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Short Springs Natural Area
Tullahoma, TN 37388, United States
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KS
Review №1

Overall a great experience. Took the Laurel Bluff loop trail, Busby trail and Machine Falls trail. The trails are nicely marked and well worn. The stairs portion of the Machine Falls trail is a little treacherous in my opinion but doable if you take your time. I wouldnt recommend it for people with mobility issues though. Especially if you go back out that way as we did. Its steep and a leg burner! To get to the falls prepare to get your feet wet as you have to cross the shallow stream to round the corner to the falls. Well worth the visit!

R
Review №2

We did the trail to Machine falls and went to the right on the loop total miles was about 2.9. The main trail is a nice easy trail to the falls trail. Once you get to the trail down to the falls is where the climbing begins. We went down to the falls from the right side and it was a steep rocky dirt trail all the way down. Definitely not for people with bad knees or stability issues. Once to Machine falls it was beautiful. Going back up we went to the left witch has steep step like climbing stairs up to the top and back to the main loop trail. You can go left or right on the loop left side may be easier to go down to the falls but either side is a climb. Fun short hike.

sc
Review №3

Well maintained, well marked trails, with a pretty challenging climb to get to the top of Machine Falls and overall rugged, natural beauty!Note: There isnt a Nature Center or Restroom facilities so if you are driving a long way, you may want to consider stopping off somewhere on the way with those types of facilities if you are planning to be there a while.

An
Review №4

Spent four awesome hours exploring the park and enjoying the waterfalls with my wife and daughter. We could have easily spent four more hours. Lots of fun. Don’t miss Machine Falls.And yes, hiking down to falls and coming back up is steep - but I won’t call it dangerous. Just a bit of workout.

Ch
Review №5

Short hike, laurel bluff loop has some narrow walk ways at a few turns, very peaceful!! Parking lot was pretty full.

Jo
Review №6

Nice place for an easy hike with several waterfalls and cascades to keep it interesting.

Ro
Review №7

Great place to hike. Most trails are moderate. The last 100 yards to Machine Falls is a little steep but manageable. When done viewing Machine Falls, follow the creek back out. It is a nice easy hike... for the most part.

Se
Review №8

The mail loop for the machine falls is a modest hike for the average American. If you stay to the left of the white loop the steapest part will be going down and coming back up on the return trip is much easier. But if you really want a challenge then stay to the right on the white loop and you will get challenged coming back up that same steep section of the trail. Compared to the Walls of Jerico this is nothing but a little hill if you are more advanced climber you might not even get out of breath. No matter your skill level the falls are really worth the effort! Be careful your parking. The parking fills up fast and there are no parking signs every place that is not a parking spot. The area is patrolled by local police and you will get a parking ticket! And/or your vehicle towed!! The parking sign says if the parking lot is full to come back another day which is disappointing for those who have been driving all day long just to see this one trail!! It is really hard to get panoramic shots with people climbing all over the falls all the time. Patience is the key and lots and lots of time to wait around for the perfect shot.

F
Review №9

Amazing place. Peaceful and the perfect reset button. Just go see for yourself.

Li
Review №10

Great place to go hiking. Only one trail is hard to hike, Adams Falls, due to tree markers not being easy to find and follow.

Ja
Review №11

My wife and i loved the veiws it had to offer during the hike.

Be
Review №12

Easy to get down, very difficult to get up! I crawled, & I think I died twice.It’s gorgeous (not deep)

Ph
Review №13

Several small waterfalls and resting spots to enjoy the scenery and enjoy a snack or two. Beautiful trails to enjoy what nature and people has done for you to experience what Tennessee, the Volunteer state, has to offer.

Ch
Review №14

Waterfalls are so cool! Its not too bad of a hike and doesnt take to long to reach the waterfalls to enjoy it. A bit of steps and incline/declines.

Av
Review №15

Beautiful area and trials for beginners and more experienced hikers. Beware of roots that will trip you or make you roll your ankle

St
Review №16

We had three kids under 4 with us and we all enjoyed it! It has some steep parts of the trail where the waterfalls are at but still very doable. You can make this a straight quick hike or spend a few hours following multiple trails if you so desire. Great day trip for family!

Ma
Review №17

This is a natural area, so there is no facilities. The hike was moderate. The waterfall is a must see...it is beautiful. I will definitely be going back, and taking my 9 year old daughter so she a can see it.

