About this spot
Laurel Falls (Laurel Fork) near Hampton, Tennessee, is one of Northeast Tennessee's best-known and most heavily documented waterfalls, reached by trails from Hampton (about 2.4-5.5 miles round trip) or from Dennis Cove via the Appalachian Trail. The falls drop 40-55 feet into a deep gorge pool, and cliff jumping from the top has long been part of its reputation. That reputation carries a serious warning: a dangerous recirculating undertow in the plunge pool has caused multiple drowning deaths, including would-be rescuers, and swimming is officially discouraged for that reason. Flash flooding after rain adds another hazard. It's public national forest land with no permit needed, but this is a spot where the water, not the jump, is what actually kills people.