Elrod Falls Swimming

Wild Senna growing along a roadside this Summer.

Elrod Falls Swimming

Dana & Kenny & Gabe Koogler

Michael & Tessa Lindsey

Saturday Aug. 22, 2020

Hike distance one way 0.10 miles 

Elrod Falls Pix start here 

This album is a combination of several trips. Click arrow to right to advance. Begins with  Elrod Falls photos. 

Elrod Falls Info on TN Landforms 

 
   We had planned all week long to do something this weekend with our grandkids all together.    The original plan was to go down to Reliance and take them back swimming, exploring and for a cook out.    The forecast looked very pretty bleak down that way.   It called for rain off and on all day.   We decided we'd best talk it over with them and figure out what was our best bet?  After checking the forecast again and realizing that further northeast was going to be better Nanny came up with a better idea.     We all decided we'd go to Morristown to check out the new, schmaltzy looking KARM store we'd been wanting to visit.   We'd go thrifting then we'd eat lunch at Freddy's Frozen Custard down the road.  From there we'd head another forty minutes northwest to Elrod Falls.    We'd swim and play in the creek.   

       The thrift store visit was great.  We found some awesome treasures for a bargain price.   We had a yummy lunch at Freddy's.  We started our drive toward Elrod Falls.  Everyone was very happy and chill.   I expected there would be other families at the falls today.  I only hoped it would not be too crowded.
The drive up through Hawkins and Hancock counties was very pretty.
We around 1 pm to find several families there, but not crowded at all.  Just right.
Families cooking out.  Families with kids playing in the creek and swimming.
The place is absolutely beautiful anytime of year, but Summer is vibrant green.

    We found plenty of parking and shade for the vehicle.   We quickly hid in the truck or behind doors and put on our swimsuits and gathered up our water toys.
We had a 0.10 mile one way super short, easy walk to the falls. The kids were amazed at how short it was!   It looked beautiful.  Not a lot of water coming over the falls, but the water here is so sparkling clear.  You can see all the way to the bottom of the plunge pools.

Above: arriving at Elrod Falls.. the first large pool of water is where most of the kids played.



   Above: Papaw didn't get in and swim. He doesn't care for cold water.

Above:  Tessa, Michael and Gabe are very excited. They are remarking how beautiful this place is! The three college aged guys in the far left of the frame are the only ones who went swimming in the upper plunge pool while we were here besides us.

Above: I think the shock of the water is hitting Gabriel.


Above: one of the shallow pools of water between the upper and lower pools.

Below:  Looking back at the lower pool



Below: Tessa is getting in

Below: Gabe smiling in his floatie

Below: Michael and Tessa playing

Above: Elrod Falls is beautiful. Today it is a beautiful swimming hole and not as great a waterfall. During normal flow I'd put this falls up against any for scenic beauty.

Above: My oldest grandson Michael, age 11.  He's getting big too fast!

Above: I'm tossing a ring for us to dive for

Above: Underwater look at the ring. We had a set of five colored rings to throw in and hunt for underwater.

Above and Below I'm down in the water and Gabe is heading to me to come swim with Nanny.

Below: Michael is all smiles.  

  I  swam with the kids.  We hunted for objects tossed in.   I took underwater footage with the Go Pro.   I swam on my back looking up at the blue skies and trees.  It was heavenly.   I did flips backwards and forwards.  I think I freaked out the young guys. I don't think they'd ever seen a granny swim before.  I am the kind of person who will stay in the water and ignore the cold if I am having fun. I was having the time of my life.   I should have known... that my fun was going to knock too many angels off the head of that pin that balances the universe.  Things were going entirely too well.  Gabe was yawning over and over.  Between the full tummy and the exercise and the cold water he was sleepy.  Kenny said he'd take him back to the truck and get him dried off and entertain him so we could linger in the water.    It wasn't long til Michael and Tessa grew tired from the cold water and were ready to head out.   

I love swimming in a place like this.  The water smells good.  Your skin feels and smells good when you get out of the water.  It is sparkling and you can see all the pretty stones on the bottom and the shapes of the bedrock.  The sound of the water flowing and the falls gushing.  The sun shone down in one patch that made a bright gold spot of sunbeams all the way to the bottom of the pool.  I swam into it and could feel how the rocks of the falls had warmed the water.  It was several degrees warmer here than the rest of the plunge pool.  

     We went back to the truck and began the process of drying off to get ready for the next thing. We had been considering driving home via Rutlege Pike and stopping by Buffalo Spring for the kids to play in the water there.  Gabe has been, but the older two had not.   

      Kenny and Gabe got out on the drivers side of the truck.  I went round to the passenger side to get my clothes and my camera.   The door was locked. No problem. I'll go back to the drivers side.  The door was locked.  Gulp.  I had the sinking feeling we were in a bad spot.   Kenny immediately realized what had happened.  He had locked us out of the truck completely. No cell phone signal possible down in here.    We were too far out in the boonies for that.

     We thought what to do. There was only one thing for it.   He did not want to call a locksmith and potentially bung up his new truck paint job.  He asked a man .. the dad of a family who was there if he'd give him a lift out to the main road so he could get a phone signal to call our daughter for help.  The fellow was super nice and readily agreed.  Within 15 minutes Kenny was back and had reached Crystal.  He gave her instructions how to find us and where the keys were.  Two hours later ..She arrived with the keys and the ordeal ended. 

     We were safe. We were not cold or hot or hungry or thirsty.  Just bored and a little annoyed.   Kenny will look into options to prevent that from ever happening again.  If he'd had On Star service and an app on his phone... within fifteen or twenty minutes we'd have been out of there.   Lesson learned. 

        Other than that we had a splendid time and I'd definitely go back. The people we encountered were great. The mom of the family... checked on us before she left.  She gave us extra bottles of water just in case.  We thanked her and graciously accepted them. We had a couple bottles of water and green tea and a few snacks, but it was a good back up.     It is a nice place that does not feel in any way unsafe as far as crime or the vibe of the place. It is great.   

   I'll be back.  I want the keys to the truck though when we get out.  An adult really needs to take charge of them.

  Below is a video of Elrod Falls from our day of fun.

Directions to Elrod Falls:

From Hwy 31 Yount Town Road-- turn onto Elrod Falls Road and stay on it for 1.5 miles.  It is well signed.  There is one more turn to stay on Elrod Falls road, but again it is signed and the road dead ends at the parking area. You will be within sight of the falls.   There are trash cans provided. No restroom facilities. No changing rooms.   There is a picnic pavilion and a couple tables you will have passed on your way to the end.   There is no phone signal down in this holler so keep that in mind.   

The hike to the main falls is 1/10th mile easy.   The upper falls are reached by hiking another 0.20 miles up the right side of the falls if facing it.  There is a rope provided, but it is not an official trail.  Use great care and please don't try to take kids on that part of the trip.   

Also It is worth mentioning that I was able to find out through the Hancock County Historical Society that it IS ok to camp there, but again... no hook ups or bathrooms for campers. The ground in the meadow is beautifully green and lush grass.  It is also marshy and soft and would be a great place to get stuck.   So be cautious if you go where you park the camper or set up the tent.  

New Years Day Hikes 2020

Old tire in the creek at Lawson Falls 

New Years Day Hikes-- Morristown Area Waterfalls 

New Years Day Jan. 1, 2020

Kenny & Dana Koogler

Pix are here starting with first photo.. then click arrow to right

   Kenny and I were wanting to get out and see something neat on New Years Day.  He mentioned the waterfalls we'd still not seen up above Morristown.   We were growing gradually stronger, but still knocked down pretty bad by the flu or the rona or whatever that mess was.   We finally decided we'd try it.   We set off up the road toward Morristown and beyond.    We had a list of falls off Tennessee Landforms we wanted to check out.  

     We started off with Lawson Falls.  It looked like it would be a nice one and not too hard to find or visit.   We found it. It is private property, but within easy sight of a traveled road.  It is visited and the evidence is there in the creek.   The stream was lack luster, but we found it and it was not hard to reach.  We walked up the stream and the banks.  An old tire and wheel lay in the stream along with a little bit of other refuse.    

Below are images of Lawson Falls

Lowest drop

   

Middle drop

Next in line heading toward the top

   Uppermost falls

A broader shot of the upper part for scale.


Kenny down at the bottom. You can see the road in the distance.

   We were not terribly impressed, but I will say that if you could catch this falls after a heavy rain it would no doubt be prettier.

     Next we moved on to a waterfall we'd visited once before.  All we did was see it.  We were astonished to find so much trash along the slopes. I would not attempt to get down there to photograph the falls that day.  Today I would force myself to deal with it.   We both would.  We headed to Yellow Branch Falls.  Another one of those that fit in the private property, but right beside a road.
I got out and took photos of the lowest drop.  It was not too bad.
Below you can see the falls and the bridge abutment or whatever that manmade structure is.



Another shot of the falls minus the bridge pier.

  We went up the road a bit further and found a place wide enough to pull over.
We picked our way down the steep slope toward  the creek.  Yellow Branch Falls was in easy sight of our position.  Between us and the falls was a mountain of garbage. 
and more garbage down over the bank.



A real pity because the falls are attractive and there was some sort of mill here in the past. See the old rock foundations?

    The stench from the garbage was so bad even in cold weather I thought I'd be sick.   We were walking atop old mattresses and  couch parts and so forth.  I suddenly couldn't wait to get out of there.  I snapped my photos and hurried to leave.  I was sure we were atop a human corpse or the rotting carcass of some animal.   Jaw bone and teeth of an animal. At least I think and hope it is an animal.

Yellow Branch Falls below



   We hurried out of there.  We got to the vehicle and got out the Go Jo wipes and hand sanitizer and scrubbed our hands and wiped our shoes off before getting in the jeep.  Gross!!!  I won't return here.  Last trip for this one.

  We drove up the road and stopped so I could get a photo of the church and the American Flag.


Old glory under blue skies!


  Next we mosied on to McGinnis Falls. It would be new to us both.

Another so so waterfall.  At least this one was not littered.

Below are some roadside cascades we spotted on the way


  Last of all we drove the short distance further to see Simmons Falls.
It was another so so falls.


Simmons Falls is beside a driveway and a road

    We had satisfied our curiosity about these falls, but the results were disappointing.   We decided we were over it and were ready to head back toward town.  We went through Morristown and stopped to have a late lunch/early supper.   It was at the Davey Crockett (ask me again and I'll pee in your pocket) Restaurant.  It was gross.  I won't go back.    We set off to go home.  Then things got funny.

    Morristown is kinda spread out along route 11.   They are doing roadwork to make yet another connection to the interstate.   It is very confusing.   Kenny has a habit that drives me crazy, but it will never change.   He gets somewhere back in the boondocks and thinks about what a long drive it was.  He wants to figure a better way out of there.  We had been on this trip before so we got to go through this same conversation and procedure again today.    We did this at Simmons Falls trying to figure out the best way out of here?  We both hate Rutledge Pike because it is a monotonous drive that seems like it will last forever.   The only alternative was to reverse course and head back toward Morristown.   I wanted to do this because it was speedier, better scenery and we could stop to have a nice meal.   

      We got out in the jeep and had to go through the procedure again.  Best and shortest way home?  Kenny is trying to cipher it out.  We were driving down route 11.  He said he'd drive to Jefferson City then hit the interstate and on home.
I made a big mistake.  Driving down Rt. 11 I remarked "you know they were building that new ramp to connect to the interstate last time we were  here."  We were coming up on it.  Kenny immediately seizes on that idea and we turn left onto that new road.   I then kept thinking outloud. "I know when we got on this last time it wasn't finished. I can't remember if we ever connected with the highway or not?"  Kenny now goes into a swivet.   "Oh.. now what should we do? Keep going and maybe have to turn around or bear right?"  He says "Aw hell, I'll just go this way. It has to come out somewhere."    I had never seen him quite this way before.   I got tickled and yet resigned myself to my fate.
I put a coat over my head and said "I'm checking out." I was going to nap through it and just whatever happens happens. 

   I lay there under the coat with the seat kicked back.  The thoughts of how ridiculous we are hit me.  I began laughing so hard I couldn't make any sound.  Kenny saw the coat shaking so he knew I was under there hee hawing at him.

     I got my rewards by getting to see the look on his face when our "new route" brought us out only a few miles down the road in Jefferson City back out on Hwy 11.   We'd just gone round our elbow to get to our asses.

           I never did get to take my nap, but Kenny did quit fretting about the route.  We did make it home. I'm not saying I'll never go back to that area exploring, but the waterfalls up there for the most part are not worth the trip. Elrod Falls being the notable exception.





Below is a video of Yellow Branch Falls.  I focused on the falls and off the garbage intentionally.

Kyles Ford Falls and Elrod Falls

Pair of daylilies growing by the road

Kyles Ford Falls and Elrod Falls 

Kenny & Dana Koogler 

Tues. June 4, 2018

Kyles Ford Falls 

   We had a chance to get out for just a short day trip together.  I don't know why, but I just had a hankering to do something completely different.  I wanted to see some area we had never visited before.   I did what I often do to figure where I want to explore.  I got on the internet and began
surfing for information. Usually something will capture my imagination and inspire me to go
in one direction or another.    I felt a pull toward rural isolation.   I wanted off the beaten track.
I wanted seldom seen.   When you pick totally unfamiliar areas you run the risk of having the trip turn out very sucky.   I knew my poor spirit was not going to bear up to sucky right now and
neither would Kenny's.    I put a lot into the digging.   I found enough little visited waterfalls
and spots in the Rogersville, Hancock County area that seemed to fit the bill.   Kenny was agreeable.
The drive was not bad at all. Mostly interstate and the rest beautiful rural routes.   We were able
to get there from home in an hour and a half. 

    While digging for spots to visit I ran upon a website for River Place on the Clinch.
I had long wanted to go snorkeling in the Clinch River around its shoals.  It is a very clean river in
Tennessee. It is home to many species of freshwater mussels and types of fish that don't usually live
in our area.   I found the web site for River Place to be really helpful.  It even had maps on it.
I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Kyles Ford Falls listed on the map!  I had never even heard of it.  I checked the map out and then compared it against known waterfalls listed in that area on Tennessee Landforms. I figured it was possible it was a known falls being called by a different name.
It didn't take long to realize it was a new, unlisted falls.   That discovery removed any lingering doubts or ideas of changing trip ideas.  We had to go! 

      Another exciting possibility when visiting a totally new area is that we may end up
wandering around our butts to get to our elbow.   You know us by now dear reader......... we like
pain and suffering so trail confusion or "We're LOST" is always fun!  (NOT!)
Sure enough we managed to score one for TEAM LOST today.  Not knowing where to go we foolishly followed the Tomtom letting it lead us.  It took us on some of the most God forsaken
roads you ever saw in your born days.   We are used to rural isolation, but this was really out there.
Finally we got turned round and headed back along the Clinch River figuring if we kept going east we'd soon be in Virginia.  If we headed west......... we'd soon intersect a larger, more traveled road.
We came out at the Kyles Ford Bridge.  I recognized it from the photo I'd seen of it. I like old bridges too.  I use BridgeHunter.com   to help me when planning trips.   We headed toward the bridge.
Beside it sat River Place on the Clinch. It was lunch time so we decided our trip would start there.

 above: Kyles Ford bridge.  If you go looking for the sea foam green version of it.. you won't find it. It has been repainted a more neutral color.  The decking is all removed as well.

 Above looking upstream on the Clinch River. Not going snorkeling in that today.

Looking downstream from Kyles Ford Bridge.  The water levels are high, swift and muddy from recent flooding.

 Above and below-- views of the outside of River Place on the Clinch.

 above and below.. sitting out on the porch of River Place for lunch.

 

Kenny waiting on our lunch order to arrive. He's taking advantage of the free wifi signal at River Place.   phone service is spotty at best thus not going to be  using Google maps on the road!  We've done almost enough wandering round for the day.
 
   We went in to River Place and were greeted by two lovely ladies who made us feel welcome.
We sat on the porch to eat lunch. It was a perfect day.   Lunch was nothing fancy, but boy was it tasty.
Kenny had a cheeseburger and fries. I had a BLT.  It was just right.   The other thing we got from the nice ladies was directions to get us oriented for our hike to Kyles Ford Falls.   It is apparently one of those spots well known to locals and fairly well visited.   It is on TWRA property. 
Two routes are possible to hike to these falls. One begins near the TWRA conservation center along the main road. The other is an obscure, but shorter trail that starts off Horton Ford Road beside a red barn.   Waypoint for Kyles Ford Falls  also a link to 

printable maps.  

 below is a shot of the red barn by the trailhead.  There are TWO red barns on this road, but only one of them is on the correct side...... the RIGHT side heading east.

The trail head has ample parking and is well marked.
The trail hiked from this point is shorter. The next time I'd like to hike in from the other way.  Looks like on Google Earth satellite view there are some historic structures along the path. The hike from here winds up the ridge and over and into the woods.  It has a few wildflowers along it, but is on the non descript side.  Below is a view to be had along the way.

View out over the rolling hills from the Kyles Ford Falls trail.
Finally the switchbacks in the shady forest bring you out at the stream and Kyles Ford Falls spilling down the mountain.  A fellow on Facebook said his mom's people lived up on that ridge and that the spring that forms this falls was the drinking water source for their family!  I found that interesting and heart warming.  Nothing like hearing from the folks who lived there!

Below is a short video of Kyles Ford Falls.  It is not the most spectacular falls, but it is pretty and
had plenty of water flowing today.   The hike back to it was easy.


We enjoyed the falls and the cool shady woods around it before we hiked back to the jeep.
The day was growing ever hotter.

  Elrod Falls 

  We  headed back out Horton Ford Road and across SR 33 the Kyles Ford Highway past a crumbling down brick school and lots of derelict houses.    The Clinch River was on our left nearly the whole way.   Once we got to the intersection with SR 31 we took a left and headed toward the community of Treadway which is the closest named place to the falls.  The falls is situated in a community park. Parking is provided and is ample.  They have a couple picnic tables and a pavilion, but there are no facilities here.   The picnic tables and pavilion both look like they've seen better days.   We got out and there was only one other vehicle at the trailhead.   The walk to the falls is 0.1 mile or less.

The stream on the way is remarkably clear and full of small scenic cascades.   Lush green ferns grew near the trail.  We saw the man and woman who belonged to the car.   The rocks around the falls are sloped and very slippery. Kenny was having to be extra careful because the sensation and strength in his left leg and foot still were not normal.   Elrod Falls is astonishingly beautiful.  The water is clear, but also has a slight blue green cast to it when it forms the plunge pool.     I waded around in the water cooling off.   Kenny stayed on the opposite side. The couple we saw told us how to reach the upper falls and said there was a rope to hold onto, but to be careful that it was steep and very slippery.

 Above is the main drop of Elrod Falls.   You can see the greenish tint to the water.

   Below is a short video of it.

   We were not 100% certain we were going to climb up to the next falls.  I wanted to very much, but it wasn't worth Kenny getting hurt.  I helped him steady himself on me while he rock hopped the stream to get across below the main falls.    Once over there he could take a closer look at the climb and decide for himself what we'd do.  He got over there and was checking it out while I finished taking photos,and  soaking in the beauty of the falls.   What a special place this is.
I looked up once I packed my camera away only to find Kenny hooting at me from way up high.
He was fine! He'd gone ahead and come back for me!  He was actually helping ME with the climb.
Pointing out better holds and approaches.  He always wants to manage me and sometimes I am awfully glad he does.   This was one of those times. The rope was stout and reliable, but the rocks were super slick. Some of the steps up were rooty and far apart.    It was a very short climb though and once past the brink of the lower falls we were at the upper!  It is even prettier than the lower.
It has a very cobwebby appearance. I think the rock there is tuf.. or marl. It is rock that forms from plant matter absorbing minerals from the water.  Eventually if it absorbs enough minerals and the conditions are just right it will become travertine which is harder stone.
Tuf is crumbly.    I stood for a long time photographing the upper falls and just enjoying its beauty.

   We were growing tired and had an 1.5 hour drive home.   We began our climb back down.
I had to really take my time and that turned out to be a good thing.  On the climb down I could see a little girl in the plunge pool swimming with a pink inner tube.   I got closer I could see her father and mother.  I looked at the man and he smiled up at me.   All the Jesus bumps raised up on me.....
I got a good look at all of them.  They were melungeon.  Local folks with that same mixed race heritage as me.   The woman looked like my mother. The man looked like the men in my family.
The  little girl looked like my mom when she was a child.  He stared at me and I at him both of us just grinning.   Something passed between us.  I think sometimes when we are near our own kind we just know. They smell right.    I was extra glad to have come here.   I wished I had not waited so long to come.   Yet I am very glad to have finally visited. 

        Below is a short video of the upper falls.