Big South Fork Backcountry

I've only been up Anderson Branch once and we did that as an out-and-back from No Business Creek. It was rough going, we followed Anderson Branch for most of the way up (passing a modest waterfall en route) and it took us a good chunk of time to do it (maybe an hour?) without getting our feet wet. On the way back, we stayed closer to the east-side cliffs in the drainage and that really expedited things. If I ever went back I would still go up the drainage, but would probably try to stay out of the creek until getting closer to the headwaters. It didn't look like anyone else went back there and I have met very few people, even those who have hiked extensively in BSF, that have been to the falls.

The head of Anderson Branch looked pretty cliffed-out to me. There might be a hidden gap or scramble down, but I doubt it would be much more convenient than just hiking up the creek.

I've been up Tackett Creek three times, but have never pushed it all the way to the head of the drainage. It looked like it could probably be "walked out" without running into any clifflines, both on a map and from my experience, but I wouldn't guarantee it. I hiked it up to a place where the water formed a shallow and large (for the southeast) pool and the stream remained gentle and just disappeared into flat thickets of rhodo above that. However, given where the "goods" are in Tackett Creek I think that it is best approached from its mouth as well.

Also, I really think that for the most part hiking up from the mouth for waterfalls on short tributaries allows things to unfold better and makes for a better "flow" (no water pun intended) to the experience.

A few pictures, taken in mid-March 2012 on the streams discussed above:


 




Happy hiking!

You're welcome.

I'd definitely recommend going in March or April, especially after a few days of rain (our trip worked out perfectly that way). The waterfalls aren't as impressive unless there is a good bit of water and the ticks in the BSF can be pretty bad during the summer. Spring wildflowers and trips to these waterfalls is pretty hard to beat, add in the off-trail arches and it's pretty stellar!

I'd recommend bring trekking poles and dedicated wading shoes, especially for Tackett Creek.

For my trip to Tacket Creek in March I will bring some sturdy Teva sandals for crossings, but I'm considering another option for Laurel Fork with its 18 crossings. I have a pair of 5-10 Water Tennies I wore with neoprene socks for a 7 hour day hike in the Zion Narrows. This combination worked quite well over wet rocks in cool water. However, after being immersed in water during most of that rocky hike the next day my feet were too swolen for my regular hiking boots. I'm conerned this footwear combination might have a similar effect during the 3 day 20 mile Laurel Fork loop I'm planning. The difference is I won't be in the water all day.

I always use trekking poles when backpacking.

You're welcome. I was debating whether or not to post pictures as I didn't want to spoil the surprise. The first and last pictures are from Anderson Branch and are of the "main attraction" that is at the head of the creek. It is a place you will definitely want to spend time at once you get there. The waterfall is absolutely mesmerizing and it feels like you have a rugged piece of paradise all to yourself.

The middle picture is from Tackett Creek and is of a waterfall that a friend and I turned around at on our first trip up there. There is another waterfall downstream from it that you pass on your way up; above it the creek is flowing over bedrock (slippery!) at a decent gradient before reaching a boulder jumble, above which lies this waterfall. That's what I thought was cool about Tackett Creek . . . from its mouth it looks like a non-descript, normal Cumberland Plateau stream, then it hits a waterfall, changes character above the waterfall, changes character again when it hits the boulder jumble you scramble through, and then hits another waterfall.

I would really recommend exploring up both if you can and wouldn't really suggest one over the other in terms of scenery, both have different charms. Tackett Creek is definitely more of a scrambling, immersive/enchanting, in-the-creek type of experience, whereas Anderson Cave Branch is more of a "choose the best path" to get to the highlight at the end. So picking between the two will really depend more what type of experience you're after.

markweth, is there anything visible remaining of Terry Cemetery on the trail to the west of Maude's Crack?