We have talked about visiting the new
Cummings Falls State Park ever since we heard about it. The morning of July 4th seemed like a good time to do it. Since it was going to be another scorching hot day, we headed out about 8:00 AM. We stopped for breakfast along the way and arrived at the park early enough that we thought we'd finish our adventure before it got too hot. Good thing. I can't imagine doing the hiking that is necessary at this place during the hottest part of a TN summer day - especially with the excessive heat we have been experiencing. We would have fared better had we remembered to get the water out of the car that we had taken with us. You'd think we'd have more sense. If we'd known it was about a three-mile hike, we would have been more serious about our water supply.
FYI, this is what it says at
travelandleisure.com in an article entitled "America's Best Swimming Holes" --
About halfway between Nashville and Knoxville, Cummins Falls cascades 50 feet over wide stair-stepped rocks into a deep cold-water pool. It's a hard-earned scramble to the bottom that involves hiking to the overlook, wading across the ankle-deep stream, climbing up to the ridge, and using a rope guide to walk yourself down to the water. This is not a swimming hole for lightweights. Translation: expect a younger crowd. But if you're agile (and sure-footed), the descent into the cavernous pool is worth the effort.
Well, Joe & I are definitely not part of the younger crowd. But we were agile and sure-footed enough to make the long descent to the river. Once we reached the bottom, it was time to walk back up the river to the area of the falls. We made it most of the way there, but there came a point where we had to actually get in the river, and Joe would have ruined the shoes he had on if we had done that. Sure wish the ranger we had talked to at the top had mentioned that! Anyways, we didn't get to see the falls from down below, but I was able to get a few pictures from the top. This newly acquired state park is open, but it's really not ready for company, as Joe would say. Improvements to the area are in the planning stages.
Here's a video that shows the beauty of the falls and swimming hole.
And here are our pictures from the day:
We did a little shopping after we left the park, and on our way home, stopped in Rock Island for a cheeseburger at Bino's. We had a nice day together and enjoyed our visit to Cummins Falls -- just wish we had not left our water in the car and that Joe had worn different shoes.
