Tennessee’s most visited state park spreads across the Cumberland Plateau. It’s 29,800 acres with streams that have sliced magnificent, sheer-sided gorges filled with stunning waterfalls and cascades among dense groves of virgin hardwood timber
The parks namesake falls plunges 256 feet into a massive gulf. The water has exposed ancient formations that tell the history of the area’s geologic evolution.
The trail to the base of Fall Creek Falls is steep, with toe-smashing, uneven rock steps. I was shocked at how many women and kids attempted this hike in flimsy, flip-flops.
As we descended the precipitous path to the base of the falls, our surroundings got noticeably cooler, moister and darker.
Giant outcrops of precariously stacked rock loomed overhead. With countless tons of previous rockslides and boulders strewn along the way, an eerie feeling of becoming a “smushed-hiker” statistic crept up on us.
We stopped at a perfectly situated rock that looked over the falls’ basin for pictures.
The sun was not ideally located for photos at this time of day, unless you’re looking for a cool “God’s Eye Rainbow” flare on the lens.
Our next stop on Scenic Overlook Road was Piney Creek Falls. We had this shady view of Piney Falls at the end of the overlook trail all to ourselves, while enjoying a picnic lunch.
You wouldn’t think the many, stern warnings carved into the barriers along abrupt cliffs would be needed, but people still manage to plunge to their deaths here. We were treated to another view of Piney Creek Falls at this barrier.
Karen has issues with the swaying of suspension bridges. This one crossing Piney Creek was no exception.
Adding to her undulating bridge angst was this super-long beauty spanning the Cane Creek Cascades. You have to give her credit. She faces her fear of swinging bridges and crosses them.
Cane Creek Falls was another rainbow-endowed beauty with a huge swimming hole at the bottom of it’s gulf. We barley scratched the surface of what the Fall Creek Falls brochure calls, “…one of the most scenic and spectacular outdoor recreation areas in America.” It’s a little over an hour drive from Chattanooga, so we’ll be returning with visitors.
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