Another busy, fun-filled week. Dave has done an outstanding job of choosing our stops as we head north. Here’s the route we took this past week.
Our first stop was Fall Creek Falls State Park, about 70 miles north of Chattanooga. It is one of the largest (29,800 acres), oldest (opened in 1944) and most popular (more than 1 million annual visitors) state parks in Tennessee. Its namesake is the tallest “free flowing” waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains at 256 ft. Whew!
Our first hike was to see the renowned Fall Creek Falls. But first, for many of the trails you need to cross a suspension bridge across the gorge. Dave and I are both uncomfortable with heights and to add a bouncing bridge along with me having a touch of vertigo, let’s just say we were all glad to get across (even Murphy was a bit apprehensive). Our first stop was Cane Creek Falls overlook and then on to Fall Creek Falls overlook. Gorgeous! There I saw a sign for a trail (“strenuous” the sign claimed) down to the bottom of the falls. I could not resist. Dave stayed up top with Murphy while I hiked the 0.4 miles to the bottom, a nice young couple took my picture and I headed back up. Fun!
The park was hit by a tornado in August, 2023 and the Paw Paw trail we traversed the next day showed the devastation. The 3-mile loop trail is now lined with downed trees (huge ones) with sections of the trees cut out to reopen the trail. The parks service did an amazing job with chainsaws to reopen this popular trail.
What has 426 miles of surveyed passageways and is the longest cave system in the world? Yes, our own Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. Dave and I stopped here to “check-off” this National Park and explore. They have a wide variety of cave tours and since Dave is a tad claustrophobic, I joined in two 2-hour cave tours, the Historic Tour the first day (2 miles of walking in the passageways) and the next day I joined the Domes and Dripstones tour (walking down 205 tight steps in a dome to the bottom). Both days Dave and Murphy enjoyed long hikes while I was on the tours. The history of how the park was discovered (a hunter followed a wounded bear into a cave); how the owner of the land provided tours by lanterns in the early 1800’s, and the acquisition by the National Park Service in 1926 was very interesting. Geologists believe there are over 600 miles of yet to be discovered connected passageways, much of it outside of the national park boundary.
Our last stop this week was to Big Bone Lick Historic State Park. The stop was recommended by our looper friend DeeDee. Mastedon, Mammoth, and Giant Sloth fossils have been found. They also support a Bison herd for conversation efforts. Nice trials to hike between the campground and the museum/Bison herd.
We are off to Holland, Michigan to see the Tulip Festival.
Feels great to do something you were apprehensive about (“very strenuous” hike) Brenda, more than ‘a bit’ claustrophobic Dave, and Lovin’ our daily hikes Murphy.
You are SO brave, Brenda! I think I’d stick with Dave! Beautiful
photos!
I love the pics! Outdoors at its finest!
This country does have some impressive parks.
Hope you are staying ahead of the summer heat that has already hit us in FL!
Have fun in MI.
Wes
Sounds like an amazing week! Love the parks and nature in that area! So sweet that you followed in our footsteps. You and Dave would’ve loved the underground kayaking. ;P Keep up the fun hikes, Mammoth Murphy (one of my favorite names so far)!
Amazing country and you are so fortunate to be traveling freely to see its beauty! Stay healthy, stay safe!
Thank you for sharing your experience.
Reta
Nice pics. We stayed there in the way down to the Smoky Mountains from MI.