Colditz Cove State Natural Area

Colditz Cove is one of eighty-two State Natural Areas in Tennessee.  Located just outside of Allardt in Fentress County on the Cumberland Plateau, the main feature of the 165 acre area is the 63 foot high Northrup Falls.  Although the location is not well marked with road signs, the directions on the state website lead directly to the gravel parking area.  A 0.2 mile trail leads from the parking area to the rim with a partially obstructed view of the falls.  At the rim, the trail branches to form a loop that drops down into the gorge, behind the falls and then climbs up the gorge before returning to the linear trail.  The total trail distance is about two miles.  I'd suggest heading left at the rim as the trail seems easier and provides better views of the falls than going right.  I visited the area on the middle weekend in March, 2013, and found only one other vehicle in the parking area.  I never saw the people, but I did hear them when I think they were in the amphitheater-like rock shelter behind the falls.

Trail head

Short boardwalk over a wet area

Trail to the rim

First glimpse of Northrup Falls from near the trail junction

The loop trail is narrow and steep in places

Water drips off the rock face onto the trail

The loop trail is broad and level in other places

Northrup Falls

Water cascades over the rocks at the bottom of the falls

Looking out from the rock shelter

Looking back at the falls for the perspective
of counterclockwise hikers

Just as on the way down, there are many wet
sections of the trail on the way up

Climbing out of the gorge on a dry section of trail

There are wet areas even on the rim trail

Bridge over Big Branch

Looking at the top of the falls from the bridge

Many trees were down along the rim trail

Sunset from Allardt

Other than a gravel parking area and the trail, there are no facilities such as restrooms or a visitor center at this natural area.  There are no handrails or fences along the rim, so this might not be the place for small children or a group with more children than adults.  A walking stick or trekking poles are very useful tools on this hike.  Two bridges with handrails are provided.  One crosses an unnamed creek just to the left of the trail junction at the rim and the other crosses Big Branch upstream of the falls.

The park website is http://www.tn.gov/environment/na/natareas/colditz/.