Pine Ridge Falls

Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world. 
-- Albert Einstein

Above: Pine Ridge Falls. To the left is a photo of the forest service road through Clark's Creek. And below, a photo of Blue on the trail to the falls. Click here for directions and a full description of the hike. Occasionally I've seen this waterfall referred to as Longarm Branch Falls.

wedge issues

We must remember that any oppression, any injustice, any hatred, is a wedge designed to attack our civilization.
--Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) US President.

it goes on

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life — It goes on.  --Robert Frost (1874-1963) American poet.

changes

Isn't it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different. 
--C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) British Scholar and Novelist.

Above: Clark's Creek on a cold, dreary day.

soothing nature

I never knew how soothing trees are - many trees and patches of open sunlight, and tree-presences; it is almost like having another being. 
--D.H. Lawrence (1885-1930) British author. 

Above: A trail in the Clark's Creek area of Unicoi County.

beyond the senses

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart.
--Helen Keller (1880-1968) U.S. author who was blind and deaf. 

Above: One of the best and most beautiful things in our region...Sill Branch Falls in Unicoi County, TN

solitude

One of the greatest necessities in America is to discover creative solitude.
--Carl Sandburg (1878-1967) American Historian, Poet and Novelist. 

Above: Sill Branch in the Clark's Creek area of Unicoi County.

beginnings

However far the stream flows, it never forgets its source.
--Nigerian Proverb

twisty

The tongue of man is a twisty thing, there are plenty of words there of every kind.
--Homer (8th century BC) Greek poet

live well

The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.
--Ralph Waldo Emerson (1817-1862) American Essayist and Philosopher.  

Still lots of green out in the Clark's Creek area of Unicoi County -- and not much water... just in case anyone was thinking about visiting Sill Branch Falls, Pine Ridge Falls or Buckeye Falls. Even so, Clark's Creek Road offers a beautiful and peaceful drive through the woods. (click here for directions and descriptions of the various trails and waterfalls found there).

persistence

In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins. Not through strength, but through persistence.
--Unknown

Above: Clark's Creek in Unicoi County, TN

happiness

Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.
--Thomas Merton (1915-1968) Author and monk 


Above: Stacked rocks found along Clark's Creek in Unicoi Co., TN.

awakening

Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn.
--Lewis Grizzard (1946-1994) American writer and humorist 

Above: Clark's Creek in Unicoi County, TN

right now

Forever is composed of nows.
~Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) American poet

Above: Pine Ridge Falls in the Clark's Creek area of Unicoi Co. Even if you're not much of a hiker, Clark's Creek is a beautiful drive, especially this time of year when you can see through the woods to the creek below. It's one of the few forest service roads in the area that I can confidently say a high clearance vehicle isn't necessary. It has some potholes here and there, but overall it's a level and well-maintained gravel road. It's about four miles from the main highway to where it ends in a cul-de-sac. Two waterfalls are in close proximity to one another, Sill Branch Falls and Pine Ridge Falls. Both are short, fairly easy hikes (1/2 mile each). For a longer, more difficult hike, check out Buckeye Falls.

Directions: (From Johnson City, TN) Take I-26 to the Erwin/Jonesboroughexit #37. At the end of the ramp, turn right and take State Route 81/107 west for 6.5 miles, stay on Rt. 107 by turning left and continue for 5 more miles. Turn left on Clark's Creek Road and drive 3.3 miles (the last 1.9 will be gravel) into the Cherokee National Forest to a parking area on the left (It's 0.2 miles past the parking area for Sill Branch Falls). A small brown sign will indicate the trailhead for "Longarm Branch Trail." After a short hike (1/2 mile?), you'll reach the creek crossing; once across, the trail will fork -- stick to the left, the falls are just a short distance further.

be gentle

Be gentle with yourself, learn to love yourself, to forgive yourself, for only as we have the right attitude toward ourselves can we have the right attitude toward others.
--Wilfred Peterson (1900-1995) American author

Along Clark's Creek in Unicoi County, TN. Not a lot of water out on Clark's Creek right now, so the waterfalls are definitely looking puny, but still there are many trails with beautiful scenes like this.

