Virgin Falls State Natural Area(TN)

[OwenM]

I did a quick overnight(quick except for a 4hr drive each way) last night to Virgin Falls SNA in Tennessee.

These are from the trail in(it's an out-and-back), which is only 4 miles long. As it generally follows drainages, cascades and small falls are the norm.
Here are just a few pics. It's amazing how much scenery is packed into those 4 miles!:

Big Laurel Falls, which I will revisit the next morning trying to get better pics:

First glimpse of Sheep Cave Falls:

The top section just below the cave.

Here I is! A little size perspective.

As you may be able to tell from the first pic, this fall is multi-tiered.

There is some access from the hollow across the way, but I chose a more direct route from where I already was that was a little more "involved"...

Further down is another cave(falls are top left). I did not explore this. Very muddy, very steep, and very slippery in that depression.

Back on the trail.

 

[OwenM]

What is this?

Virgin Falls, that's what! They save it for the grand finale

Since I was alone, I couldn't use the 10 second timer to get a pic of myself close to the falls from enough distance to give perspective of the size, but it's supposed to be 120ft. high.

I checked out the area behind the top of the falls. Virgin Falls flows out of a cave for about 20yds before falling off a cliff into a sink below-so there is no visible water coming to, or going from, the falls. It's really cool. Same for Sheep Cave Falls, but Virgin is a lot bigger!
Setup was a little cockeyed, but I do like sleeping to the sound of rushing water...

Returned to Big Laurel Falls this morning on the way out. Hopefully this pic is a little better, but I was still struggling with the light even before the sun rose.

And I did it all in my Smartwools! Well, socks, anyway. That will only make sense if you've seen their ad campaign with people showing their baselayers in whatever surroundings...
I had put on Icebreaker top and bottom while screwing around, since I woke up very early, and had to drop them halfway out in spite of it being a bit below freezing and a brief storm that was mostly sleet mixed with snow.

Couple more pics from on the way out:

 

[baldtaco-II]

Lovely. Although it's not the biggie I like the way the water moves here the best.

 

[bacpacker]

Excellent photo's. My sister and family went there years ago and loved it. I had forgot all about that place.I think I hear a road trip calling my name!

 

[WILLIAM.M]

I used to live in Tennessee and we backpacking there several times

Did you get a chance to explore the cave at the top of the falls??(it's massive)

Thanks for the trip down memory lane

Dr.Bill

 

[lambertiana]

Beautiful! My kind of place.

 

[OwenM]

Thanks, guys!

Dr. Bill, I had no idea 'til you asked, and I googled.
Wow! And I was right there...
I'm going back anyway to hike the stuff on the opposite side-from that Polly Branch trailhead. I'll read up some more on that cave.

BT..I liked that spot a lot. Throwing in some rough downclimbing turned the rest of it into an adventure, too!

 

[Thomas Linton]

Fantastic pics. Thank you.

 

[OwenM]

As usual, the pleasure's all mine! It's a wonderful area:thumbup:

 

[nickortizzle1035]

What is this?

Looks like it could be an old slate quarry? there is one where I hunt. the shakers used it to make headstones

 

[Mistwalker]

Beautiful photos Owen, thanks for sharing! I really like hiking around waterfalls and have a few trips planned for this summer.

 

[OwenM]

Thanks, and don't wait 'til they dry up!

 

[Dirtknap]

Love me some water pics and yours are excellent. Thanks for sharing.

 

[HikingMano]

Thanks for the trip report bud, it was awesome! Great pictures, narration, and the sense of fun really shines through :thumbup: Both Sheep Cave and Virgin Falls are stunning; you captured them very well.

 

[sicily02]

Looks like a awesome time. I never get tired of seeing waterfall pics.

Bryan

 

[22-rimfire]

Owen, I have to say you did a heck of a job taking photos. Think I am going to run over there in the next week before the vegetation starts coming out. My sister wanted to hike that trail but shyed away after learning it was essentially 4 miles each way.

Did you go inside the cave?

Did you hit Falls Creek SP on this trip?

 

[JV3]

those waterfalls are awesome! thanks for the trip report.

 

[OwenM]

Thanks, it was lot of fun. I LOVE that Virgin Falls trail!

Owen, I have to say you did a heck of a job taking photos. Think I am going to run over there in the next week before the vegetation starts coming out. My sister wanted to hike that trail but shyed away after learning it was essentially 4 miles each way.

Did you go inside the cave?

Did you hit Falls Creek SP on this trip?

I didn't go inside the cave. Didn't know about it until after. I did go to Fall Creek Falls SP this week. Spent Wednesday night there, and made a side trip to Rock Island SP yesterday morning...then did an overnighter last night in the Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness-the Polly Branch Falls trailhead is just up and across the road from the Virgin Falls trailhead.
I may or may not have a few new waterfall pics to put up

 

[Txknifefan]

That's a neat looking area. Thanks for posting pictures for us!

 

[22-rimfire]

Owen, is it practical to do this hike in and out in one day? It's about 8 miles with the return all up hill with 600 feet or more of elevation climb. I was all ready to do this hike today, and then backed out. I don't want to camp there.