Putnam County: Waterfalls, Trails and Railroad History

In Putnam County, impressive natural areas meet tangible traces of regional history. Window Cliffs offers a special glimpse of the landscape, while museums and theaters in Cookeville highlight railroads, local history and live performances. The natural attractions also reward a closer look: each offers a different landscape and distinct trails and experiences.

Natural Areas and Hiking Trails

Window Cliffs is in southern Putnam County and covers 275 acres. Erosion in an oxbow of Cane Creek has created natural bridges there, known as “windows.” The trail to Window Cliffs is 5.5 miles long and includes 18 creek crossings on the round trip. Water levels can affect trail conditions; take this into account when choosing your hike.

Burgess Falls is a 217-acre natural area in Putnam and White Counties, managed by Tennessee State Parks. There, the Falling Water River drops nearly 250 feet over three waterfalls. Hiking trails and picnic areas are also available; check current visitor information before your visit. Compared with the longer route at Window Cliffs, which features creek crossings, this offers a clear contrast between the described outdoor experiences without assuming a hiking time or difficulty level.

Bee Rock is in Putnam County and combines wide-ranging views with a short, family-friendly hiking trail. It offers a different kind of outing from the longer trail at Window Cliffs: here, the short trail and the views take center stage, while there, the natural rock formation and creek crossings are the highlights. Cummins Falls State Park adds another option: a 211-acre day-use park on the Blackburn Fork State Scenic River. It is nine miles north of Cookeville; by water volume and height, Cummins Falls is considered Tennessee’s eighth-largest waterfall.

Railroad and Local History in Cookeville

The Cookeville Depot Museum is housed in a depot built in 1909 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its collection includes artifacts from the Tennessee Central Railway and a scale HO model of Cookeville’s WestSide in the summer of 1955. The grounds also feature a 1913 Baldwin steam locomotive, a classic red passenger car from the 1920s, a passenger car from the 1960s and two small rail vehicles. The depot offers a look at both a model of a specific era and historic railway vehicles.

The Cookeville History Museum takes a broader approach: its exhibits, programs and activities focus on the history of Cookeville and Putnam County. The permanent exhibit traces a timeline from the region’s earliest inhabitants to the present day. Those interested in the development of the town and county will find a different perspective here than at the depot, whose collections bring railroad history into particular focus.

Theater, Parks and Fall Events

The city-run Cookeville Performing Arts Center offers 456 seats for live performances. In early fall, the theater produces Dogwood Shakespeare in the Park; performance schedules may change. Dogwood Park also hosts Third Thursday in the Park concerts, After Dark Movies in the Park and community band concerts. If you want to plan your trip around a particular performance or event, check current dates in advance.

Art Prowl also adds a cultural highlight in the fall: the annual, two-day art tour in Cookeville is free and mostly walkable. Participating venues and dates may change. Nature hikes, museum collections and seasonal cultural events offer different ways to plan your trip. Choose your accommodations based on which of these aspects of the region you want to focus on during your stay.

Explore more destinations: Cookeville, Sevier, Gibson, Wilson, Henderson County, Davidson, Roane County, Humphreys

For the main travel overview: Tennessee.