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Savage Gulf State Natural Area

City: Palmer, TN
Region: East Tennessee

Savage Gulf, a 15,590-acre natural area, is carved into the western edge of the Cumberland Plateau in Grundy and Sequatchie Counties. The sheer sandstone cliffs and canyons make it one of Tennessee's most rugged and scenic areas.

Stone Door, a 10-by-100-foot crack, stretches from the top of the escarpment into the gorge, like a giant door left ajar. Indians used it as a passageway. Gorges feature breathtaking waterfalls. Greeter Falls drops over a 15-foot upper ledge and then plummets over a 50-foot lower ledge into a cold, clear plunge pool. Savage Creek enters its gorge over cascades and drops 30-foot at Savage Falls. Collins River and Ranger Creek have waterfalls that drop over limestone ledges and flow into sinks where they disappear. Big Creek, Collins River and Savage Creeks each tumble down over 5 miles, dropping over 800 feet through narrow gorges, forming the "Gulfs." Observed from a 750 overlook, Big Creek mysteriously disappears below. Many big streams go underground through shale and limestone to form dry creek beds. Sudden heavy rainfall can cause very dangerous flash floods.

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