Short waterfall hike near Johnson City TN

Twisting Falls

Twisting Falls , also known as Compression Falls is located just beyond Elizabethton Tennessee. Named for its curvy appearance on the Elk River, this waterfall is one of the most popular in the area. Its short hike leads you to an impressive 35 foot waterfall that descends in to pool of water deep enough to jump or swim in. The waterfall its-self although incredible, isn’t the only feature that draws people to this beautiful destination. Just below the waterfalls 1st pool, there’s a calmer 2nd pool perfect for diving or wading that makes this the perfect stop on a hot Summer day. There is plenty of room for swimming, wading, climbing, playing in the more shallow water, and picnicking. Grab your bathing suits and make sure this stop is on your Summer bucket list in Eastern Tennessee.

Getting there:

I would absolutely recommend printing out directions or at the very least researching directions before you go. The first time I went we had issues with the directions on Apple Maps not taking you the right location. The signal once you get there is almost non existent, and when you’re driving there you lose service about 15 minutes before you’re there which made it hard for us to figure out if we were in the right spot. The following directions will take you from downtown Elizabethton to the parking lot of Twisting Falls.

1. Head southeast on US-321 South: From Elizabethton, drive towards the community of Hampton.
2. Continue on US-321 South: After passing through Hampton, stay on US-321 South for approximately 17 miles.
3. Turn right onto Poga Road: Drive for about 4 miles.
4. Turn right onto Clawson Road: Proceed for 0.5 miles.
5. Turn right onto Dark Ridge Road: After 0.4 miles, you’ll find the entrance to the Twisting Falls parking area on the right. Note that Dark Ridge Road becomes unpaved after 0.2 miles but is generally in good condition.

I wouldn’t recommend taking a car that is incredibly close to the ground. Although it is possible, it’s hard to reach the parking lot with all of the deeper pot holes. Once you’re in the gravel parking lot there’s usually plenty of space to park. In the busier months it’s a little harder to find a spot being as there is heavy foot traffic. The trailhead isn’t labeled and sometimes isn’t even mowed down, but if you go to the right back corner of the parking lot you’ll see the start of the trail a little ways in.

The Trail Itsself:

Although the trail is only 0.9 miles to the base, I would not consider this an easy hike. If you are someone who has mobility issues, please be cautious of using this trail. I’m not being over the top when I say that this trail is higher intermediate to hard. The trail starts off pretty easy until you come to a pretty overview of the mountains that looks like this

Once you reach this spot the trail only gets increasingly harder. You’ll take a sharp left and start your descent to the bottom. Depending on your skill level it could take you anywhere from 25-45 minutes to reach the bottom, give or take a few. You may find it helpful to bring some hiking poles to have something to hold on to. At some points throughout this trail you are legitimately climbing. Please use caution as it would be very easy to slip and fall and hurt yourself pretty extensively. We usually reach the bottom at around the 30 minute mark if we are being cautious. There is a rope in the middle of the trail that helps you up a little ways but for the majority of the trail, you are using the ground and tree roots to navigate. That being said I have seen dogs on this trail but I would not recommend this due to the steepness of the trail itself.

Once you reach the bottom you’ll come to a flatter portion of the trail where you can easily access the stream nearby and there are plenty of photo-worthy rocks you can get a good picture from. This point is still a little ways away from the base of the falls (you can see the falls in the background of the photo above). To the left of the stream there is a small trail that walks you along side the water. You’ll continue walking for another 5 minutes roughly until you reach the lower swimming hole.

Pictured above you can see the lower swimming hole as well as the falls. The lower swimming hole offers a more relaxed atmosphere where you can float, dive in, or sit along the rocks with your feet in the water. This area is easy to get to and you don’t have to climb to access this spot. However, if you’re wanting to go to the base of the falls or have a closer view, you’re able to climb up the left side of the path. Be extremely cautious that, to get up here, the rocks are always very wet and can be dangerous due to how slippery it is. Once you climb up the rocks, pictured above, you’ll be at the base of the waterfall.

The view from the base of the waterfall is breathtaking. For more experienced hikers there is a way to climb to the top of the waterfall, and I have many times watched people jump from the edge of the waterfall, pictured in the right hand corner of the photo above. The water is very deep at the edge of the falls and easily plenty deep enough to not touch the bottom if you jump in. This is also a common area for people to swim in as well. It can be challenging, if you choose to swim here, getting back up on the rocks. They are insanely slippery and I have fallen many times even with my gripped hiking boots. I would recommend swimming at this particular spot only if you’re a strong swimmer. There is plenty of room to relax on these rocks as well if you’re not as much of the adventurous type to jump from the falls. You have a beautiful view from here of both the waterfall and lower swimming hole. You truly can’t go wrong with whatever you choose to do here. You could use this place as a pit stop for a quick travel destination while driving by, or you could easily spend the entire day here having fun with friends.

Tips for this waterfall hike:

1. Water. This may seem trivial but I promise after your hike down, and especially after your hike back up, you will want plenty of water whether it’s to pour over yourself or to drink after you finish your trek
2. Good sturdy hiking shoes. I cannot recommend this enough due to the condition of the trail. It would be incredibly easy to twist your ankle while traversing down the steep slope. Do not wear anything similar to slides or crocs. you. will. not. make. it.
3. Sunscreen. If you plan on being here awhile I would be sure not to forget this item. Since you’ll likely be swimming in the different spots, it’s easy to get carried away with the time especially when you’re cooling off in the water.
4. Water Shoes. Unfortunately due to the popularity of this places, this also means lots of foot traffic happens here which also leads to littering. I personally went here years ago and my friend stepped on glass at the base of the falls and had to have stitches.

There are many great things I could say about this place but you need to go see if for yourself. If you’re in the Tri-Cities area please put this destination on your bucket list. Although it’s difficult to get to, it’s stunning and you can easily spend all day here. Please don’t forget to pick up after yourself, or better yet, leave it better than you found it. This trail isn’t always super well maintained but it’s definitely better when there’s no litter involved! Start planning your trip today and have fun! Don’t forget to check out other waterfalls nearby while you’re there including Elk River Falls, Jones Falls, and Laurel Fork Falls. Enjoy!