If you’re interested in taking the family for an easy & fun hike to see a waterfall, then visit the Frozen Head State Park – near Wartburg, Tennessee. The scenic 20-foot tall Emory Gap Falls is only a 3 mile out and back hike, and you’ll also pass Debord Falls along the trail.
Like many waterfalls on the Cumberland Plateau, the best time to visit is when there’s water present. This was my second trip to the falls; though autumn foliage was gone, by comparison, recent rainfall bolstered the volume of water flowing.
Prints
If you’d like to enjoy the great outdoors in your living room or place of employment, you’re invited to visit my shop to select a print of your choosing. Many options available. Thanks!
Located in the Frozen Head State Park near Wartburg, Tennessee, Debord Falls stands 12-feet tall and is an easy hike of 1.5 miles out and back, along the Emory Gap Branch.
The trailhead is located at the end of the park, where the road stops at a parking area. You’ll find an informational placard which details a plethora of local flowers, and restrooms are available at the visitor center along the drive.
While it’s no surprise that I’ve discovered most waterfalls in Tennessee depend on rainfall to bolster water flow, guests may want to plan their visit in accordance with current weather conditions – many falls can be dry during summer months.
Prints
Framed. Canvas. Metal. Art. Wood. Acrylic. Select a print available from my gallery to decorate an empty wall, and enjoy the great outdoors from the comfort of your home!
Morning sunlight streams through the forest to reach this small creek, filled with moss-covered rocks. If you’d like some nature in your home, this image is available on a variety of prints to suit your interests – visit my gallery at Pixels for more.
I recently visited the Frozen Head State Park And Natural Area in Tennessee, where I photographed this scenic outcropping along the South Old Mac Trail. Now, prints are available in my gallery at Pixels – framed, art, canvas, wood, acrylic and metal.
I recently shot this waterfall photography while hiking at the Frozen Head State Park And Natural Area in Tennessee. If you’d be interested in a print for your home or office, then stop by my gallery at Pixels.
Enjoy this photography featuring a sandstone cliff, part of the caprock on Chimney Top Mountain at Frozen Head State Park, located in Wartburg, Tennessee. A wide variety of fine prints are available in my gallery at Pixels.
This photograph features the sandstone caprock at Chimney Top Mountain, located at Frozen Head State Park in the Cumberland Mountains of Eastern Tennessee. If you’d be interested in a print for your home or workplace, then stop by my gallery at Pixels to review framed, canvas, art, metal, acrylic and wood print types.
Frozen Head State Park is situated in the beautiful Cumberland Mountains of Eastern Tennessee. The mountainous terrain varies from an elevation of 1,340 feet to over 3,000 feet on 16 different mountain peaks, with 13,122 acres of relatively undisturbed forest containing some of the richest wildflower areas in the state (better viewed during summer months).
A short 45-minute drive from Knoxville, Tennessee, I recently visited the park to hike the Chimney Top Trail, a steep, rugged trail with giant sandstone caprock and natural vista. It’s a 3.5 mile trek to the top with a total gain in elevation of 3,460 feet, as hikers ascend two separate mountains along the trail. Total time: 6 hours.
Here’s part of the Frozen Head State Park map featuring the Chimney Top Trail:
There were several points of interest along the hike, including the following:
Moss-covered Rocks
Flowing Creek
Sandstone Outcropping
Layers of Sandstone
Rocks Near Top
The challenges to this hike were several. First, the distance: 3.5 miles each way. Second, the mind – that is, after hiking up a mountain for 50 minutes, it’s somewhat discouraging to then be faced with having to hike down the backside, losing gains in elevation, only to then be greeted by an even taller mountain. Lastly, the finish: towards the top, hikers encounter the trail’s only flat surface along a ridge; however, this is short-lived, as the final stretch is by far the most difficult.
During this final stretch, glimpses on the rocky top can be seen through the forest:
Hikers must climb the sandstone caprock using one of several pathways, in order to enjoy the wonderful view from the peak of Chimney Top Mountain – seen here:
Rock Ledge
Moss-covered Plateau
Chimney Top Mountain
View of Bird Mountain
Elevation Marker
This is a topographic computer simulation of Bird Mountain, as seen from the top of Chimney Top Mountain, provided in the park map:
Finally, I shot this panoramic video with my iPhone as I walked across the caprock:
Make sure you carry a walking stick, and…
Enjoy the Cumberland Mountains!
Prints
Visit my gallery to select from a variety of fine prints of Frozen Head State Park!
This black and white photograph of icicles cascading down a layered, rock ridge, was taken at the Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee, near Wartburg. Whether you’re interested in a print for your home or office, or some other item, a wide variety is available in my galleries at Fine Art America and Redbubble. Check it out!
