About Baby Falls
Baby Falls is a river-wide ledge on the Tellico River, a short drop of roughly 10 feet that you can see from Tellico River Road (Forest Road 210). It is in Cherokee National Forest near Tellico Plains, Tennessee, not in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so the park's parking tag does not apply.
What you will see
The whole river tumbles over one broad shelf, so the falls look wider than they are tall. Paddlers know it as a named rapid on the Tellico, and on cool-season weekends you may find kayakers scouting or running it. Watching from the bank is half the fun.
Getting there
From Tellico Plains, take Tennessee 165 east for about 5 miles, then turn onto Forest Road 210 and follow the river upstream. The falls are close to Bald River Falls, so most visitors combine the two. Roadside pull-offs are informal and fill on weekends. There are no restrooms or drinking water, and cell service is weak.
When to go
- Spring: Highest water and the most paddlers.
- Summer: Lower flow, but the road is shady and cool.
- Fall: Color along the Tellico corridor is the draw.
- Winter: Snow or ice can close Forest Road 210, so check with the Cherokee National Forest first.
Know before you go
Stay back from the ledge. Wet rock beside a whitewater drop is unpredictable, and the Tellico runs fast and cold. Black bears live in this forest, so keep food in your vehicle. Pair Baby Falls with Bald River Falls and a slow drive up the river for an easy half-day outside the busy park corridors.
Good to know
- How tall is Baby Falls?
- Baby Falls drops about 10 feet.
- Can you swim or climb at the falls?
- Please don’t climb on or around waterfalls. Wet rock and algae are extremely slick, and falls from waterfalls are a leading cause of death in the Smokies. Enjoy the view from the trail.
