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.

stand and stare

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?  
--William Henry Davies (1871-1940) Welsh poet.  

This is Pine Ridge Falls in the Clark's Creek area of Unicoi County, TN. For directions, click here.

contentment

There are two ways to get enough: one is to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less.
--G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936) English writer

Above: Pine Ridge Falls in the Clark's Creek area of Unicoi Co. - For more information and directions, click here.

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.

Pine Ridge Falls

Every mile is two in winter.
--George Hurbert

Even with our colder temps, the hike to Pine Ridge Falls isn't too bad at all. It's probably a half mile or so, with a gentle incline and (under most circumstances) a manageable creek crossing. The hike is of similar length as that to nearby Sill Branch Falls (although that one's a little more steep -- but still a fairly easy hike). Both are found in the beautiful Clark's Creek area of Unicoi County, TN. Click here to see more pics and get directions.

Serenity Now!

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.
--Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American author, poet and philosopher

After a crazy week of grading term papers, late nights, moving offices, and teaching MBA classes, I went out in such of some serenity. And with the recent rains, I thought a visit to Pine Ridge Falls in the Clark's Creek area of Unicoi Co., TN was in order. So I headed out, near dusk -- hoping to catch some good light to capture the falls. Well, I guess it hasn't rained much out in that part of the county, because as you can see, there's not too much water coming over the falls. But still it's a calming place. A serene place. That is, until Duke found something pungent to roll around in which meant it was windows down and grumbling all the way home. Arrrggh!

This isn't the tallest waterfall around, but it's fairly easy to get to - about a ten minute, easy hike. If you go, I'd recommend wearing jeans -- there's lots of poison ivy at the beginning of the trail. Fortunately, I successfully dodged all of that. While you're out that way, I suggest you also hike to Sill Branch Falls. The two falls are in close proximity to one another - and both are short hikes. The Sill Branch hike is a little bit steeper, but not necessarily any more difficult. Both hikes involve a creek crossing -- but that's not a problem when water levels are down as they are now. Click here to read Hiking Bill's description of the hike.

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 - which is also on the left). 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.

Pine Ridge Falls

I was hoping that with our recent rains that I'd find Pine Ridge Falls with more water flowing over it than this. If you click the thumbnail to the right, you'll see a photo from last March of this impressive 25' waterfall at high flow (which makes you realize just how dry things have been). On the positive side, with the water down, the one creek crossing makes for an easy walk to get there. And the road through Clark's Creek is glorious with a light layer of snow. This scenic area, home also to Sill Branch Falls, 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. The road through Clark's Creek is gravel, but in pretty good shape -- and while it's narrow, it's not steep. At the end of the road is a wide cul-de-sac which makes for an easy turn around. Click here to see my previous post on Pine Ridge Falls.

Directions: (From Johnson City, TN) 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 (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. More maps 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.