Tag: state parks

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Nature Photography

Return To Burgess Falls

On the Falling Water River, Burgess Falls State Park is centrally located between Nashville, Chattanooga and Knoxville, Tennessee, with four scenic waterfalls cascading down over 250-feet.

An easy hike, the trail is only 1.5 miles out and back, and there’s an observation platform for viewing Lower Falls. Ample parking, restrooms, drinking fountain & convenient filling station for water bottles are available. It’s a popular tourist attraction, and free, thus visitors are advised to arrive early.

The Four Waterfalls

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There’s also another parking area upstream, located next to an old dam. Though in a state of disrepair with no trespassing signs posted, it’s nevertheless possible to stay clear and enjoy remote views.

Video

Thanks for stopping by!

Also: see my first visit to Burgess Falls.

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Nature Photography

The Stone Door

Located in the Savage Gulf State Natural Area of Tennessee, The Stone Door features a stairway inside of a 10-foot wide by 100-foot deep crack running from the top of the escarpment into the gorge below. Prints available.

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Nature Photography

Lower Piney Falls

Lower Piney Falls stands 40′ tall, and, from the top, has a nice view of a high-walled gorge. There isn’t, unfortunately, access to the base of the falls. Located on the Cumberland Plateau near Grandview, Tennessee, it’s one of two waterfalls that visitors can enjoy – see Upper Piney Falls. Trails are well kept and relatively easy, great for families and/or dogs. Generally, a quiet spot.

Photographs

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The following photographs of Lower Piney Falls were taken the day after a heavy rainfall…

Prints

Visit my gallery at Pixels to select from a variety of available prints types – for the home or office!

Video

Categories
Nature Photography

Cummins Falls State Park

I recently visited Cummins Falls State Park on the Blackburn Fork River. Located near Cookeville, Tennessee, the waterfall has an elevation of 75 feet and is Tennessee’s eighth largest waterfall in volume of water. The park features an overlook, access to the top of the waterfall & a 1.5 mile trail into the gorge.

Visitors should be aware while hiking along the river that, depending on rain present in the watershed upstream, flash floods can occur quickly. Park rules stipulate that all children 12 & under must be accompanied by an adult, and must wear a life jacket while at the falls and/or while swimming.

The Hike

The trail through the forest to the gorge is in good condition, consisting of hard-pack dirt with posted wooden railings along cliffs, and limited stairs (where necessary). Hikers should be prepared to walk in shallow water – it’s unavoidable as, often, the riverbed is the trail. I was up to my knees once, though more commonly wading in only ankle-deep water.

While hiking at Cummins Falls State Park, I observed several different types of flowers, fungus, a garter snake, a small blue tailed lizard, and a mountain crayfish that was approx. 1/2 foot in length.

The Waterfall

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Cummins Falls State Park is considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the state of Tennessee. Visitors may swim in the plunge pool, climb under the waterfall on stacked layers of stone, skip stones across the river in the gorge, or peacefully meditate in a natural setting.

Visit my shop at Pixels to enjoy fine prints in your home, office, lobby or cafeteria. There are several print types available to suit your wishes.

Video

Hope to see you soon!

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Nature Photography

Lilly Bluff Overlook At Obed

I recently enjoyed hiking to the Lilly Bluff Overlook at Obed Wild And Scenic River National Park, located near Wartburg, Tennessee. Following my visit to Northrup Falls (Allardt, Tennessee), this was a relatively easy hike to undertake along my return drive home. I enjoyed sweeping views from the high rock outcrop of Lilly Bluff, sheer cliffs, the “Jack Rock” waterfall and scenic views of Clear Creek.

There’s so much to see & I’m looking forward to hiking more trails in the park!

Photographs

Prints

Print-types include framed, canvas, art, metal, wood and acrylic. Customization options also available. Please visit my gallery at Pixels for more.

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Nature Photography

Northrup Falls At Colditz Cove

Northrup Falls At Colditz Cove

Welcome!

Northrup Falls are located in the Colditz Cove State Natural Area, approximately two miles east of Allardt, Tennessee. Off the beaten trail, it’s an easy hike to enjoy the 65′ waterfall, as well as massive cliffs in a horseshoe-shaped gorge, recessed caves and a turquoise plunge pool. You’ll also enjoy an old-growth forest of large hemlocks and white pines, some of which are over 200 years old!

Here’s a map to the park:

Come prepared with good hiking shoes, as some surfaces – such as around and behind the waterfall – can be slick. Bring water, your camera, and, if you enjoy the water, proper attire for swimming.

The trail begins at the left end of the parking area, where there’s a billboard with information about the park. Or, if you’d prefer, there’s also a quicker start – a shorter 50′ connector route to the trail, found at the right side of the parking area. Either way, the path leads hikers to the front edge of the gorge, where the trail splits to loop in a circle. Turning left, you’ll encounter more rocks, cliffs and caves along the way, though both directions lead to the base of the waterfall. You’ll probably want to see the full loop.

