Spruce Flats Falls - Great Smoky Mountains National Park

I made the short hike to Spruce Flats Falls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park again in March 2017. Even though it was a weekday, I had to park across the river in the overflow gravel lot as all the paved parking spots were in use. I found a lot of people on the trail, some couples, some families on spring break, and a few school field trips. I've never seen so many people on this trail. It isn't the hidden gem of the Smokies any more.

I've written about this hike five times before:

• April 2012
• March 2015
• March 2016
• June 2016
• November 2016

I often have the waterfall to myself and it is one of the most peaceful places in the park. Even though there were numerous people at the falls, they were all respectful of each other and seem to have had an enjoyable time. One group of students from Lenoir City, Tennessee had a couple of science lessons at the falls. It takes a special person to be a good middle school teacher and the two I met seem to be some of the best.

Middle Prong Little River from the Tremont bridge

Typical trail condition

Northern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus hyacinthinus)

View of Middle Prong from the trail

Spruce Flats Falls

Upper portion of the falls

Lower cascade

Last look before the next school group arrives

Entry to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is free.

The park website is https://www.nps.gov/grsm.

The Sinks - Great Smoky Mountains National Park

I had the opportunity to stop at The Sinks on the Tennessee side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park again in March 2017. This man-made waterfall was created in the late 1800s when loggers used dynamite to free a massive log jam at a bend in the river. So much dynamite was used that a new course for the river was created.

The river flow was much higher when I visited The Sinks in December 2015, as can be seen here.

The river once flowed to the right instead of across the rocks

Little River Gorge Road crosses the river just above The Sinks

A couple of kayakers

Another view of The Sinks from downstream

The Sinks from the entrance to the parking area

Little River above The Sinks

Another cascade above The Sinks

Little River a bit farther upstream

Entry to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is free.

The park website is https://www.nps.gov/grsm.

Robert Scruggs House - Cowpens National Battlefield

Although built nearly 50 years after the Battle of Cowpens, the Robert Scruggs House has been restored by the National Park Service to its 19th century appearance. The park service chose to preserve the house as it is one of the few remaining examples of a typical backcountry farmhouse from the first half of the 19th century. The Scruggs farm initially consisted of 200 acres given to Robert by his father Richard in 1828. Robert and his wife Catherine Connell Scruggs had eleven children.

Over the years, the house had been enlarged, wood siding had been added, and even a metal roof installed. All of this was peeled away to the original log house. The chimney was rebuilt due to tornadic winds in the early 20th century.

The house was not open for visitors when I stopped in February 2017. Other than the brick chimney, the Robert Scruggs house seems to have been constructed in much the same manner and architecture as log houses of the same era in Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Scruggs store and barns once stood in this area

The historic Green River Road passes in front of the Scruggs House

West end of the house

Back porch of the house

East end of house with restored chimney

Entry to Cowpens National Battlefield is free.

The battlefield website is https://www.nps.gov/cowp.

Battlefield Trail - Cowpens National Battlefield

I continued my February 2017 visit to Cowpens National Battlefield with a walking tour of the battlefield on the 1.3 mile Battlefield Trail. From the rear of the visitor center, signs direct visitors to turn left and follow the trail in a clockwise loop. The initial short paved section leads to the gravel historic Green River Road. Turning right, the route passes from the rear of the Patriot defenses to the first line sharpshooters over 300 yards in front of the Continental line. The trail then turns right off of the road and follows the edge of the woods back to the visitor center.

Although not listed as ADA compliant on any documents I have found, a powered wheelchair should be able to complete the loop during dry weather. I do not know how quickly the gravel Green River Road drains or how soft or muddy it may become after a rain event. A quick call to the ranger on duty at the information desk should help with any questions about mobility. Manual wheelchairs would be fairly easy to push on the asphalt sections, but would require quite a bit of work pushing trough the pea gravel on the historic road. However, most of the battlefield is visible from the paved portions of the trail, especially the return leg along the south side of the field.

Bench seating for school groups and ranger talks

Paved trail across the open field

Cowpens ranges from open field to dense forest

Another view of the forest along the edge of the field

Looking north toward the Broad River on the historic Green River Road

Looking south on the historic Green River Road at the Cowpens

The approximate location of the third line of defense manned by Continental soldiers

Continental soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder firing simultaneous volleys from their muskets

Imagine the British line emerging from the woods in front of you

The second line of defense was near this bend in the road

Both Patriot and British lines spanned nearly the width of the field

Sharpshooter at the ready

A bench is located about halfway around the loop

Continuing down the Green River Road leads to the Robert Scruggs House, 
but the Battlefield Trail turns to the right here

American dragoons fighting with swords and pistols drove their British counterparts from the field near here

Looking at the battlefield from the British left flank

Wetlands impeded the progress of the British left flank
Rivercane (Arundinaria) has been replanted  to reestablish the historic canebrake

Colonel Washington's Patriot dragoons were held in reserve in a swale behind the hill on the left

Historic ephemeral stream

Looking south along the approximate location of Patriot second line consisting of militia

View northeast along the Patriot second line

Two British grasshopper cannons were captured near here

Washington Light Infantry Monument of 1856

Front of the monument

Returning to the visitor center

Entry to Cowpens National Battlefield is free.

The battlefield website is https://www.nps.gov/cowp.