Fabulous Fall Creek Falls

I was blown away with how big and beautiful Fall Creek Falls state park is, & so glad family and friends got to visit for a few days on New Years.    The nature center was impressive and the ranger there (john) very helpful.  The waterfalls were amazing as there are 4 gorgeous ones we saw and think there are a few more.   The Fisherman cabins were so cool right over the water and had plenty of room for affordable price.  I want to go back and take my bike next time and hopefully you can paddle board on the lovely lake too?  www.tnstateparks.com is website to find more about this park and others    While it was a super spot to hike, I'd be careful with little ones to keep them close as many areas could be dangerous for kids if they are not careful to stay close to an adult.  And dogs welcomed on leashes but again, keep them a leash or they could easily venture out too far on some rocky edges.   

Get on Trail w/ Friends & MIssy Super Fall series 2014

Great end of the fall series called Get on Trail with Friends and MIssy     Its the 16 year for our series and its so fun to see folks getting fit, staying fit while benefitting the Great Smoky Mountain National Park thru Friends of the Smokies.    We were blessed with 5 great Wednesday hikes and only the last one had a little rain but we lucked out with dry weather once we got on the trail.

 The hikes we did were Andrews Bald w/ side trail to Boiler, then Grotto Falls up to Brushy Mountain, next Abrams Falls to Hatcher Mnt , then Elkmont to Tremont thanks to Rocky Top Tours, lastly AT from Fontana Dam to Shuck Stack Tower   The five hikes helped bring in close to 5,000 for Friends of the smokies thru our hikes and these sponsors 

Knoxville News Sentinel, Home Federal, Blue Ridge Mountain Sports 

Farmers Bureau (Sam Curtis), Gatlinburg Falls, Fontana Village and ET PBS  plus thanks to the Call Center at Covenant Health for assisting with sign ups and to all our Rangers and VIP folks leading the way and keeping us safe!  Our main leaders and Sweeps this fall were Ed Fleming and Ray Sellers and we enjoyed our Friends Staff and GSMNP assistance too!   Great times.. good hikes. 

Elkmont to Tremont one way hike

Fun to do a one way hike.  

So Friends of Smokies arranged rocky top tours pick up 50 of us at Tremont to then get dropped at elkmont.   Ed Flemmimg told us about the man meigs Mnt named after.

 He came down here early 1800 to do some surveys and hiked around Tremont over to elkmont and that is where meigs mountain and meigs creek comes from     We saw some old pictures of elkmont which was lots of buildings and no trees from the little river logging co using up all the virgin forest.  Same true for Tremont area  

 We hiked up jakes creek to meigs mountain and hung a right.  Along the way we saw old wash tub and wagon wheel close to a campsite 20. Then rested up a little at curry mountain intersection.   A small gravesite is close by w some huskeys buried there.  Long time hiker and friend glen Cantrell wife hazel was born closer to Tremont end of this hike.  

  At meigs creek trail junction we had lunch and ed whipped out some trail maps from early 1800.   By the civil war this area had lots of settlers and we talked about where the "new world " area  is off middle prong trail and how we want to venture to see it w a good guide like Ed one winter.  

Going down lumber ridge trail we hit some spectacular color and it took our minds off our sore legs from steep downhill last two miles    Many visited the Tremont store and purchased some books and pamphlets about school and adult progress that go on year round on this pretty section of Smokies 

Fall Get on Trail w Friends & Missy 2014

17 year of Get on Trail hikes and still going strong.  50 plus signed up for all 4 hikes and now close to 180,000 raised for Friends of The Smokies 

 1 hike. Andrews Bald w side trip to see old Boiler left on Forney Creek area by 1920 loggers 

Then week two we had 50 plus on trillium gap trail to Grotto falls part of Roarinh Fork area of park.  Then another 1.6 up the steep hill to junction w Brushy Mnt bald area and back.   A bald w lots of short thick brush.  But interesting views looking over to Porters creek Mnt area 

Beautiful Burgess Falls worth the drive

The Get on a local trail series ventured outside of East Tn to Cumberland plateau and well worth 80 minute drive.   Exit 286 in Cookville then follow signs.  Pretty little state park w picnic facilities playroom and not one but 4 sets of water falls !  All in a one mile area.    Nice trail w some railing.   Plus cool steel passage of steps to get to lower section of big falls.