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.

fear not

The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.
--Elbert Hubbard

Above: Lower Higgins Creek Falls (detail)

Changes to Lower Higgins Creek

 

With the purchase of the expansive Rocky Fork tract in Unicoi County, TN and the recent creation of the Rocky Fork State Park, efforts are underway to  make it more accessible to larger numbers of visitors. On the northern edge of the park, at the Lower Higgins Creek entrance, you can see a great deal of work is underway: the rickety, old bridge has been replaced and the road leading into the park has been widened. I'm happy to see more people visiting and enjoying the area, and the new bridge was desperately needed. I'll miss the wildflowers that used to line the path in this section of the park. Things are in pretty rough shape at this point, and parking still limited. But clearly changes and improvements are underway.

The top photo is of the first waterfall you come to, Lower Higgins Creek Falls (100 ft tall). The second is of the area where the new bridge was installed. Next is the widened road leading into the park. The bottom photo is of the turn around area where the road ends and a new gate has been installed.

appreciation

I believe that appreciation is a holy thing, that when we look for what's best in the person we happen to be with at the moment, we're doing what God does; so in appreciating our neighbor, we're participating in something truly sacred.
--Fred Rogers (1928-2003) TV personality, minister, author.


Above: Lower Higgins Creek Falls, directions here.

when all else has fallen

Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen. 
--1 Cor. 13:7-10 (JB Phillips Translation). 

Above: Fallen leaves blanket the waterfall at Rocky Fork State Park. 

Directions: Take the Flag Pond exit off of I-26 (exit #50), at the stop sign turn left onto Upper Higgins Creek Road. Drive ½ mile, till you reach Rt. 23, turn right and travel 2 ¼ mi. through Flag Pond, then turn left on Rocky Fork Road. Enjoy the views of the tumbling creek. After ¾ mile, you will see a gravel pull-off to the left. Park here (out of the way of the gate) to continue exploring the 10,000 acre Rocky Fork on foot. Trail map here.

refresh

You can't change who you are, but you can change what you have in your head, you can refresh what you're thinking about, you can put some fresh air in your brain. 
--Ernesto Bertarelli (b.1965) Swiss businessman and philanthropist.

Signs warning of aggressive bear activity in the Clark's Creek area of Unicoi County didn't deter us from seeing Sill Branch Falls today. We did see plenty of other hikers -- but fortunately no bears. The signs specifically warned against overnight camping, grilling out and picnicking. However, the area is  still open for day hikers. Camping in the area has been banned since late May and isn't expected to be allowed again until fall.  Click here for more information.

For directions to Sill Branch Falls, click here.

the hard work of happiness

Happiness does not come from doing easy work but from the afterglow of satisfaction that comes after the achievement of a difficult task that demanded our best. 
--Theodore Isaac Rubin (b. 1923) American psychiatrist and author.

Above: Red Fork Falls near Unicoi, TN.

For a discussion of all the things to see and do on Unaka Mountain Road, click here.

peace and quiet

Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.
--John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) 35th US President.

Above: Blue Hole Grotto outside of Elizabethton, TN. Not as much water flowing at Blue Hole as I was expecting to find. But still a beautiful place to explore. This narrow grotto was a great place to be on a hot, humid day - with the temperature significantly cooler than outside in the sun.

Kiner Creek Falls

This is the best time of year to go see Kiner Creek Falls outside of Church Hill, TN in Laurel Run Park. In the summer months it often is just a trickle, but as you can see it's flowing well after our spring rains. The wide angle lens makes it look bigger than it is. It's listed as 30' online, but I'd say it's more like 20'. It's a fun place to visit, but it does require a sense of adventure. First, the main trail is tough slogging -- muddier than usual. Such a beautiful area, it's a shame the old trail isn't kept up better. So, if you go, wear old shoes and just embrace the fact that you'll get muddy.  Second, the creek crossing is also tough with all the rain we've had. I made it across ok, but it was iffy. Third, the last section of trail to the falls isn't marked and requires some scrambling through the rhododendrons.  And finally, leaving the falls (at least the way I go) has you climb out of the falls - which is very steep and slippery -- but all well worth it to experience this beautiful place! Another bonus... you'll also find lots of wildflowers this time of year. Directions here.

booming

Love is the big booming beat which covers up the noise of hate. 
--Margaret Cho (b.1968) American Comedian.

I love the sound of a waterfall in spring when the water roars with full force. This is Laurel Fork Falls outside of Hampton, TN, a 55-foot beauty and one of the most popular hikes in our region. Click here for directions and information. Listen to the roar in this short video:

bitter blessings

What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise.   --Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) Irish Author.

Above: Sill Branch Falls in the bitter cold. Directions here.

Red Fork Falls

I ventured out to Red Fork Falls a couple weeks back and climbed down this series of beautiful waterfalls on Unaka Mountain further than I usually do.  Thought I'd share images of the six distinctive waterfalls to be found at Red Fork.  

