Photo: Sharon Mollerus from Minneapolis, United States, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
🌤 Weather at Savage Gulf State Park by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34–74 °F | 60–83 °F | 34–78 °F | 26–49 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Coalmont, 6 mi away, elevation 1,856 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
🏔️ Savage Gulf State Park — about 56 miles of trails around three gorges, the Great Stone Door, Greeter Falls and 71 reservable campsites on Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau
Savage Gulf State Park protects 18,708 acres on the Cumberland Plateau in Grundy County, Tennessee, around three deep gorges: Big Creek Gulf, Collins Gulf and Savage Gulf. Tennessee made it the state’s 57th state park in 2022. Before that, Savage Gulf was a state natural area inside South Cumberland State Park. The 18,462-acre Savage Gulf State Natural Area still exists within the park.
You enter at the Stone Door Ranger Station near Beersheba Springs, which has a small museum, a gift shop, a picnic area and restrooms, or at the Savage Gulf Ranger Station, where the Savage Day Loop starts. The park’s coordinates are 35.4467, -85.6552.
At a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Size | 18,708 acres |
| State park since | 2022 |
| Trails | About 56 miles on 18 named trails |
| Camping | 71 reservable sites in 9 camping areas, plus group camps |
| Entry | Free |
| Address | 1183 Stone Door Rd, Beersheba Springs, TN 37305 |
| Phone | (931) 692-3887 |
The Great Stone Door
The Stone Door Trail (0.9 mile, easy) starts beside the Stone Door Ranger Station and passes the Laurel Gulf Overlook on its way to the Great Stone Door, a narrow passage through the cliff line. From the top of the Stone Door, the Big Creek Gulf Trail (4 miles, hard) drops steeply through the passage into the gorge; the park recommends it as an overnight trip. Behind the ranger station, the Laurel Falls Loop (0.3 mile) leads to 25-foot Laurel Falls.
Hiking Trails
| Trail | Distance | Rating | What you’ll see |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Door | 0.9 mi | Easy | Laurel Gulf Overlook, Great Stone Door |
| Greeter Falls | 0.5 mi | Moderate | Greeter Falls, from the Greeter Falls Loop trailhead |
| Laurel | 2.9 mi | Easy | Shortest route to the Alum Gap camping area |
| Savage Day Loop | 4.2 mi | Moderate | Savage Falls; starts next to the Savage Gulf Ranger Station |
| Big Creek Rim | 3.2 mi | Moderate | Rim walk with small streams, mostly dry in summer and fall |
| Big Creek Gulf | 4.0 mi | Hard | Steep descent through the Stone Door to the gorge floor |
| Collins Gulf | 3.7 mi | Hard | Suter Falls, Horsepound Falls and Fall Creek Sink |
| North Rim | 6.3 mi | – | Most of the park’s overlooks |
| North Plateau | 7.1 mi | – | Old-growth forest and shortleaf pine |
| Connector | 6.7 mi | Hard | The park’s most strenuous trail; crosses the mouths of all three gulfs on suspension bridges |
| Stagecoach Road | 1.6 mi | Hard | An 1840s toll road between McMinnville and Chattanooga, listed on the National Register of Historic Places |
Distances are the park’s figures, one way unless the trail is a loop. From the Savage Gulf Ranger Station, the Mountain Oak, North Rim, North Plateau and Savage Day Loop trails combine into a 10-mile loop.
Waterfalls
| Waterfall | Height | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Greeter Falls | 50 feet | Greeter Falls Trail |
| Upper Greeter Falls | – | Overlook above Greeter Falls |
| Suter Falls | 50 feet | Collins Gulf Trail |
| Savage Falls | 30 feet | Savage Day Loop |
| Horsepound Falls | 25 feet | Collins Gulf Trail |
| Laurel Falls | 25 feet | Laurel Falls Loop |
| Boardtree Falls | – | Overlook at the top of the falls |
Camping
| Camping area | Sites |
|---|---|
| Stone Door | 12 |
| Stagecoach Road | 10 |
| Alum Gap | 8 |
| Hobbs Cabin | 8 |
| Sawmill | 8 |
| Savage Falls | 8 |
| Savage Station | 8 |
| Collins West | 5 |
| Dinky Line | 4 |
Group camps are at Alum Gap and Stone Door. Book all sites at reserve.tnstateparks.com.
Best Time to Visit
The waterfalls run strongest in winter and spring. Many small streams along the Big Creek Rim are mostly dry in summer and fall. The Collins Gulf Trail becomes impassable when Suter Falls ices over or the water runs high, and crossing Big Creek on the Ranger Falls Trail is dangerous in high water.
Nearby Attractions
- Stone Door Trail — starts at the Stone Door Ranger Station
- Greeter Falls Trail — inside the park, about 2.5 miles west of the ranger station
- Fiery Gizzard State Park — formerly South Cumberland State Park, about 15 miles southwest
- Fall Creek Falls State Park — about 23 miles northeast
Distances are straight-line from the Stone Door Ranger Station.
Frequently Asked Questions
How hard is the Stone Door Trail?
The Stone Door Trail is rated easy: 0.9 mile from the Stone Door Ranger Station past the Laurel Gulf Overlook to the Great Stone Door. If you continue down through the Stone Door on the Big Creek Gulf Trail, the route turns steep and is rated hard.
Can you camp at Savage Gulf?
Yes. Tennessee State Parks lists 71 reservable campsites in nine camping areas (Stone Door, Alum Gap, Collins West, Dinky Line, Hobbs Cabin, Sawmill, Savage Falls, Savage Station and Stagecoach Road), plus group camps at Alum Gap and Stone Door. Book at reserve.tnstateparks.com.
Is Savage Gulf a state park or a natural area?
Both. Savage Gulf became Tennessee’s 57th state park in 2022, carved out of South Cumberland State Park. The 18,462-acre Savage Gulf State Natural Area continues inside the 18,708-acre park.
Sources: Tennessee State Parks map, trail and campsite data (Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation), as of October 2026; NewsChannel 9, September 23, 2022.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Savage Gulf State Park
- Pets allowed? statewide rule
- Dogs, cats and other pets are permitted in Tennessee State Parks, including all campgrounds, if leashed, crated or otherwise under physical restrictive control at all times.
- Leash rule statewide rule
- 6 ft physical leash required; pets must not be left unattended
- Beaches & swim areas statewide rule
- Pets are prohibited on designated swimming beaches and at pools at all times
- Cabins & lodging statewide rule
- Pets prohibited in park lodges and cabins except designated pet-friendly units; each park offers a limited number of pet-friendly lodge rooms and one pet-friendly cabin ($20 per pet per night)
- Pet fees statewide rule
- No day-use or campground pet fee; $20 per pet per night in designated lodge rooms/cabins
- Statewide exceptions statewide rule
- Park management may post additional no-pet areas on trails; proof of rabies vaccination may be required
Are dogs allowed at Savage Gulf State Park?
Dogs, cats and other pets are permitted in Tennessee State Parks, including all campgrounds, if leashed, crated or otherwise under physical restrictive control at all times. Individual parks can post stricter rules — check signage on arrival.
Rules verified July 2026 via tnstateparks.com. More: Tennessee state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
Park Map
Plan your gear for Savage Gulf State Park
From our editorial guides, matched to this park’s activities:
