Male Ebony Jewel wing Damselfly aka Snake Doctor
Buffalo Springs Waterfall
Kenny, Dana & Gabe Koogler
Saturday July 28, 2018
We had planned on sticking around closer to home this weekend. Kenny had things
he needed to do. Jared planned on coming up to visit. I hoped we could get out for even a short
family adventure. Turns out we got to go someplace I'd recently noticed. We visited
Buffalo Spring State Game Farm. It is a wildlife management area and fish hatchery. Below the hatchery is a small waterfall and spring pipe. I had not been super impressed with the photo I'd seen of it on Tennessee Landforms. I saw someone else's photo of it and it was way prettier than I'd thought! I was sure it would be a fun place to cool off and have fun on a hot Saturday.
It took us a little over an hour to get there. Gabe napped a little on the way so he was rested.
We had directions from Google Maps that turned out to be jacked up. There was a far simpler
way to get there so the drive home was much easier and shorter by about fifteen minutes. I have included a link at the top from Tennessee Landforms that provides info on how to get there.
It is open to the public.
We pulled down to the parking area right next to the water hole and falls. We saw two other vehicles there with family groups fishing and kids playing in the water. They were fixing to leave as we arrived. We ended up having the place to ourselves the rest of the time. It is permitted to fish as long as you don't fish above the falls. I was wading around in the stream and plunge pool with big trout! One leaped clear up out of the water! It is very clear, cold spring water. It has beautifully colored pebbles in the creek bottom. Gabriel was tickled to see a waterfall. He got in the creek, but
quickly decided it was too cold to suit him. He got in and out, but could not tolerate staying in
the water for long. He played with boats and a water wheel and pitcher while I took photos.Kenny
kept him happy and I got over there and messed with him. I showed him about pouring water
through the wheel rather than putting rocks and sand in it. I gathered up pretty pebbles for him to
throw or collect.
Below: Buffalo Spring Falls has a large pipe sticking out for folks to fill tanks with water.
The stream above the falls has a blue cast.
Above: the pebbly bottom of the stream. I always love this look.
Buffalo Spring is covered not with slime or pond scum. It is duckweed. Each plant is teeny tiny.
Above: Gabe plays with the water wheel
Below: Gabe throws rocks
Above: A front and center look at the falls.
Below: a long exposure shot of the falls alone
It is open to the public.
We pulled down to the parking area right next to the water hole and falls. We saw two other vehicles there with family groups fishing and kids playing in the water. They were fixing to leave as we arrived. We ended up having the place to ourselves the rest of the time. It is permitted to fish as long as you don't fish above the falls. I was wading around in the stream and plunge pool with big trout! One leaped clear up out of the water! It is very clear, cold spring water. It has beautifully colored pebbles in the creek bottom. Gabriel was tickled to see a waterfall. He got in the creek, but
quickly decided it was too cold to suit him. He got in and out, but could not tolerate staying in
the water for long. He played with boats and a water wheel and pitcher while I took photos.Kenny
kept him happy and I got over there and messed with him. I showed him about pouring water
through the wheel rather than putting rocks and sand in it. I gathered up pretty pebbles for him to
throw or collect.
Below: Buffalo Spring Falls has a large pipe sticking out for folks to fill tanks with water.
Below: Gabe throws rocks
Below: a long exposure shot of the falls alone
The stream below the pool was shallow and dappled in deepest gloom and brightest sun peeping
through the canopy above. The green trees and quiet waters were a soothing sight. I enjoyed it very much. I waded the stream, but Gabe and Kenny did not care for the "cold" water. The stream bed
while pebbly also had moss that varied from slick and frilly to dark and soft like wet carpet.
Snake doctors shined in the light and flitted from plant to plant. Orange jewelweed was one of the few wildflowers around. It is an all around nice spot.
We got back in the jeep and drove up toward the hatchery. They have it gated off and we couldn't walk along and see the fish. It used to be a private residence. They have turned it into a park.
It has picnic grounds with several tables. It has a basketball court. It has toilets. It has two swings.
The grounds have walking paths and lots of shady spots. The lawn is kept and very pretty.
It would be a good place to bring along a picnic. Chances are you'd have it to yourself.
Below is a short video of the falls. I used the Go Pro for the first time to shoot the video. It is much better than what my camera can do. I plan to use it much more frequently. Its fun. It will make for more interesting blogs and better You Tube channel as well.
It has picnic grounds with several tables. It has a basketball court. It has toilets. It has two swings.
The grounds have walking paths and lots of shady spots. The lawn is kept and very pretty.
It would be a good place to bring along a picnic. Chances are you'd have it to yourself.
Below is a short video of the falls. I used the Go Pro for the first time to shoot the video. It is much better than what my camera can do. I plan to use it much more frequently. Its fun. It will make for more interesting blogs and better You Tube channel as well.
Future Trip Ideas for Grainger County & Surrounding Area
Indian Cave Resort
Historic buildings in the area
Chuck Swan WMA & Fire Tower
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Dana 🐝