Ry
Review №18

Beautiful place. Wanted to see this area before I went back to Mobile Alabama. It had Started snow flurries throughout which made it even better because its been so long since Ive actually seen snow. Due to all the rain lately, everything was saturated and water was running everywhere. Such a bet peaceful place. Machine Falls was roaring.

Ka
Review №19

Easy walk in the woods and nice waterfall. It is only moderate right at the falls.

Hi
Review №20

This beautiful place is only 20 minutes from where I stay. I took 4 miles loop Machine falls trail. Trail marks are clear and very easy to navigate. According All trail app, this supposed to be easy but I think need to change to moderate in my opinion. There are many kinds of wild flowers and the Machine waterfall was beautiful.

Er
Review №21

Beautiful place to go and spend a few hours with your family. The trails are well marked. Any time of year is great, but we love to go in April just before the leaves come out. The wild flowers here are very nice.

Jo
Review №22

Beautiful falls, wide variety of plant life, several trails of varying lengths, some sweet inclines/declines, all are great hikes. We love this place!

Br
Review №23

The hikes are super pretty and it’s not too crowded (hallelujah) definitely wear water shoes although my combat boots did just fine lol 10/10 recommend. ALSO! Stop by Rutledge falls on the way! It’s super close and very easy to get to. It’s STUNNING!

De
Review №24

Pretty cool local spot for some great waterfalls, good trails and not to far away from civilization

Ha
Review №25

Beautiful waterfall!!! The hike down and back up is a little steep but totally doable and worth it. We took our 6yr old and he managed the hike pretty well. Great family outing.

Co
Review №26

So much fun. Took the grandkids and they loved it.

Wi
Review №27

Awesome waterfalls absolutely beautiful place

Si
Review №28

This was my first waterfall experience in TN. GO TO IT! Such an amazing quick little hike. Machine falls on the other side is even better. Do both if you can. Each side was maybe 2 hours. Machine has the bigger waterfall!

Ja
Review №29

Very cool a very long walk in nature and seeing the falls .Just a great day outside with a mask on .

Tr
Review №30

Nice nature walk. Hard for me to walk all the way to the fall. Steep drop.

us
Review №31

I never thought something so magnificent would be in Tullahoma TN. We like to hike to Machine falls then hike down Machine Falls creek. It empties into Normandy lake. At the end of the that creek, youll see another creek to your left. We hike/swim up that creek. There youll see other beautiful waterfalls and amazing terrain.

Je
Review №32

Great hiking. The Machine Falls are great!

An
Review №33

What an Amazing scenic place to hike and wander trails! The waterfalls are very well worth the effort it takes to get to them. Not for the faint of heart, those with bad backs, hips, knees... or no balance. Sometimes steep and it can get slippery in damp areas. Good walking shoes with tread are best if not hiking boots. Bring water with as its a heck of a workout!

Co
Review №34

The absolute best time Ive had in a long time... We only went to the first waterfall!! Spent all day ... Definitely will go back to explore the rest

Ji
Review №35

It was a great off the beaten path spot. Water falls and springs where very relaxing .

PJ
Review №36

We were impressed with the epic waterfall. The waterfall itself is easy to access, and once you get to it, you can climb on and around it. Very shallow water but deep enough to swim or walk through and very clean. Be careful at the water fall overlook area above the falls. Its a good 60 - 80ft drop down on top of the waterfall and rocks and is not a good idea to let small children venture too far from you on the trail. There is an area above the falls with NO RAILING or fence and its definitely dangerous. Be safe and be aware on the trail in that particular area.Other than that, super awesome.

Tr
Review №37

Such a beautiful place and very easy hike!

Da
Review №38

Great Natural site with beautiful and accessible falls if you dont mind getting wet.

Ri
Review №39

Several good hiking trails and a beautiful waterfall.if you go just make sure you know that theres going to be almost no cell service out there so be prepared. Recent weather is caused a lot of fallen trees and semi blocked paths but still a good experience. They are attempting to clear it out.

J
Review №40

Great time hiking, clean trail, and easy walk. Nice family walk to the falls.

Ja
Review №41

Fantastic hiking. Beautiful falls. No where near as big as Cummins falls so only about fifteen people at the bottom. Be sure to check out Busby falls and machine falls. Easy hiking to both. Take your water shoes or chacos!

Ta
Review №42

Great natural area for young adults, I will not reccomend this place to aged adults as the hiking trail is very steep. I myself thoroughly enjoyed the machine falls trail

Ro
Review №43

True Tennessee beauty! Nature and God make the best places. Never gets old .