1. This is the first waterfall you'll find at Red Fork. It's small, probably only 5 feet tall. Often I have found swirling watering in this area -- didn't quite work this time around, but under the right conditions, this creates a unique effect.

2. The main waterfall you see in the photo at the top of this post is actually the second one you'll encounter. At 60' this is quite impressive and powerful. In times of high water flow, you'll find the water forming a 'rooster tail' as it rushes out over the cascade.  

3. This cascading corkscrew is such an amazing feature. It's found immediately below the main waterfall. Like a water slide, the water rushes through a narrow, twisting formation on its way to the next small waterfall.

4. Continue climbing down the path and you next come to this stunning waterfall.  After the main waterfall, I consider this to be the next most beautiful one. It's worth climbing down to see!

5. Further down you come to this small split waterfall.

6. Finally I reached the end point of my adventure. This is another smallish waterfall, but a beauty. Some websites say there are eight waterfalls at Red Fork. I suppose it depends how you count them, but it's likely that there are others below what you see here. I have always stopped here at this point because opposite this waterfall is a sharply angled, slippery rock that usually keeps me from moving on! And plus, by this point, I'm pretty well exhausted from all the climbing. :)

For directions and a description of this short, but difficult (and dangerous) hike, click here. This isn't a hike for the kids or to take the dog on. There's a lot of climbing. It's also extremely slippery at the top of the main falls, so don't approach the edge. People have been seriously injured here. Below the main fall is also crazy slippery. But watch your step, take your time and you'll enjoy exploring Red Fork.

Before venturing out, please read my warnings, safety tips and disclaimers.

beauty within and without

Think of all the beauty that is still left in and around you and be happy.
--Anne Frank (1929-1945) writer and Holocaust victim.

Above: Red Fork Falls (taken Oct 19th) found on Unaka Mountain.

Firescald Branch Falls

There's not much information out there for this one. Firescald Branch Falls is a series of cascades found in the Frog Level area of Dennis Cove in Carter County, TN. While it's a long drive to get there, the good news is that it's not much of a hike. However, you will encounter thick rhododendrons on the trail, which will make climbing up the falls a challenge (and a workout). But it's worth the effort. I see from the photos linked below that I stopped short of the third tier of waterfalls here, so I'll have to go back out. I went as far as I thought the trail went, but it appears there's one more cascade beyond what I saw.

Check out Wendell Dingus' nice images of these cascades. GPS info here. 

Directions: Drive up Dennis Cove Road to Frog Level. I have detailed directions and a map here. Once at the parking area for Frog Level, look to the left and you'll see a trail closely following the stream into the rhododendrons.  It is probably no more than 100 feet up the trail that you'll see the first cascade. Continue on, pushing through the rhododendron thickets, and you'll discover more beautiful scenes.  This is a fairly small stream, so you'll want to visit after a good rain.

living art

All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.
--Havelock Ellis (1859-1939) British physician, writer, and social reformer. 

Above: Sill Branch Falls in summer.

higher nature

The true way to be humble is not to stoop until you are smaller than yourself, but to stand at your real height against some higher nature that will show you what the real smallness of your greatness is. 
--Phillip Brooks (1835-1893) American clergyman and author.

Above: Kiner Creek Falls found in Laurel Run Park, Church Hill, TN (taken earlier this spring).

plunge boldly

Plunge boldly into the thick of life!  
--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) German writer.

Above: Kiner Creek Falls found in Laurel Run Park, Church Hill, TN. I've updated my descriptions and directions of the park, complete with map! Now is a great time to visit this amazing park with wildflowers in bloom during the next few weeks.

Logger Falls

This is Logger Falls in Hawkins County, a seldom visited, but interesting waterfall in fairly close proximity to Laurel Run Falls. Like nearby Kiner Falls, it can be a bit of a challenge to reach this one.  The trail is not well established, or marked - but you follow the creek the entire way, so you really can't get lost.  As you see from the photo above, the waterfall is impressive (at least I think so!), although there are a lot of downed trees, limbs, branches and trash around it.  It could use a good spring cleaning. Here's a link to the only information I've found on the web about this waterfall.

I've updated the description in my Laurel Run Park post to include detailed directions to all three waterfalls found in this area of Laurel Run Park.

This weekend would be a great time to visit Laurel Run Park, lots of spring wildflowers to see!

wonders never cease

America is a land of wonders, in which everything is in constant motion and every change seems an improvement. No natural boundary seems to be set to the efforts of man and in his eyes what is not yet done is only what he has not attempted to do. 
--Alexis de Tocqueville

Above: The 10 foot high Laurel Run Falls found within Laurel Run Park, Church Hill, TN. I'll be posting more from my visit to the park. It's a favorite place of mine to visit in the spring. For directions and description, click here.

backbone falls

The individual activity of one man with backbone will do more than a thousand men with a mere wishbone. 
--William J. H. Boetcker (1873–1962) Presbyterian minister and motivational speaker.  

Above: Backbone Falls in Johnson County, TN. For information about Backbone Rock and Backbone Falls and for directions, click here.