Distance: 3-5 mi
Elevation Gain: 450 ft.
Estimated Time: 2-3 hrs.
Style: out-and-back, or loop

Parking Fee: $3 day use fee, or annual pass. Pay in cash or online.

At an impressive 65 ft. tall, Benton Falls is a premier waterfall in Eastern Tennessee. The Trailhead is about 20 minutes from nearby Benton, TN and may require a few miles of gravel road driving. This guide starts at the Benton Falls Trailhead, adjacent to McCamy Lake. You can choose to turn around at the falls, making this an out-and-back adventure, or continue on, following the steps below to complete a 5 mile loop hike.

**Trail mileages listed below were measured using my Garmin GPS watch. They are approximate, not exact! Please only use them as a general guide.

Trailhead Address: Benton Falls Trailhead, Benton, TN 37307

Let’s go hike the Benton Falls Trail. Take screenshots and follow along as you hike!

For the out-and-back hike, you will be following trail 131 (blue). For the loop hike, you will be following trails 131, 302, 388, 385, and 387. This map can be found at the Benton Falls trailhead Kiosk.

Trail information to correlate with the map above. Also found on the Benton Falls Trailhead Kiosk.

There is a $3 day use fee for parking. You can pay this fee online or with cash, using the envelopes provided.

Plenty of room for parking (60 cars or more). You’ll find picnic tables, trash cans, and bathroom facilities near the parking lot.

The trail starts at the far end of the lower parking lot, near the lake. Follow the gravel path past this map kiosk and continue alongside the lake.

Just past the lake you’ll come to a “T” in the trail. Turn left, following the sign toward Benton Falls Tr. No. 131.

(0.25 miles into hike) Continue straight at this junction, toward Benton Falls Tr. No. 131.

Continue straight on the main path.

Trails in this area are marked with colored blazes (paint markings on the trees) to match their trail color on the map. The Benton Falls Trail is marked with blue blazes.

(0.75 miles into hike) Continue straight on the main path.

(1 miles into hike) Bypass this left turn and continue straight.

To see Benton Falls, follow the sign and turn left at this trail junction. To skip the falls and continue on the loop hike, go straight. If you want to see the falls first, then continue onto the loop hike, turn left here and retrace back to this junction later.

If you made the left turn for Benton Falls, you’ll be hiking downhill for about 0.25 miles.

You’ll pass by the top of the waterfall. Keep an eye out on your left.

(1.5 miles into hike) Congrats! You made it to Benton Falls. Truly one of the most beautiful places in the area. If you’re doing the out-and-back hike, simply retrace your steps from here back to the parking lot (staying on the Benton Falls Tr. No. 131).

To continue on the loop hike, retrace your steps back to the last trail junction, then follow the directions below.

Once you’ve retraced your steps to this trail junction (the same one you passed earlier), make a left onto Clemmer Trail No. 302. Based on the way this photo is oriented, you’ll be coming up from the left side and making a left turn at the sign toward Clemmer Trail No. 302. Do not turn right toward the trailhead/campground.

Come to a “T” in the trail. Turn right toward Laurel Loop Tr. No. 388.

Next, you’ll come to a sign posted on the left side of the trail. Make a hard right here, turning onto SlickRock Loop Tr. No. 385

The trail blazes for this section are green.

About 0.5 miles later, the trail will lead you into a meadow. You’ll find another trail sign. At this point you want to make a right, hiking into the meadow. This will put you on the Naked Widow Loop Tr. No. 387.

Just moments later you’ll reach another sign. Again, make a hard right turn to stay on the Naked Widow Loop Tr. No. 387.

Trail blazes for this section are yellow.

(4.25 miles into hike) Reach a junction with Benton Falls Trail No. 131. This is the trail we began on. Turn left here to head back toward the trailhead.

Continue straight.

Veer left to stay on the Benton Falls Trail. You’re almost there!

(4.9 miles into hike) You’ve reached the final trail junction. Turn right toward the lake and follow all the way back to the trailhead.

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Need new hiking gear?

I’ve listed some my favorite gear below. With each purchase I receive a small percentage of the profits, helping to support this site.

• Trail Runners: Altra Lone Peak 9 Trail Running Shoe: Women’s, Altra Lone Peak 9 Trail Running Shoe: Men’s
• Day Pack: Osprey Sportlite with Hydraulics Reservoir
• Trekking Poles: LEKI Khumbu Lite Trekking Poles – Aluminum Collapsible
• Satellite Communicator (SOS): Garmin inReach® Messenger Handheld Satellite Communicator
• Headlamp: BLACK DIAMOND Cosmo 350 Headlamp
• Not a fan of Amazon? This gear can also be found on Backcountry.com

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Check out my Youtube channel: Foggy Mountain Dreams

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