AR
Review №44

I just went on a five mile hike with my scout troop and we loved it. Machine falls was awesome and some of the younger scouts got a rank requirement done.

Jo
Review №45

Beautiful little waterfalls you can walk thru!

Ch
Review №46

Nice place. Good hiking trails

Da
Review №47

Wanted to do a quick hike and see some waterfalls. We stopped and ran a trail which unfortunately did not show how far toll the various falls nor did it show the difficulty. It got to a point where it was very steep I carried on to the end while my friend stayed behind as it was pretty dicey. When I got to the fall it was fairly disappointing as it was only a 2 foot drop which is barely a rapid where I come from. Will try some different ones the next day see if we can find something better.

Je
Review №48

So many falls and a great workout

Ri
Review №49

What a vibe and such a beauty. The hike was about 10-15 minute from parking. Pure nature!...highly recomend it. In 2 hours or maybe a bit less you can enjoy the full package.

Me
Review №50

Absolutely beautiful! The falls are breathtaking.

St
Review №51

These are great trails! After parking, if you hang a left when at the trailhead, it’ll lead you to a bridge. You can cross the bridge and do a loop on orange trail through the woods. Lots to look at and explore! If you’re looking for a waterfall, cross the bridge, and climb down to riverside. It’s a little bit more advanced, but you can walk along the riverside down Bobo River a few miles to Busby Falls. Busby Falls is not as big as Machine Falls (follow white trail) but just as beautiful! All in all, there’s lots to explore and make sure to wear waterproof shoes!

Mi
Review №52

Me and one of my close friends decided to go to Nashville fun week and sightseeing. A lot of our good friends recommended that we stop by and check the spot out. I highly recommended if your ready for a good hike to stop here and view the beautiful scenery. I highly recommend that if youre not an experienced hiker, or not in the best of shape as we were not to go completely around the whole hike. I would go as far as the river and make a U-turn LOL we made a huge mistake thinking that we could handle going around the whole Trail, and took us about 3 hours. By the time we got back to the car we were completely exhausted.

Ph
Review №53

Gorgeous falls!

Ma
Review №54

Beautiful place for an easy couple hrs of hiking

Br
Review №55

So clean, not full of people. Love the beauty!

St
Review №56

Absolutely beautiful place to go spend the day! Plenty of trails for easy hiking and also some moderate trails. The waterfalls are beautiful and scattered through out. This place is also amazing right after a hard rain where the streams come alive.

Mi
Review №57

Beautiful hike. Easy terrain and our puppy was able to travel the pathway with ease....even if she was not too fond of slipping in the water twice and going face first into the creek

Co
Review №58

Nicely marked trails with benches along the main paths. Very well kept and clean. Hiking for beginners and moderate hikers.

La
Review №59

Nice hike, mild elevation changes, good trail.

He
Review №60

Beautiful hike not too crowded and dog friendly. When you get to the entrance I would recommend taking the left trail to the falls, the stairs are pretty steep.

Kh
Review №61

The hike needs better signs to navigate you through, but other then that, its a nice little waterfall to visit.

Ky
Review №62

Though we took a 2 & 4 year old all the way to the falls, many people may have thought it was too steep or a bit hazardous to get them there. However, it was not too bad and it was a beautiful area and I think there are multiple paths that are easier to get to the falls. I think we accidentally chose the most difficult, but it was the most straight forward. It was gorgeous and we only saw two other people the whole time we were there.

Cy
Review №63

Beautiful place! Kind of odd to get to. I went the way it says not to. Dont do that. But if you kayak you could go right up to. Very pretty :)

Ka
Review №64

This is a very pretty waterfall. Its dog friendly. The first part of the hike is super easy, but the last part is super steep. So when you go up the last part your legs really get a good work. There are many other great waterfalls close by to this one.

cr
Review №65

Absolutely beautiful. The trails can be a little challenging in places for people that have some knee issues but its worth it.

Ch
Review №66

- love this place! It is a simple fun hiking trail!

Ja
Review №67

Beautiful area. Trails are not too hardCouple places a lil steep but plenty of trails to take.

