Machine Falls Loop
A short, surprisingly rugged white-blazed loop at Short Springs State Natural Area near Tullahoma, dropping through a wildflower-rich hollow to 60-foot Machine Falls.
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- Length
- 1.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 310 ft
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Route
- loop
Trail conditions
No recent condition reports. Hiked it lately?
Report current conditions →Elevation
1.4 mi · 310 ft of climbing · high 1,062 ft · low 878 ft
Find the trailhead
Parking
Small gravel lot on Short Springs Road by the water tower; it fills fast on spring wildflower weekends, and the trail starts across the road.
Directions to parkingWeather at the trailhead
74°FOvercast now
Sunrise 5:29 AM · Sunset 8:00 PM
- TodayRain showers84° / 72°F57% precip
- SatOvercast85° / 68°F21% precip
- SunDrizzle84° / 63°F80% precip
Forecast from Open-Meteo. Mountain conditions change fast; check again before you go.
Machine Falls packs more than you expect into well under two miles: from the small lot on Short Springs Road the white-blazed loop drops steadily into the Bobo Creek hollow, and in March and April the slopes are one of Middle Tennessee's best wildflower shows — trillium, trout lily, and bluebells carpet the ravine. A spur at the bottom leads to the base of Machine Falls, where Machine Falls Branch fans about 60 feet down a wide rock face; reaching the best view means a rock-hop across the creek that can be shin-deep and slippery after rain. The climb back out is short but steep, with stairs and rooty grades that earn the moderate rating, and the falls run thin by late summer, so come in spring or after a good soak. The natural area is free and leashed dogs are allowed, but the lot holds only a dozen or so cars and roadside space is limited.