Eagle Falls

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park / Corbin, Kentucky, USA

About Eagle Falls

For Subscribers Only. See Membership Options.

Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Eagle Falls is a light-flowing and short 44ft waterfall adding its output to the Cumberland River from its west bank just downstream of Cumberland Falls.

It’s certainly an easily overlooked waterfall thanks to its tendency to be a follow-up act to its larger neighbor.

Eagle_Falls_052_20121021 - Eagle Falls
Eagle Falls

Thus, to appreciate Eagle Falls, one really has to be able to manage expectations and take it for what it is.

After all, you can’t really compare the two falls so why bother with comparisons?

Nonetheless, what motivated us to hike Trail 9 (i.e. the designated trail to this waterfall) was the opportunity to get different views of Cumberland Falls that we couldn’t get from its more touristed east bank.

As we did the trail, we also realized that it was meandering beneath overhanging rocks, hugging ledges, and affording us panoramic views of the scenery across the gorge

Eagle_Falls_026_20121021 - Contextual view of Cumberland Falls as seen from the Eagle Falls Trail above the west bank of the Cumberland River
Contextual view of Cumberland Falls as seen from the Eagle Falls Trail above the west bank of the Cumberland River

Perhaps that was why we saw a large sign at the trailhead proclaiming this trail to be voted as the best trail in the state of Kentucky.

We’re not so sure about that bold assertion, but we were certainly glad we did it.

Hiking to Eagle Falls

The trail to the Eagle Falls and back was said to be 3 miles round trip (1.5 miles each way).

It wasn’t the easiest trail because of its tendency to undulate in addition to being an upside down hike (i.e. going downhill to get to the falls then going back uphill to get back to the trailhead).

Eagle_Falls_002_20121021 - The trailhead to Eagle Falls or Trail 9
The trailhead to Eagle Falls or Trail 9

And although there was also the option of extending this hike into a longer loop, we didn’t do that option.

Most of the scenic overlooks revealing the gorge as well as the Cumberland Falls was past the loop trail connectors (always staying right to remain on the main waterfall trail).

When we got to river level, at which point we were very close to the Eagle Falls, it was said that during flood, this section of trail could be under water.

That probably explained why the trail degenerated into almost a boulder scramble with some boulders containing colored paint as trail indicators.

Eagle_Falls_017_20121021 - Hiking beneath cliff overhangs along the Eagle Falls Trail or Trail 9
Hiking beneath cliff overhangs along the Eagle Falls Trail or Trail 9

In any case, right after the scramble, we found ourselves right in front of the Eagle Falls, which spilled over a side creek that fed the Cumberland River at the waterfall’s base.

The overall time we took to do this hike plus take pictures was about 1 hour 20 minutes.

Authorities

Eagle Falls resides in the Cumberland Falls State Resort Park near Williamsburg and Corbin in McCreary County, Kentucky. It is administered by the Kentucky Department of Parks. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, visit their website.

Maps and Routing Content are for annual subscribers. See Membership Options.
Content is for subscribers. See Membership Options.

Related Top 10 Lists

No Posts Found

Tagged with: daniel boone, national forest, mcreary county, kentucky, waterfall, cumberland plateau, corbin, williamsburg, cumberland river, trail 9



Visitor Comments:

Got something you'd like to share or say to keep the conversation going? Feel free to leave a comment below...

No users have replied to the content on this page


Share your thoughts about what you've read on this page

You must be logged in to submit content. Refresh this page after you have logged in.

Visitor Reviews of this Waterfall:

If you have a waterfall story or write-up that you'd like to share, feel free to click the button below and fill out the form...

No users have submitted a write-up/review of this waterfall


Have you been to a waterfall? Submit a write-up/review and share your experiences or impressions

Review A Waterfall

Nearest Waterfalls

The Waterfaller Newsletter

The Waterfaller Newsletter is where we curate the wealth of information on the World of Waterfalls website and deliver it to you in bite-sized chunks in your email inbox. You'll also get exclusive content like...

  • Waterfall Wednesdays
  • Insider Tips
  • User-submitted Waterfall Write-up of the Month
  • and the latest news and updates both within the website as well as around the wonderful world of waterfalls


How To Build A Profitable Travel Blog In 4 Steps

Johnny Cheng

About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
Read More About Johnny | A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls.