Slave Falls and Needle Arch - Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area

In early May, 2013, I headed back to Big South Fork for another short day hike.  This time, I chose to visit Slave Falls and Needle Arch from the Sawmill trailhead in the southwestern part of the park.  To reach the trailhead, travel north on TN 154 for 2.0 miles from its junction with TN 297.  Turn right onto the gravel Divide Road and drive for 1.0 miles before turning right onto Ridge Fork Road.  Follow Ridge Fork for approximately 1.1 miles and look for the parking area on the left.  The road narrows significantly after 0.7 miles and the wide turnout to the Middle Creek equestrian trailhead on the left.  There was even a "One Lane" road sign to the right on Ridge Fork Road when I was there.  The trailhead parking area has several signs, a fenced portable toilet, and a bear-proof trash receptacle.  The trail is wide and well maintained.  Each junction on the trail is clearly marked with large signs usually protruding at least partially onto the trail.  Even after the abundance of rain this year, there were very few wet or even damp areas along the trail.  The one exception was the rockhouse along the spur trail to Slave Falls.  Enough water was dripping off of the overhang that I had a fleeting thought that this was Slave Falls.  However, I quickly recalled the park service website showed a wooden fence at the falls, so I knew this wasn't the end of the trail.  There are interpretive signs at both Slave Falls and Needle Arch.

Sawmill Trailhead

The trail is wide and well maintained

No stumps, roots or rocks in sight!

Looking at the green branches, this tree hasn't been down long

The bridge above crosses this small creek

The short spur trail to the falls drops below the edge of the bluff

The trail goes through a rockhouse

Slave Falls

Slave Falls from near the base

After climbing back up to the main trail, turn left to visit Needle Arch.  This ¼ mile portion of the trail between Needle Arch and the Slave Falls loop trail junction has obvious evidence of equestrian use, so expect an uneven surface instead of the smooth, packed surface of the rest of the trail.The hike can be extended from 3.0 miles to 4.2 miles by taking a left toward Indian Rock House at the first junction heading back toward the parking area on the Slave Falls loop trail.  Due to the increasing clouds and the forecast of rain, I chose the more direct route back to the car.

The trail to the arch is for multiple uses including horses

Needle Arch from the interpretive sign

Needle Arch from the far end

Needle Arch from the near end

Looking into the Slave Falls gulf on the return

I managed to get back to the car before the rain began and stopped to take a picture of the Watson's Branch Wildlife Demonstration Area,  an experimental plot on the west side of Divide Road.  A sign noted that the area was established in 2007 and contains "a combination of warm season and cool season planting" which provides both cover and food for local wildlife.

A portion of the forest has been converted into a wildlife meadow

Oops, how did that get there?

The brief thunderstorm had caused a small maple tree to fall across Divide Road.  Fortunately, there is cell coverage at this particular point.  Thanks to my daughter who called in the downed tree, a ranger was dispatched to reopen the road.  Luckily for me, a couple of local guys drove up and used a pocket saw to clear the way as shown below.  While I didn't have to wait on the ranger to get out, she did meet me before I had driven very far down the road and apologized for the delay.  I guess my expectations were too low as I thought she arrived fairly quickly.  

Joe and his buddy made quick work of the tree

This was an excellent day hike with a total distance of about three miles.  The trailhead elevation is nearly 1600 feet and the trail descends about 250 feet to the falls.  While there was one other car at the trailhead, I did not see another soul on my hike.

The park website is http://www.nps.gov/biso/index.htm.

Lake Trail - Big Ridge State Park

Big Ridge State Park was created in the 1930s by the Tennessee Valley Authority in cooperation with the National Park Service and the Civilian Conservation Corps.  A small dam was designed by TVA and built by the CCC to create a 45 acre lake that would not be subject to the seasonal drawdown of the Norris reservoir.  I visited the park one evening in early May, 2013 and hiked the 1.5 mile Lake Trail as well as the Meditation Point and Loyston Overlook spur trails.  The Lake Trail starts near the park office and recreation fields and ends near the group camp.  An additional hike of over a mile via either road or trail leads back to the parking area.  For the most part, the trails were in fairly good shape considering the tremendous amount of rainfall in the region this spring.  There are some places that are still very wet, so an extra pair of shoes and dry socks for the ride home might be necessary.  I also found hiking sticks were helpful in attempting to rock hop across those wet areas.

