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There are many beautiful scenic spots to enjoy in the Smokies, especially if you can be there before the tourist season begins in earnest. One place we enjoy visiting is The Sinks, which is along Little River Road in the park. I got this picture in March, when we went to Cades Cove to celebrate my birthday. March 9, 2023.
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Twenty years ago tomorrow Betsy and I had our first ‘big’ date. We went to Fall Creek Falls State Park here in Tennessee and had a wonderful time on a beautiful Spring day. We saw all the waterfalls in the park, but the greatest thing about that day was that I got my first kiss while we were there.
That day was so special that we try to make it back to Fall Creek Falls every April 21. (Yes, we plan on being there tomorrow!). We’ve missed a year or two over the past twenty, but I think we’ve done well to keep the tradition alive.
But the best thing about our visits is that I can still get a kiss from MY Beautiful Bride!
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March is a wonderful time to visit waterfalls. The flow of water is usually very good, and the leaves aren’t out enough to block the view. Since my birthday is in March, we have often used the occasion to visit waterfalls.
We celebrated my birthday a few years ago at Cumberland Falls State Park in Kentucky. The waterfall was as gorgeous as ever, but on this visit we got to enjoy a bonus — a moonbow!
Cumberland Falls is one of the few places in the world where a full moon on a clear night can produce a ‘rainbow’ at night. I was fortunate enough to get this shot on our visit. What a neat birthday present!
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One of the advantages of visiting waterfalls in December is that we can often see water in a couple of different forms. This picture of ice and water was taken a few years back at Dry Falls in the Cullasaja Gorge of North Carolina.
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Late autumn can be a great time to go searching for waterfalls — the weather is usually mild and there are fewer people on the roads and trails than is the case during spring and summer.
Several years ago we explored the Unaka Mountain area near Erwin, Tennessee, on Thanksgiving weekend. Being on the mountain was certainly much more enjoyable than facing Black Friday crowds at the stores and malls. We drove along some Forest Service roads and did some hiking. This pretty little waterfall is one of the sights we enjoyed.
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Betsy and I celebrated by birthday earlier this year before the pandemic and the lockdowns came along and closed everything down. We went to Blackwater Falls State Park in West Virginia for a short getaway with the possibility of getting in some hiking.
Blackwater Falls is a pretty waterfall that gets its name from the amber tint of the water going over the falls. The tint comes from the tannic acid of fallen hemlock and red spruce needles.
This picture was taken at an overlook across the river from the main Blackwater Falls overlook near the base of the falls.
Cane Creek Falls, Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee. April 21, 2013.
If you have kept up with Betsy and me for any length of time, you know that Fall Creek Falls State Park here in Tennessee is a special place for us. It was the place for our first ‘big’ date, our first kiss, and the beginnings of our fascination with waterfalls.
I know I have posted pictures of the individual waterfalls in the park, but I don’t think I’ve done a single post that shows all the waterfalls The pictures in this post were taken over several years — we’ve visited Fall Creek Falls at least once a year since 2001. I’m showing the waterfalls in the order we usually visit them while at the park.
The waterfall above is Cane Creek Falls. The overlook for this waterfall is the first we come to after entering the park.
Rockhouse Falls, Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee. April 22, 2019
Rockhouse Falls shares the same basin with Cane Creek Falls. Rockhouse Falls is much taller, but it is on a smaller creek and has a lower flow of water.
Cane Creek Cascades, Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee. April 21, 2013.
Cane Creek Cascade is a short distance upstream from Cane Creek Falls. In many ways the cascade is more impressive than the falls since it’s possible to get closer to it. Cane Creek Cascade is a great place to sit, relax and enjoy the beauty and the sound of water.
TributaryFalls, Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee. April 21, 2018.
We discovered this little waterfall last year when the park was undergoing some renovations and a new, temporary, trail to Cane Creek Cascade was cut through the woods. I have not been able to find an official name for this waterfall nor have I found the name of the little creek that feeds it. So we refer to it as Tributary Falls.
George Hole Falls, Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee. April 21, 2013.
I’ll admit that we’re cheating a little here. George Hole Falls is created by a small dam on Cane Creek. But we always visit this waterfall because George Hole is the site of our first kiss. We always try each year to recreate that kiss as well!
Fall Creek Falls, Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee. September 6, 2015.
The park gets its name from Fall Creek Falls, which is the biggest waterfall in the park. This picture was taken from the overlook, and although we have hiked to the base of the falls, the hike back up seems to get a little longer and a little steeper each year. So we are mostly content to admire the waterfall from the overlook.
Coon Creek Falls, Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee. April 21, 2013
Coon Creek Falls is a smaller waterfall on a stream that shares the same basin as Fall Creek Falls. Both waterfalls can be seen from the same overlook.
Piney Falls, Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee. April 21, 2011.
The last waterfall we see on our visits to the park is Piney Falls. We have to admire this waterfall from an overlook some distance away, as it would involve a hike and overnight campouts to reach the falls. So we make do with telephoto lenses for our cameras and the view from the overlook.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this quick tour of Fall Creek Falls State Park. If you have the opportunity to visit the park in person, we’re sure you will enjoy it.
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Fall Creek Falls State Park in Tennessee contains many beautiful places, but My Beautiful Bride and I think Cane Creek, especially near the cascade and the waterfall, has to rank as one of our favorites.
The picture above shows can creek above the cascade.
The creek thunders over Cane Creek Cascade. We enjoy sitting near the base and enjoying the sight and sound of water.
The creek is not very deep below the cascade, but it is still beautiful.
Soon the creek reaches the brim of Cane Creek Falls and disappears from sight.
It’s hard to get a good vantage point from which to see Cane Creek Falls, but I did manage to get a faint rainbow from the viewpoint.
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As many of you know, Fall Creek Falls State Park is a special place for Betsy and me. We had our first ‘real’ date there on April 21, 2001, It was there that we began our waterfall ‘collection’ and, more importantly, it was there that I got my first kiss from the wonderful woman I was with. For these reasons we go back every year on April 21 to celebrate.
Things were a little different this year. The park is undergoing some major renovations and health problems kept us from doing the hike we normally do when visiting the park, We were, however, able to visit Cane Creek Cascade. The picture above was taken near the top of the cascade.
Because of the work being done, a new trail was created from the parking area to the swinging bridge above the cascade. We were treated to a new (for us) waterfall along this trail. It wasn’t very big, but we were still delighted to be able to add it to our collection.
The trail followed Cane Creek for a short distance, and we were able to enjoy the beauty of the flowing water.
Passing under the swinging bridge, we can to a place where we could watch the sparkling water tumble down to the pool below.
But I still think the loveliest sight in Fall Creek Falls is my Beautiful Bride.
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Betsy and I have been to Desoto State Park in Alabama several times. It’s a wonderful park with waterfalls, hiking trails and a beautiful mountain setting. One of the main attractions of the park is Desoto Falls. All of these pictures are from a visit we made to the falls in 2013. This was part of a birthday surprise that Betsy had arranged for me.
There is a dam just above Desoto Falls which forms Desoto State Park Lake. Although the dam is not part of the waterfall, it too, is a beautiful sight.
The official viewing area for Desoto Falls offers only a side view of the waterfall. It’s a nice view, but Betsy and I had seen pictures of the waterfall from a different vantage point and we wanted to find it.
After talking to one of the park rangers we were told that it was possible to bushwhack to a view of the falls by following a primitive trail almost two miles from the official viewing area. We found the trailhead without too much difficulty and hiked back toward the waterfall.
After a while we were rewarded with this view of Desoto Falls. We weren’t as close we were at the official viewing area, but we both liked the view we were able to enjoy.
In some ways we hope that the primitive trail is not upgraded — we can keep this beautiful spot as our very own secret.
Senior Moments 