This is a quiet, peaceful area without many visitors. I hiked the park on a weekend during the morning, and saw only a total of eight people – and a dog – in three small groups.

Here’s some of what you’ll see:

Prints

I hope that you’ve enjoyed these images of Northrup Falls. If you might be interested in purchasing a print, several are available in my gallery at Pixels. A nice addition for your home, work – or, as a gift. Thanks for stopping by!

Video

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Nature Photography

Interesting Geological Structure

This interesting stone wall was photographed in a gorge at Northrup Falls, located in the Colditz Cove State Natural Area, of Tennessee. These high cliffs provided shallow, cave-like structures once used by cliff-dwelling Woodland Indians – over 3,000 years ago. I’ve added this picture to my gallery at Pixels, where a variety of prints are available – a nice accent piece for your home or at the office!

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Nature Photography

Rocks At Rock Island

This photograph was taken in the gorge along the river at Rock Island State Park, in Tennessee. It’s now available in my gallery at Pixels on a variety of prints. Check it out…

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Nature Photography

Rock Island State Park

Part One

Rock Island State Park is a 883-acre park located on the headwaters of Center Hill Lake at the confluence of the Caney Fork, Collins and Rocky Rivers – in Tennessee. The rugged beauty of the park includes the Caney Fork Gorge below Great Falls Dam. Scenic overlooks – see header image – provide some of the most beautiful views along the Eastern Highland Rim.

While the park contains several different areas of interest, this was my second park-visit in one day – see Burgess Falls State Park. As such, most of my photography originates primarily from within the Caney Fork Gorge.

Continue reading “Rock Island State Park”
Categories
Nature Photography

Burgess Falls State Park

Located on the Falling Water River in Tennessee, Burgess Falls State Park is noted for its natural beauty and four waterfalls that cascade down from over 250 feet in elevation. A moderately strenuous 1.5-mile (round trip) trail along the edge of the gorge provides hikers with ample viewing opportunities, though, during my visit, one of the observation platforms was closed for repairs, as was a stairway leading to the base of Lower Falls. That said, it was nevertheless a very nice hike filled with compelling landscape scenery – highly recommended! And, a drinking fountain and restrooms are available, as is a convenient filling station for water bottles.

Cascades

Elevation: 20 feet

Upper Falls

Elevation: 30 feet

Middle Falls

Elevation: 80 feet

Lower Falls

Elevation: 136 feet

Here’s a short video of Lower Falls –

Prints

I’ve made prints available in my gallery at Pixels – stop by for a visit, sometime.

Categories
Nature Photography

Interesting Geological Structure

I photographed this interesting geological structure while hiking in Tennessee, at Piney Falls State Natural Area. Located on the ceiling of an overhang from a gorge-wall, these outcroppings represent the end result of erosion, where small amounts of water seeping through sandstone over time have deposited minuscule amounts of mineral – creating these downward structures – before succumbing to gravity; whereby a scattered array of indentations in the hardened ground may be observed.

Or, so it seems. I’m not a geologist, but do sell photographic prints at Pixels.

Drop by for a visit, sometime!

Categories
Nature Photography

Piney Falls State Natural Area

UPDATE: see new post – Upper Piney Falls

I recently enjoyed hiking the 440-acre Piney Falls State Natural Area, located in Rhea County where Little Piney and Soak Creek have carved deep gorges into the Cumberland Plateau. It’s recognized by the U.S. Dept. of Interior as a National Natural Landmark, one of fourteen in Tennessee, featuring rare virgin forests.

If you’d be interested in visiting the park, here’s a map:

Note: there are no restrooms or gift shop, and limited signage.

Waterfalls

There are two waterfalls at the park, Upper and Lower Piney Falls.

Upper Piney Falls is 80′ high, the top of which is easily accessible by trail. It features a concave ledge which circles behind and around the falls where visitors can enjoy an awe-inspiring view of the gorge below. Getting to the plunge pool, however, is more difficult; in addition to traversing a narrow trail along the upper rim of the gorge, hikers must then descend a steep, rocky surface, safeguarded to some degree via provision of connected cable for support. Exercise caution!

Here are some photographs of Upper Piney Falls –

Here’s a short video of Upper Piney Falls –

Following the trail down to Lower Piney Falls, which stands 40′ high, hikers arrive at the top of the falls for a picturesque view into a taller, narrow gorge. Unfortunately, there are no trails to access the plunge pool nor lower slopes below, which feature an old growth forest of tall white pines and eastern hemlocks.

Prints

If you’d like a print for your home or office, then please visit my gallery at Pixels. There you’ll discover a variety of options – framed, canvas, art, metal, wood, acrylic – in addition to general merchandise items.

Thanks for stopping by!