Friday (11-5-21) We headed to South Cumberland State Park to chase waterfalls and fall colors.
The Greeter Falls Trailhead was carpeted in fallen leaves. It was a chilly morning, but the hike warmed us up. All the trees were not in full color profile, yet. It was still gorgeous.
It’s a short detour to view Upper Greeter Falls before climbing down to the lower falls’ base. The 30-feet wide falls plummet 15-feet off the flattest, straightest natural rock face I’ve ever seen.
The trail started fairly flat. We reached the sheer cliff at the Greeter Falls gulf and found a rare, spiral staircase. The steep descent had just begun.
The cold-steel rails on the spiral staircase froze our hands and these precipitous steps were slick and muddy, but they were easier than near-vertical rock hopping.
Greeter Falls plunges 50 feet into a clear pool. We ate lunch and soaked up the calming beauty as leaves fell around us.
The Falls Loop Trail to Boardtree Falls followed the Cumberland Plateau’s escarpment.
Hugging the ridge line meant overhanging rocks threatening from above.
Picking our way over and around massive rocks that calved from the cliffs was a constant reminder that more could let loose at any time.
Plant survival in this rocky environment requires tenacity. The 80-foot tall tree with a bent base, growing from a giant stone awed us.
The muddy, steep and taxing climb down from the main trail was worth the effort to see the double Boardtree Falls. Note, slow and easy on descents that difficult make them much safer.
Eastern Tennessee’s leaves are changing hues at the higher elevations. We’ve been blessed with watching them near their peak. We’ll keep hiking and reporting as nature’s color magic continues.