Big Ridge Lake from near the trail head

The Lake Trail is well worn with plenty of protruding roots

The first spur trail to Meditation Point is only about 300 yards down the trail.  It heads to the right about ¼ mile up a small hill to a covered bench.  The trail was in fairly poor condition with numerous trees down.  However, a tree crew was working in the park so the trail should be in better condition soon.

Meditation Point Trail

Dead tree standing in the trail

Dead tree that fell across the trail

Back to back covered benches at the end of the trail

Back on the Lake Trail, the conditions improved considerably as the trail climbed up the hillside and the forest opened up a bit.  

Lake Trail

Lake Trail covered bench

Another tree across the trail

The second spur trail is about ¼ mile beyond the first spur and is called the Loyston Overlook Trail.  It takes about 0.3 miles to climb to the top of a knob west of Big Ridge Dam and then circles the hill in another tenth of a mile.  There really wasn't much of an overlook as the forest severely obscured the view of the "Loyston Sea."

Junction of Loyston Overlook Trail on the left and the Lake Trail on the right

Obstructed view of the "Loyston Sea"

The Loyston Overlook Trail circles back on itself

Back on the Lake Trail, the route descends to cross Big Ridge Dam before heading back along the east shore.  The elevation of Norris reservoir was higher than the Big Ridge Dam, so the Clinch River expanded into Big Ridge Lake as well.

First glimpse of Big Ridge Dam

Note that the water is above the top of the dam

Sturdy handrails and fencing border the walkway across the dam

Big Ridge Lake

Norris Lake

The Lake Trail continues around the shoreline

Pollen floats as a film on the still water near the dam

Tree crews are clearing downed trees and improving the trail as well

Still more trees to be cleared off the trail

Reflections in Big Ridge Lake

The usual bugs were out in force, so carry and use the insect repellent of your choice.  There is much more to see and do in the park including several additional hiking trails as well as a picnic area, cabins and campsites.

The park website is http://www.tn.gov/environment/parks/BigRidge/.

River Bluff Trail - TVA Norris Dam

The River Bluff Trail is a 3.2 mile loop downstream of Norris Dam on the southwest side of the Clinch River.  We hiked this National Recreation Trail in late April, 2013.  To reach the trail-head from the dam, head north on US 441 and turn left onto Dabney Road.  This will be the first paved road beyond the West Overlook of the dam.  After turning onto Dabney, immediately veer left down the hill.  The road ends in about ¾ of a mile at the trail-head parking area.  About ¼ mile down the trail a sign marks the junction of the loop portion of the trail.  On this day, I chose the uphill path to the right. After a couple of long switchbacks, the trail tops out near the top of the ridge in an open forest.  After hiking down the ridge, another couple of switchbacks drop the trail about 200 feet to the Clinch River just upstream of Hibbs Island and the weir dams.

Parking area

Trailhead

The initial portion of the trail is deceptively straight and level

The beginning of the loop

The trail climbs through open forest

The hillside is fairly steep

The trail tops out near an old construction road

Maple saplings

The first of two benches is on top of the bluff

 

The trail winds down to the river

Songbird Trail bridge over Clear Creek

The second bench is down by the riverside

The ground cover is more dense near the river

The namesake bluff of the trail

Information about public trails maintained by TVA can be found at http://www.tva.gov/river/recreation/dispersed/trail-table_hold.htm.

Cades Cove - Great Smoky Mountains National Park

As I've mentioned before, Cades Cove is one of our favorite places.  We visited again in late April, 2013.  This time, we stopped at the picnic and campground area before driving the 11 mile loop road.  The picture above is of Abrams Creek below the picnic area and just upstream of where it passes under the road.  Across the road, four deer were eating vegetation including the leaves off the saplings.

While driving around the loop, we saw more deer in a field and a bear at the edge of the woods.

The dogwoods were in full bloom and a turkey was crossing a field.

The park website is http://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm.