Park
  • Size: about 7,811 acres (32 km²)
  • Signature route: the Fiery Gizzard Trail
  • Areas: Fiery Gizzard, Denny Cove and the historic Grundy Lakes
  • Gateway: Tracy City and Monteagle
  • Managed by: Tennessee State Parks

The landscape

Fiery Gizzard follows a deep gorge cut into the Cumberland Plateau, filled with huge boulders, cascades, swimming holes and old hemlocks. Sandstone bluffs line the rim, and Denny Cove holds climbing cliffs and a waterfall. Deer, black bears and many birds live here.

Best time to go

Spring and fall are ideal, with strong waterfalls in spring and colour in late October. Summer is humid; winter is quiet and good for hiking.

Foster FallsPhoto: Casey Fleser (Flickr user somegeekintn) · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Blue Hole FallsPhoto: J. Michael Scarborough · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Fiery Gizzard TrailPhoto: J. Michael Scarborough · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
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Getting there and around

The park straddles Grundy and Marion counties near Monteagle. Trailheads at Tracy City and Foster Falls sit at either end of the Fiery Gizzard Trail, which many hikers do as a shuttle or an overnight.

Things to do

The Fiery Gizzard Trail is one of the best-known hikes in the Southeast, with rock hopping, waterfalls and overlooks, and backcountry campsites along the way. Climbers use Denny Cove, and Grundy Lakes has history and short walks.

Staying safe

The trail is rocky, rooty and slow, with slippery boulders. Streams rise quickly in storms. Watch for snakes, carry plenty of water and leave a trip plan.

Know before you go

This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report, so confirm current conditions and reservations with Tennessee State Parks before you go.

Navigation
Coordinates
35.2170, -85.7150
Magnetic declination
4.8° W (2026)

Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.

How declination works, and how to navigate with a map and compass

4 places in Fiery Gizzard State Park

A spread of the park’s main places shows straight away, and the rest appear as you zoom in. You can also search above, or pick any place from the lists below, and the map will go to it. Places in bold, marked , have a short description.

On the trail 1

Route

Sights 3

Waterfalls

Map data comes from third-party sources and may be incomplete or out of date, so carry a current official map (terms).

Trip types
Day hikeWeekend backpackingBackcountryRock climbing

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Terrain
ForestCanyonsRivers
Key hazards
Ruggedrocky gorge trailSlippery rock at falls and crossingsFlash floodingVenomous snakes
Best seasons
Spring, Fall (foliage), Winter
Difficulty
Moderate to strenuous
Access / trailheads
Tracy City and the Foster Falls area, near Monteagle off Interstate 24 on the Cumberland Plateau.
Water
Streams; treat all water.
Cell / satellite coverage
Patchy in the gorge.
Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency
Emergencies: 911.
Permits & regulations
Backcountry camping needs reservations through Tennessee State Parks (1-888-867-2757).
Leave No Trace
Camp only at reserved backcountry sites, stay on trail and pack out all waste.
Conditions by month

October This month

Average high68°F(20°C)20°C(68°F)
Average low47°F(8°C)8°C(47°F)
Rainfall4.1 in(104 mm)104 mm(4.1 in)
Daylight, mid-month11 h 21 minSunrise 6:47 a.m., sunset 6:09 p.m.

What to bring depends on your trip: how long you’re out, where you sleep, and how far you go from the road. The planner builds the list for yours.

Plan a trip here →

Averages for 1991–2020 from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, measured at the Monteagle station, 4 miles (6 km)6 km (4 miles) away at 1,850 feet (564 m)564 m (1,850 feet). Higher trails run colder, by about 3.5°F for every 1,000 ft (2°C per 300 m)2°C for every 300 m (3.5°F per 1,000 ft) of climb. Daylight runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th, on the park’s own clock, for a level horizon. Valleys and slopes facing away from the sun are in shade earlier.

Before you go Conditions, permits, fire bans and closures change constantly — we summarise and link out, but always confirm with the managing agency first.
Official park website → Last verified 2026-09-21

Nearby parks

Straight-line distance between park centres. Road distance is usually longer.

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