TN State Parks Hiking with Dogs

Living a Bigger Life is a goal we have set for ourselves this year. We have lived the Biggest life with our careers, kids and responsibilities of adulting over the past twenty years. Like many Gen Xers we are realizing that life can be more and should be. More adventures, more fun, more time together: Less drama, less stress and worry about the future. We have found, really, what we have always known, time together in nature is the most rejuvenating. Including our Boykins makes it even better. As we look forward to the next month's schedule making time for hiking, camping and family has become a joy. Thus far we are looking at State Parks within a 3-to-4-hour drive from our home where we can spend a weekend.

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Fall Creek Falls State Park was our latest adventure. Click the link to see the Park Map. We decided to spend morning hours at our campsite drinking coffee and welcoming the new day. Around 10am each day we would load up and visit one trail on the park. Exploring the waterfalls, swinging bridges and rock hopping. (Dogs are welcome on park trails, don't forget the leashes and doggie bags for cleanup.)

Piney Falls Swinging Bridge and Overlook

Piney Falls is a short hike to an overlook or a swinging bridge. 99% of visitors enjoy the view, cross the swinging bridge and return to the parking lot. The more adventurous hikers continue down to the base of the gorge to explore the water below. We rock hopped through the gorge to the right around the bend you will find the waterfall of Piney. It can be a very dangerous area for those who are not careful with accidents each year. We made sure the dogs were calm and under control before approaching the edge to sit down. As we were leaving a few teens had hiked it and we could see them from the overlook area sitting on the edge of the falls throwing rocks over. This is where most accidents occur with deaths. The base of this fall has boulders without a plunge pool directly below it, if you were to fall. After enjoying the sound of the falls, we then proceeded to return to the bridge and go the opposite direction on the rock hop. Enjoying a huge boulder with a plunge pool below it for swimming. We were the only hikers in the gorge that morning in June, so it was very nice connecting with nature and enjoying the sounds of the flowing water.

Cascades, Swinging Bridge and Nature Center

Weather it is your first time visit to FCF or your 5th this is a must stop! Along with most all of the facilities at FCF they have had capital projects to upgrade this area. A new design, layout and user-friendly entrance is now welcoming you. The cascades feature a massive 45 ft plunge of flowing water just beyond the Nature Center, with a swinging bridge right above them. This area was the featured waterfall in movies like the Jungle Book. It is one of my favorites of all time movies filmed in Tenn. State Parks. I like to imagine that everyone who visits feels for a moment like a kid again. On warm days you will see families wading in this area, cooling off in the waters of Cane Creek.

The Jewel of TN State Parks

Saving the best for last Fall Creek Falls at 256 ft high plunge it is the tallest waterfall in the Eastern US. You can hike to the base of the falls looking at the walls of the rock formations, feeling the breeze of a natural air conditioner at one well known area on the way down to the plunge hole. The trail continues for the most adventurous hikers behind the falls itself.

• The park offers guided hikes through Cane Creek beyond the plunge pool itself, for a very strenuous continuation to those who wish to try it. I recommend trying it if you are in physical condition and would like to have a high adventure outing. You would not bring a dog past the plunge area into the rock hop due to a straight up a cliff exit once you reach the end. This is called the Cable Trail. I would need to focus on my balance being from West TN and the occasional vertigo on the cable trail exit.

  
  

  

  
  

  

  Alisha is a former Park Manager/Ranger and educator of Tn State Parks, avid outdoors woman, wife to Randy and dog mom to Boykins. Enjoying time in State and National Parks as a patron, blogger and photographer. Check out my website if you would like to learn more about coaching, website design and all things Boykins. Please follow the link to see my favorite products and shop with me. It is a small way to support my BoykinsNBoat Blog. https://linktr.ee/boykinsnboat

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