Piney Falls State Natural Area

Piney Falls State Natural Area is a 440-acre wilderness set aside by the State of Tennessee in 1973.  It contains two waterfalls and has also been designated a National Natural Landmark for the old growth forest on the slopes of the gorge below Lower Piney Falls.  This forest includes white pines that are over three feet in diameter and 100 feet tall.  Lower Piney Falls is approximately 40 feet high and Upper Piney Falls is about 80 feet high.  Both falls are on Little Piney Creek.  I visited one afternoon in late May, 2013, just after a thunderstorm has passed through.  The directions to the trail head on the state website are accurate and I had no difficulty finding the small gravel parking area near the community of Grandview.  The initial portion of the trail was obviously built as a dirt road, so it is fairly wide and smooth with one very notable exception.  Parts of the trail are just barren slabs of sandstone, which can become extremely slick when wet.  I would not attempt to view the lower falls without at least one hiking stick as the terrain is very steep and unforgiving of missteps. At one time, the trail beyond Upper Piney Falls continued a loop back to the top of the falls.  While it may still exist, it looked more like rock climbing than hiking to me so I returned the way I came.  I walked a total of about two miles on this hike.  Other than crossing the muddy section and the side trail to the top of the lower falls, this was a fairly easy hike.

Walk around the gate to begin the hike

The trail gets enough use to stay free of dead leaves

Many footprints have scattered the soil, leaving a sandstone surface

A vehicle path crosses the trail leaving a muddy mess

Water doesn't percolate into sandstone very well

The trail to the right goes to the top of the upper falls and
the trail to the left goes to the bottom of the same falls

Mountain laurel blooms

After the junction, the trail narrows to a foot path

The trail skirts a rock ledge...

...before dropping off another ledge

Decisions, decisions...Lower Piney Falls or Upper Piney Falls 

The trail to the top of the lower falls is
very steep and ends at this overlook

The top of Lower Piney Falls

Cascade above Lower Piney Falls

Looking downstream as Little Piney Creek creates Lower Piney Falls

Back on the trail to the upper falls

A rockfall creates a small detour

Approaching Upper Piney Falls

The view after walking behind Upper Piney Falls

A rockfall has made the loop trail more
difficult than I want to tackle

Upper Piney Falls from the end of the trail

Backtracking, the return trip begins along the base of the cliff

The trail then climbs the cliff...

...and continues to climb

The top of Upper Piney Falls

A view of the upper falls and the pool below

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