About this spot
This is the TVA Fort Loudoun Dam tailwater area on the Little Tennessee River at Lenoir City. From I-75 exit 81, head south on US-321 about two miles to the Fort Loudoun Dam bridge, turn right onto Jackson Bend Road, and go roughly three-quarters of a mile to a marked trailhead on the right; a half-mile wooded path reaches the riverbank below the dam. TVA releases water on an unpredictable generation schedule, causing sudden current surges and undertow near the spillway with no siren warning at this access point, and that is the biggest hazard here, not the jump height. Stay well clear of the tailrace structure itself. No permit is required for the public trail, but TVA property nearer the dam is restricted.
Safety first. Cliff jumping is inherently dangerous and can cause serious injury or death. Conditions — water depth, submerged hazards, and access — change constantly. CliffScout is community-sourced reference information, not a guarantee a spot is safe. Always assess the conditions yourself before jumping, and never jump where you're unsure. You assume all risk.