Post by driftwoody on Oct 19, 2019 7:45:47 GMT -8
I promised hikerjer to recommend some waterfalls along the route of his long road trip which has a stop at Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, then goes to the Smokies and/or Chattanooga. This is by no means a comprehensive list of waterfalls in Tennessee (or even the area I'm covering) but they are all outstanding waterfalls I've visited which are at least somewhat convenient to Jer's route. Coming from Mammoth Cave, continue south on I-65 to I-40 east thru Nashville. There are a variety of ways to cut across that less than direct line to 40 East, but staying on the interstates is easiest.
First stop is the extremely impressive and easily accessible (1.5 mile roundtrip hike) Burgess Falls, not far off I-40 exit 286. If you're traveling on I-40, this is a must stop. The short hike goes past a couple of other very nice waterfalls before arriving at the main event. There are several good vantage points, including a steep descent to the base of this truly awesome waterfall.
Less than 20 miles south of Burgess on hwy 136 is Rock Island State Park which has two separate features, not as awesome but very interesting. One is a great place to scramble around rock ledges on the Caney Fork River, where kayakers sometimes shoot the rapids. On the other side is Twin Falls, coming straight through the side of a bluff. The river is dammed on the other side, and water found a way to flow out.
Just a little to the east (southeast of Sparta) is the Virgin Falls Natural Area <-last link is a pdf map. This is a long dayhike between 8-9 miles, or an overnighter if you like with campsites at the falls and along the way. The hike itself is very good, passing other falls and features -- but I rank Virgin Falls near the top of my list among the hundreds of waterfalls I've visited in decades of hiking. It's in a very beautiful setting. The creek comes out of a cave, runs a short distance before plummeting over a cliff, then disappears into another cave at its base. The trail winds around for multiple views from across the falls to the cave from whence it flows. If there has been a dry spell the water might not be flowing as well as the photos, but if you feel like a full day of hiking this is a real gem. It's in much more of a remote wilderness setting than the more developed state parks.
Less than 20 miles south is the highly developed Fall Creek Falls State Park, with several impressive waterfalls and a lovely gorge. You can spend just a couple hours or a day taking in the sights. If you're in the area and like waterfalls, it's well worth a visit.
About 30 miles to the southeast near the town of Dayton is the Laurel-Snow Natural Area. Last November I dayhiked to Laurel Falls (which I highly recommend) and posted my hike in this thread. Visiting both falls and the other features in this pocket wilderness is best done as an overnighter, and you need to reserve a campsite in advance. Also recommended nearby and having nothing whatsoever to do with hiking is the old courthouse and Scopes Trial Museum in Dayton, where a science teacher was criminally tried in 1925 for teaching evolution in the local high school. The 1960 movie Inherit the Wind starring Spencer Tracy and Fredric March was based on the famous "Monkey Trial."
From Dayton it's a short drive south to Chattanooga with its many attractions and Cloudland Canyon State Park nearby in Georgia.
However, if you don't have time to visit all the wonderful places noted above there are a couple of outstanding waterfalls to the north. If you're traveling on I-40 you really should stop at Burgess Falls (first on the list above). If you stay on I-40 heading east, Ozone Falls is a brief and very worthwhile stop not far off exit 329.
Not far to the south near the small town of Grandview is Upper Piney Falls, which is about a mile hike. From there you could head south to Dayton and Chattanooga via hwy 27, hiking to Laurel Falls if you have the time or seeing the Scopes museum in the old courthouse.
Whatever you decide to do, I'm sure we all wish you safe and happy travels!
First stop is the extremely impressive and easily accessible (1.5 mile roundtrip hike) Burgess Falls, not far off I-40 exit 286. If you're traveling on I-40, this is a must stop. The short hike goes past a couple of other very nice waterfalls before arriving at the main event. There are several good vantage points, including a steep descent to the base of this truly awesome waterfall.
Less than 20 miles south of Burgess on hwy 136 is Rock Island State Park which has two separate features, not as awesome but very interesting. One is a great place to scramble around rock ledges on the Caney Fork River, where kayakers sometimes shoot the rapids. On the other side is Twin Falls, coming straight through the side of a bluff. The river is dammed on the other side, and water found a way to flow out.
Just a little to the east (southeast of Sparta) is the Virgin Falls Natural Area <-last link is a pdf map. This is a long dayhike between 8-9 miles, or an overnighter if you like with campsites at the falls and along the way. The hike itself is very good, passing other falls and features -- but I rank Virgin Falls near the top of my list among the hundreds of waterfalls I've visited in decades of hiking. It's in a very beautiful setting. The creek comes out of a cave, runs a short distance before plummeting over a cliff, then disappears into another cave at its base. The trail winds around for multiple views from across the falls to the cave from whence it flows. If there has been a dry spell the water might not be flowing as well as the photos, but if you feel like a full day of hiking this is a real gem. It's in much more of a remote wilderness setting than the more developed state parks.
Less than 20 miles south is the highly developed Fall Creek Falls State Park, with several impressive waterfalls and a lovely gorge. You can spend just a couple hours or a day taking in the sights. If you're in the area and like waterfalls, it's well worth a visit.
About 30 miles to the southeast near the town of Dayton is the Laurel-Snow Natural Area. Last November I dayhiked to Laurel Falls (which I highly recommend) and posted my hike in this thread. Visiting both falls and the other features in this pocket wilderness is best done as an overnighter, and you need to reserve a campsite in advance. Also recommended nearby and having nothing whatsoever to do with hiking is the old courthouse and Scopes Trial Museum in Dayton, where a science teacher was criminally tried in 1925 for teaching evolution in the local high school. The 1960 movie Inherit the Wind starring Spencer Tracy and Fredric March was based on the famous "Monkey Trial."
From Dayton it's a short drive south to Chattanooga with its many attractions and Cloudland Canyon State Park nearby in Georgia.
However, if you don't have time to visit all the wonderful places noted above there are a couple of outstanding waterfalls to the north. If you're traveling on I-40 you really should stop at Burgess Falls (first on the list above). If you stay on I-40 heading east, Ozone Falls is a brief and very worthwhile stop not far off exit 329.
Not far to the south near the small town of Grandview is Upper Piney Falls, which is about a mile hike. From there you could head south to Dayton and Chattanooga via hwy 27, hiking to Laurel Falls if you have the time or seeing the Scopes museum in the old courthouse.
Whatever you decide to do, I'm sure we all wish you safe and happy travels!
