Perkins Designs
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.
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
Copyright © Perkins Designs LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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
I recently visited Cummins Falls State Park on the Blackburn Fork River. Located near Cookville, 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
Consider A Print For Your Home
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!
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.
Video
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
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!
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…
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.
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.
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!
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!
On a recent hike in Fall Creek Falls State Park, I visited the base of the falls, and, afterward, exited the gorge by following along the (nearly) dry creek bed – later, I would climb a hill to reacquire the trail. Today, I added this nature photography to my gallery at Pixels. Stop by for a visit!
See Recent Post: Return To Fall Creek Falls
Part Three – Fall Creek Falls
This is my third & final post highlighting Tennessee’s Fall Creek Falls State Park. I’d recommend this park for anyone interested in hiking and/or photography. Consider planning your visit following a period of rain, so that waterfalls will be robust.
Having enjoyed both Cane Creek Falls and Cane Creek Cascades, I was ready to continue my journey. Across Cane Creek, I found the trail rough at times, though could soon hear the sound of falling water emanating from the next gorge ahead.
At an impressive 256-feet, Fall Creek Falls is one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern United States. Here are photographs as I approached the falls & gorge:
Here’s a view of Fall Creek Falls, as seen from the designated observation platform:
It’s difficult to convey the true sense of enormity of this gorge and waterfall, so I’ve included the following photographs of people at the base of the falls. The red arrow shows a woman with a backpack, then a closer view moments later via zoom lens:
Before beginning my descent into the gorge, I took a few more photographs from the observation platform:
The walk down to the base of the falls was the most difficult stretch of trail I’d encountered at this park, with plenty of opportunities to trip or twist an ankle. Be careful! Here are a few examples, and also a couple waterfall photographs:
Conclusion
I’ll no doubt be adding more random photographs from my hike at Fall Creek Falls State Park to my gallery at Pixels, over time. In the meantime, stop by for a visit to see some great prints suitable for your home or office!
Enjoy the great outdoors!
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:
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:
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!
