Tour de Tennessee: Fall Creek Falls State Park & Timberland Park

Tour de Tennessee: Fall Creek Falls State Park & Timberland Park TN – 8/16/20 – 3 Miles

Is there such a thing as a reasonably safe vacation during a pandemic? Never mind, there are opinions across the spectrum about that. Like most everyone, Jim and I had cancelled traditional travel plans, walked around our block a million times, and biked and hiked with extreme caution. What is the risk assessment of a week-long driving vacation and Airbnb? Where could we possibly go in August? Visiting family in New Jersey was out (quarantine), going south was too hot, and going west was too far. What states are “open”?

Welcome to our Tour de Tennessee!

It was Jim’s idea to drive a big loop from Charlotte to Knoxville-Nashville-Memphis-Chattanooga and back to Charlotte. We researched these cities on their COVID policies (open hours, max capacity). We had friends in Knoxville to stay with the first night, and then spent multiple days in each city after that, seeing the sights and eating on patios and visiting breweries - and of course a little hiking and biking. 

Between Knoxville and Nashville, we checked out Fall Creek Falls State Park.

To be truthful, we didn’t allow much time for the park, just wanted to hit the highlight of the namesake waterfall, a 256-foot plunge billed as the tallest waterfall of its kind east of the Mississippi River. Who wouldn’t want to see that?

Unfortunately for us, on this humid August day the waterfall was not at her best, a disappointingly low flow that was difficult to capture in a photo. The cirque created by the waterfall is massive and gives an idea of what could be…but wasn’t. The view from the overlook:

Can you see where the waterfall is?

Does a closeup help?

The view across the valley away from the falls is lovely

We had enough time to hike the Base of the Falls Trail, about .7 miles roundtrip, and we were glad we did. The trail is well-worn and at some points there are fence railings, but footing is not to be taken lightly. One slip or stumble and you might have yourself a broken something.

Tiny Jim following the trail along the base of the rock wall

Approaching the base of the falls,
the flow is hitting the rocks above the far edge of the pool

Although the flow was a trickle of the waterfall’s capacity and invisible to the camera, it was still an impressive rain shower up close, loud enough to make you shout, and it created a nice breeze in the shade of the cirque. A few brave souls (okay, young guys) were wading in, and one fellow sat underneath long enough for his girlfriend to snap a photo.

Time to go back up the hill

Proceeding on towards Nashville, we had one more planned stop to check out the Natchez Trace Parkway near Franklin (south of Nashville). But what’s this??? 

My maiden name is Arrington and, like the McCarthys in Ireland,
you should never pass a place with your name on it. 

It gets better – there’s a winery with my name on it!

Back to our planned stop. Jim happened to have a bicycle in the back of the car, so he took it for a ride on the Natchez Trace Parkway.

The Double Arch Bridge at the northern entrance to the parkway

During that time, I roamed a couple of miles through Timberland Park.  Like many small parks, a lot of trails are packed into its 72 acres, with color-coded blazes and lots of intersections. Their trail map is easy to understand and includes topo lines to give a sense of up and down. The visitor center was open with COVID precautions. I arrived back at the parking lot just as Jim appeared.

I think Jim had a good time

The rest of our time in Nashville was a mixed bag of open and closed restaurants and attractions, and Broadway was sleepy, but we found a lot to do (the Shelby Street Bridge and the Johnny Cash Museum!). Our visit also coincided (unintentionally but wonderfully) with the 100th anniversary of the women’s right to vote ratified in Nashville on August 17, 1920. There were celebrations and skydivers and…but that’s a story for another day. Right now it’s time for dinner…

Smokin Thighs has an extensive moonshine selection

Here’s to the Tour de Tennessee!

“Ah, Summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it.” ~Russell Baker