Zone 7
Eastern Mountain States (Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri)
Missouri
Cave Spring Trail
5.5 mile loop with spurs; 661ft. elevation gain; Moderately Strenuous
Forest, cave, views; Akers
Cave Spring Trail Guide: there are two spurs – the Cave Spring Spur Trail that takes you down to Cave Spring and the Viewpoint Spur Trail.
Arkansas
Cedar Falls
1.9 mile out & back; 367ft. elevation gain; Moderate
Waterfall, forest, stream; Petit Jean State Park
Kentucky
Yahoo Falls
1.1 mile lollipop loop; 176ft. elevation gain; Moderate
Waterfall, forest, cliffs; Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
Tennessee
Rock Creek Falls
3.8 miles out & back; 1,020ft. out & back; Moderate
Waterfalls, creek, forest; Erwin
Zone 8
Southeast & Gulf states (Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana)
Louisiana
Rock Falls
0.7 mile loop; 147ft. elevation gain; Easy
Waterfall, forest, stream; J.C. “Sonny” Gilbert WMA
Mississippi
Merit Water Park
Varies; varies; Easy
Waterfall, stream, swimming, forest; Simpson County
Merit Water Park is an old-fashioned swimming hole, often also used by tubers and kayakers. With clear water and a small waterfall, it’s the perfect place to visit on a hot summer day. Just remember that the water is cold – very cold – all year long.
Alabama
Shangri-La Falls
1.4 miles out & back; 157ft. elevation gain; Moderate
Waterfall, forest; William B Bankhead National Forest
Be ready for way-finding, ticks, snakes, mud, and more on the route to Shangri-La Falls. It’s an adventure, for sure, but the waterfall after a rain is beautiful.
Florida
William Boylston Nature Trail
0.9 mile loop; 12ft. elevation gain; Easy
Ponds, forest; Myakka River State Park