Na
Review №68

Machine falls is a great hike! Steep rock steps getting down to water... And a 50 yard walk in wet rocks to get over there, but worth it and exciting for kids and youth. We liked it too! Took about 18 min to get back to the parking lot at the water tower from the falls if you back track the same path. The path is well marked to machine falls. The path across the bridge is a longer hike back to the parking if you are up for another hour+ of hiking and takes you to view the falls from the top of the rocks.

Me
Review №69

Great falls, not too far from Nashville/Murfreesboro, werent too many people, and a town not too far away.

Ki
Review №70

Beautiful waterfall is worth the hike

Ti
Review №71

Loved this hike. Unfortunately I did not get to do the whole thing. With that being said I usually hike in places with no trails so this was easy and amazing.

ch
Review №72

Very crowded but an easy walk to a nice falls. Dog and kid friendly

st
Review №73

Very nice place to go hiking. Make sure you take plenty of water when you go. Very beautiful views.

El
Review №74

The hike is steep but if you are confident with your knees the trek to the falls is more than worth the visit.

Mi
Review №75

Short hike to beautiful falls. Some very steep areas.

Ja
Review №76

Great place to get away

KR
Review №77

Awesome views with short morderate hikes. Walking stick recommend for anyone not so sure footed but well worth the journey. See both machine and Bobo falls

Ro
Review №78

Fun place it definitely help u get n shape the views r so worth the walk

Ka
Review №79

Took a couple wrong turns on the hiking trails but its a nice place and eventually you will find your way out no matter which way you go.

Am
Review №80

Its a hike!Dont go if you have any physical ailments!IF you can make down, it is totally worth it!

Fi
Review №81

Great little hike to these falls. Very pretty area, easy to walk. Nice on a summers day.

Ba
Review №82

We love hiking here on the clearly marked trails, beautiful views, and viewinf majestic waterfalls.

Ch
Review №83

Great hike and beautiful views

Ca
Review №84

Love visiting Machine Falls!

Ta
Review №85

This place is gorgeous! My son and I love coming here during the Summer and Fall. There are several different trails that lead to areas with waterfalls. Some of the trails are easier and some are harder. Beautiful place altogether, great stress relief to get away, and very good exercise.

Mi
Review №86

Absolutely beautiful!

Mi
Review №87

Gorgeous waterfall that you get in and enjoy the ice cold water. Its very refreshing after about a mile hike up and down mountain terrain. Moderate hike, just lots of poison ivy on trails and you need to be cautious of some narrow trail areas along the path as you get closer to the bottom of the falls.

Br
Review №88

Beautiful fall to visit! Just remember to leave only foot steps when hiking. The path down to Machine Falls is steep with stairs. Once you reach the bottom you have to walk along the creek a short distance to the falls.

Sh
Review №89

Went fishing at the Laurel Bluff Trailhead.

Br
Review №90

Machine Falls are great. A nice little hike. Wear shoes that can get wet.

Re
Review №91

This is an amazing, beautiful and last but not least wonderful place to hike with family and friends. The falls are amazing to play in and the water is fresh. A must see if you are visiting tullahoma. Please pick up your trash and keep our free parks clean and beautiful.

Er
Review №92

Beautiful! Moderate trail to the falls but well worth it!

An
Review №93

It was a fun adventure here

Jo
Review №94

Great little hike by an amazing creek with waterfalls and cascades

Na
Review №95

Absolutely one of my favorite recent memories with my husband, this place constantly has you in awe.

Ra
Review №96

Beautiful trails, well maintained bridge. Extremely clean grounds. I’d absolutely go back

Tr
Review №97

Extremely beautiful. Great for a nice hike in nature.

Jo
Review №98

Great place to hike. Trails well marked and maintained.

dr
Review №99

Good place to exercise

bi
Review №100

Love going to the falls. Be ready for some good hiils to climb

Information
100 Photos
100 Comments
4.8 Rating
  • Address:Tullahoma, TN 37388, United States
  • Site:https://tn.gov/environment/program-areas/na-natural-areas/natural-areas-middle-region/middle-region/na-na-short-springs.html
  • Phone:+1 615-532-0436
Categories
  • Tourist attraction
  • Nature preserve
Working hours
  • Monday:8am–9:45pm
  • Tuesday:8am–9:45pm
  • Wednesday:8am–9:45pm
  • Thursday:8am–9:45pm
  • Friday:8am–9:45pm
  • Saturday:8am–9:45pm
  • Sunday:8am–9:45pm
Accessibility
  • Wheelchair-accessible entrance:No
Amenities
  • Good for kids:Yes
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