Even if you're not much of a hiker, Clark's Creek is a beautiful drive, with its deep woods and views of the gentle creek. It's one of the few forest service roads in the area that I can confidently say a high clearance vehicle isn't necessary. It has some potholes here and there, but overall it's a level and well-maintained gravel road. It's about four miles from the main highway to where it ends in a cul-de-sac. If you go drive slow and keep an eye out for riders on horseback. Two waterfalls are in close proximity to one another, Sill Branch Falls and Pine Ridge Falls. Both are short, fairly easy hikes (1/2 mile each). For a longer, more difficult hike, check out Buckeye Falls.

Directions: Take I-26 to the Erwin/Jonesborough exit #37. At the end of the ramp, turn right and take State Route 81/107 west for 6.5 miles, stay on Rt. 107 by turning left and continue for 5 more miles. Turn left on Clark's Creek Road and drive 1.4 miles - at this point the road will turn to gravel and you'll enter Clark's Creek proper. The mileage below is given from this point of entry into Clark's Creek (where the road turns to gravel). Some of the better known trails located in this area include...
0.1 (approx) miles Iron Furnace trail head (on the left immediately after first bridge)
1.4 (approx) miles Hell Hollow Falls trail head (on the right)
1.7 miles Sill Branch Falls trail head (on the left)
1.9 miles Pine Ridge Falls trail head (on the left)
2.7 miles Buckeye Falls trail head (located at the terminus of Clark's Creek Road)

Kenneth Murray's book, Highland Trails, contains a detailed map of the area and descriptions of the hikes. Google books has an excerpt. Buy it from Amazon here.

Pine Ridge Falls

Pine Ridge Falls is a 25 foot waterfall found in the beautiful Clark's Creek area of Unicoi County, TN. I can't believe I've lived here for so long and I'm just now discovering such amazing places. It's in very close proximity to another recent "find," Sill Branch Falls. Both are short hikes and could easily be done on the same trip. For a much longer, and much more difficult hike, check out Buckeye Falls.  But the hike to Pine Ridge is short, I'd guess a 1/2 mile. It's an easy walk, except for one creek crossing that can be tricky when the water's up.  If you go in the summer months, I'd recommend wearing jeans -- there's lots of poison ivy at the beginning of the trail.  If you only have time to hike to one of the falls and were deciding between Sill Branch and Pine Ridge, I'd recommend Sill Branch. Pine Ridge is nice, but lacks the wow factor of the taller and much more elegant Sill Branch Falls.

This scenic area is centrally located to Greeneville, Jonesborough, Johnson City, and Erwin on Clark's Creek Road, off of Route 107. If you've lived in this area all your life and never been down Clark's Creek, put it on your list of things to do. Even if you're not much of a hiker, Clark's Creek is a beautiful forest drive, especially this time of year when you can see through the woods to the creek below. The road through Clark's Creek is gravel, and while it has some pot holes, it's in pretty good shape -- and while it's narrow, it's not steep. It's one of the few forest service roads in the area that I can confidently say a high clearance vehicle isn't absolutely necessary (although you'd handle the pot holes with a lot more confidence!).  At the end of the road is a wide cul-de-sac which makes for an easy turn around.  Just take your time and watch for horseback riders who frequent the area.

Directions: Take I-26 to the Erwin/Jonesborough exit #37. At the end of the ramp, turn right and take State Route 81/107 west for 6.5 miles, stay on Rt. 107 by turning left and continue for 5 more miles. Turn left on Clark's Creek Road and drive 3.3 miles (the last 1.9 will be gravel) into the Cherokee National Forest to a parking area on the left (It's 0.2 miles past the parking area for Sill Branch Falls). A small brown sign will indicate the trailhead for "Longarm Branch Trail". After a short hike, you'll reach the creek crossing; once across, the trail will fork -- stick to the left, the falls are just a short distance further.