The Niagara Falls of the South
Cumberland Falls, near Corbin, KY is often called the Niagara of the South.
From the parking lot at one Kentucky State Park the mist rising up over the water lets you know that the Cumberland River is about to do something amazing just downstream. In fact, it may have you wondering just how pioneers reacted when they reached this same point in the river more than 200 years ago. At this point, the river, which is more than a hundred feet wide, plunges dramatically some 70 feet into a gorge surrounded by an even higher rock wall on one side and gigantic boulders on the other side.
Just above the falls, there are plenty of places to walk out near the river which appears quite calm at that point.
Cumberland Falls has been a popular tourist attraction since the early 1900's. Its size and the sheer volume of water earned it the nickname "Niagara of the South." Today, thousands of people a day come to relish in the majesty of this amazing natural wonder. Right as the water begins to fall, you can stand near the edge, watching (and sometimes feeling) the streams of mist rising from the floor of the gorge where the water ends its descent. At times the roar of the water can drown out the flurry of activity often whirling around you.
Located just west of Corbin, KY, Cumberland Falls State Park is one of the crowning jewels of the Kentucky State Park system. It is a full resort with the waterfall being the main attraction. Access to both the park and the falls are easy, but at times, parking near the falls can be a bit of a challenge as hundreds of people pack in there every hour at peak times.
Perhaps, the most unique feature of Cumberland Falls is the "moonbow." While exact definitions of what that is vary, the "moonbow" appears when there is a full moon and weather conditions are right. According to the park (and many other sources) the waterfall created "moonbow" is the only one of its kind in North America and most likely only one of two in the entire worls. The park at one time was even home to the "Moonbow" hotel, built ride beside the waterfall.
Cumberland Falls is about a 90 minute drive up I-75 from Downtown Knoxville. Pine Mountain Resort Park, Big South Fork National Recreation Area and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park are other great places to visit while in the area.