Our first fall hike of 2023 took us to the Rock Creek Gorge Scenic Area in the Cherokee National Forest in far eastern Tennessee to visit Falls of the Scenic Spur. Overcast skies supplied a few brief sprinkles, the temperature remained below 85-degrees, and we had the falls at the end of the trail all to ourselves.
Aptly named Rock Creek must be crossed twice on the 4-mile round trip hike to the falls. When the water is low, it’s easy to rock hop and keep your feet dry.
Crossing back to the left side of Rock Creek as we trekked upstream was also a breeze.
When we hike, I tend to scan the surroundings for bears, people, potential rock slides and trail blazes. Karen is much more attuned to the small stuff nature adorns the trail with, like this red mushroom among its whiter brethren.
The “Rock Houses” created by erosion in the surrounding sandstone bluffs always fascinate me.
The sound of falling water is exhilarating. The true beauty of these falls stair-stepping deeper into Rock Creek Gorge is hard to capture from the narrow trail along the ridge.
At the top of Rock Creek Gorge the falls’ first plunges down many steep drops to the bottom of the canyon create the perfect backdrop for our lunch break. Scenic Spur #78 is a pleasant hike inviting our return when the leaves change and when they leaves fall revealing more of the many beautiful cascades Rock Creek has created.