Fall Creek Falls State Park

 November 1, 2020

What is likely when you leave a campground on a Sunday?

A line at the dump station.  We are third in line.  It takes about 15 minutes per camper to dump, empty out your black tank (everything from the toilet)  empty out your grey tanks (everything from the bathroom and kitchen sink).

With a half hour wait, we took the time to fill one of the trailer tires 

that was reading a little low.

At first the road today was sun filled hills of Tennessee.

Some pleasant driving.

Within 8 miles of the park, we are on a twisting mountain road

trailing a fifth wheel camper up and down, left and right.

It's pretty.

Pretty nerve wracking for me,

I am not a carnival ride kind of girl.

And it went on for miles.

Some of it without a guard rail.

Aah, but it was worth it.  

A large corner site in a lovely wooded area.

Took a look at the weather ahead

Freezing temperatures are not good for the hose

or the plumbing in the RV

so for tonight, the hose comes off and rests inside

in the shower to stay warm.  We have some water in the

tank and will use that for the night.

Might have to store the hose again tomorrow

but then the temperatures are all above freezing.

November 2, 2020

Visitors coming today, time to spoil them with Halloween treats.

Which is fair because they will all go hiking with us today.

We drove to the Nature Center to see Cane Creek Falls.

A rainbow greeted us at our first look at Cane Creek Falls

Melissa, Jim, Kayla, Evan, Rose, Mark

not shown here Claire and Braden

Evan and Nana at Cane Creek Cascades

yes it is cold enough for a hat and scarf.

Claire and Nana at the Cascades

Cane Creek is responsible for carving the impressive gorge

 that is responsible for other falls here at the park.

Kayla and Nana at the Cascades

Cane Creek Falls is the largest by volume of the many waterfalls in Fall Creek Falls State Park.

You can walk down to the cascades and then walk right up to them.

The roar of the water is great.

Here's a video Jim took of the Cane Creek Cascades.

Do you feel like you are there?

Time to hike the Overlook Trail.

The main way to get there is by crossing the suspension bridge.

I had contemplated taking a trail from Campground C to avoid the bridge

but with much encouragement from the grandkids, 

 Nana went across the shaky bridge to the Overlook Trail.

Jim did not take a photo, but believe me

focusing ahead and not looking down

I crossed this bridge.

Claire, Melissa and Mark on the Overlook trail

A rare photo of Braden. 

 He does not like to have his picture taken.

Claire, on the other hand, is usually willing to strike a pose.

The overlook view of Cane Creek Falls

Also at Cane Creek Falls, but hard to see until you hike the overlook is

Rockhouse Falls. This is one of the highest falls in the park, but also has the smallest volume.

Evan having a good laugh.

Nana and the kids at Fall Creek Falls

Fall Creek Falls 

Fall Creek Falls is the highest single plunge east of the Mississippi. The waterflow over the falls is controlled by a dam, so there it is almost guaranteed that the falls will be flowing. To the right you can see Coon Creek Falls, which is very light today. 

After a good rain this turns into a spectacular 250 foot plunge as well.

and here is your video so you can see and hear the falls.

Evan and Pops still smiling on the trail.

The Jrocks

without Braden, like I said, he doesn't like to have his picture taken.

However, Braden will take a photo 

and I am grateful for that.

And here is brave  Kayla who is going to cross the bridge before me

so I can focus on her and not look at the scary height or moving waters below me.

Pops helping Claire for a bit at the end of a big day.

We will to get some more hiking in tomorrow.

November 3, 2020

Election day, and we elect to do the Scenic Loop Trail.

First stop, Fall Creek Falls Overlook where 

4 of us hike to the base of the falls

Nana, Evan, Kayla and Mark (photographer)

Kayla and Mark contend with lots of rocks,

the rocks are the trail.

Evan climbed into the rocks

to investigate the colors

Evan's photo of the rocks

A wall of rock to walk around on our way to the base of the falls.

We are conquering this rocky trail.

Our first view of the top of the falls from the bottom.

Working our way to the base of the falls.

"Wow", that is what each of us said.

It was great to see the falls from the bottom.

Proud to have reached the base of the Falls.

Kayla and the falls.

It was very cool to be here at the base of the falls.

The cold water, wind and mist also made it literally cool here.

The outflow from the Falls going downstream.

Incredibly beautiful, just couldn't capture it with the camera.

And now so you can hear it

a video from the base of the falls.

And now the climb back up

Yes some stairs were involved.

Evan takes a rest on a rock.

It doesn't look comfortable to me either.

It was well worth the effort.  All of us were glad we did it.

Claire waited it out at the overlook by surfing on unstable rocks.

Stop 2, Buzzards Roost.  We did spot two buzzards,

just didn't get a picture of them.

Here is a video from Buzzard's Roost Overlook.

Stop #3 Piney Creek Falls.

This is a beautiful falls due to all of its features,

the cascades just above it, the horse shoe shape,

the right side has an extra umph to it,

after it drops it spreads out again.

This falls could only be seen from the overlook.

The trail to the base of the falls was currently closed. :(

Happy to be hiking to the falls with everyone today.

Time for some rest back at the campsite

Uno anyone?

November 4, 2020

Claire and Kayla had a sleepover in our RV last night

and that means they will be hiking with us this morning.

Time to hike the Paw Paw Trail.

A nice little cascade.

Claire and Kayla naming the mini falls in the creek.

Look at that beautiful blue sky.  

We have been getting great weather here.

Claire and Pops hiking along the trail.

We followed the blazes, even though a

number of them were broken.

Crossing the creek which was washing over some of the rocks.

Always good to have a helping hand.

After hiking 3.25 miles these ladies are happy just

to sit on the rocks between the cascades and the falls 

on Cane Creek.

Kayla and Papa decide to go up on the suspension bridge again today.

Kayla wanted to spend some time looking down at the cascades 

from the bridge.  I stayed down below to take photos.

From this angle they look right on top of the Cascades.

Jim even took this photo of their own shadows while up on the bridge.

Time to meet up with Melissa, Mark, Evan and Braden

back at the campsite.  Braden had a science class on line this morning.

We played some cards

 (thanks John for the rules to golf)

and do some coloring.

Braden listened to Nana on how to build a fire.

Then he put together his first fire,

a combination of a kindling tepee surrounded 

by a log cabin of tinder.  It lit right up. A+

What's for dinner?  What else, pizza, campfire pizzas of course.

And yes, there were s'mores for dessert.

No picture, but it was a star filled dark night at 6:30 pm.

Crazy daylight savings time.

November 5, 2020

Last day here at Fall Creek Falls State Park

and we are going to Mark & Melissa's vacation rental to spend the day.

Melissa & Mark's vacation rental house

Just a 15 minutes drive to the park.

Here is the view from the rental house.

A nice gated community with horses out grazing in the meadow.

We played a little Suspend.

We played a little frisbee.

Adventured into the woods behind their house.

And enjoyed a great Brinner.

(breakfast for dinner)

It's been a great visit with Melissa, Mark and the kids.

Thanks so much for coming out to spend some time with us!