Cabins near Walling, Tennessee occupy diverse terrain on the Highland Rim, with elevations ranging from 800-1,200 feet. The area experiences mild winters with occasional snow and hot, humid summers. Most cabin accommodations lie within a 30-mile radius of Walling, providing proximity to Center Hill Lake, Caney Fork River, and Cumberland Plateau waterfalls.
What to do
Swimming holes and waterfalls: Fall Creek Falls State Park contains numerous swimming spots beyond the main waterfall area. "We could spend weeks here and never get bored. The park itself has a scenic loop drive of the gorge, multiple waterfalls to visit, miles on end of hiking trails in which some cross rope bridges, awesome swimming holes, and even an olympic pool with diving boards and a snack shack for the kiddos," notes one visitor to Fall Creek Falls State Park Campground.
Cable trail hiking: The more challenging trails offer rewarding views for experienced hikers. A Rock Island visitor explains, "Plenty of hikes that lead to wonderful waterfalls and great scenery. My favorite is the cable trail. If i recall it's not far from the campsite." The cable trail requires climbing down steel cables to reach the base of the waterfall.
Kayaking and water sports: Center Hill Lake provides excellent boating opportunities with multiple access points. A visitor to Ragland Bottom shares, "Ragland Bottoms is such a fun place to camp! The campground is right on Center Hill lake, and the lake is really nice and clean! The lakefront sites all have water access right from the site, so you can launch a kayak, or throw out a line, or just go for a swim right from your site."
Local cave exploration: Cumberland Caverns offers underground tours and concerts near some cabin rental properties. "We will definitely go back!! Close to Cumberland Caverns where we enjoyed a concert in the cavern," reports one visitor to Rock Island State Park.
What campers like
Multi-level camping sites: The terrain creates unique camping experiences with platforms and multi-level sites. An Edgar Evins visitor notes, "I was very skeptical about the sites being pier-like decks. Some of the sites just don't have a lot of room, especially around the fire pit and bbq. But there are a couple gem spots if you scout before you book."
Tent-only areas: Several parks offer dedicated tent camping sections away from RV areas. "I stayed in the tent-only loop - a small group of 10 sites. It was quiet and had many trees for hammocks. This site offers level tent pads, a grill, fire ring, and picnic table," describes a visitor at Rock Island State Park Campground.
Night sky viewing: The rural location provides excellent stargazing opportunities. A Fall Creek Falls visitor shares, "Very dark at night time, especially with little moon, the stars were jaw dropping." Light pollution is minimal at most cabin rentals near Walling.
Diverse accommodation options: Cumberland Mountain State Park Campground provides multiple lodging types. "This is a larger state park that includes a restaurant, golf course, pool, etc. but also some nice trails to enjoy the natural beauty of the area. The Cumberland State Scenic Trail is the local long trail, which can be accessed from the park."
What you should know
Site leveling challenges: Many campsites require additional equipment to level RVs and trailers. A visitor to Fall Creek Falls advises, "Pay attention to grades of sites when booking, you might need extra supports to level out. Arrived in the dark, do not recommend as there are not much lighting to see especially if the sites is tight with others."
Water release schedules: Dam operations affect water activities at certain times. "Make sure to visit the ranger station for a map and safety rules during water releases," recommends a Rock Island camper. Water levels can change dramatically during power generation.
Bathroom availability varies: Not all cabin rentals include indoor facilities. Bear Bluff Retreat above Center Hill Lake provides cabin accommodations but lacks shower facilities, requiring self-contained options or trips to nearby public facilities.
Weather preparedness: The area experiences rapid weather changes, particularly during spring and fall. "November 16, 2020. We arrived after dark, and left fairly early the next morning so didn't spend a lot of time there. Went for a short walk before we left in the morning. Parking sites are on wooden platforms which was fine for our Winnebago Revel, but a bit weird for my daughter who was sleeping in a tent, but it all worked out fine."
Tips for camping with families
Primitive camping with children: Some locations offer beginner-friendly primitive options. "We stayed here in November 2017; we camped in the primitive camping section which has a parking area up top and you hike with your equipment down some stairs into a wooded area with about 7 primitive campsites. We could see and hear the lake from our campsite," explains a visitor to Edgar Evins State Park Campground.
Park programming: Several parks offer ranger-led activities. "First time camping in our camper, on platforms. Loved it! Very informative pontoon boat tour with a Park Ranger. Great lunch at the marina too!" shares an Edgar Evins visitor.
Playground locations: Consider campsite proximity to play areas. A Rock Island visitor notes, "My kids loved playing at the playground. The whole park was just really well kept. Bathrooms and showers were clean and in great shape." Most playgrounds are centrally located within campgrounds.
Trail difficulty ratings: Many cabin rental locations connect to hiking trails with varying challenge levels. "A Great Place for New Campers! We love to camp at Fall Creek Falls State Park and think this would be a great park for novice campers due to the fact that the facilities are very nice. For those who are adventurous there are many hiking trails at all levels of difficulty."
Tips from RVers
Road accessibility: Some cabin areas have challenging access roads. "The entrance and exit is very narrow and steep even for our Sprinter motorhome, let alone something larger. Would not advise it!" warns a visitor to Smooth Rapids Campground where cabin rentals are available.
Site selection for large RVs: Limited spots accommodate larger vehicles. "We visited this state park in our 40 foot motorhome. While there are only a few spots that will accommodate a rig this large, it's worth the time to haunt the reservation system and snag one. The road to the park is winding but we had no issues."
Speed bumps and interior roads: Campground roads present navigation challenges. "Be wary of the speed bumps throughout the campground, they are closely spaced and rather abrupt, take them very slowly. The sites are all elevated platforms due to the steep slope to the lake, which we had not encountered before, but are very widely spaced."
WiFi reliability: Internet access varies significantly between properties. "AT&T had 2 bars and 1 MB/s without a booster, 3 bars and 4 MB/s with it. Overall WiFi was problematic. We were able to get connected and got 3 MB/s once, but unable to get a connection with any data rate the rest of our stay."
