About this spot
Benton Falls is the signature hike of the Chilhowee Recreation Area in Cherokee National Forest, off Forest Road 77 above Reliance and Benton, Tennessee. An easy, well-maintained 3-mile round-trip trail from the Chilhowee Day Use Area (self-pay day-use fee, roughly $3) leads to a 65-foot cascade sliding over a broad rock face into a pool. Hikers routinely wade and cool off at the base, and nearby McCamy Lake has a sand beach for full swimming. Slick rock at the base and stronger current after rain are the main hazard; this is a wading and misting spot, not a documented cliff-jump site. Access is legal and fee-based; the forest road has intermittent construction closures through summer 2026, so check status first.
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.