Coon Den Falls

Monday morning, we checked out of the hotel and headed to Dennis Cove Recreation Area.  After parking next to the bridge over Laurel Fork, we set off on Laurel Fork Trail (#39) that followed its namesake upstream.

After about half a mile, we came to the first crossing.  Once again, the water level was way up and it didn't seem safe with the dog.  We should have learned our lessen at Gentry Creek Falls.

So we headed back to the parking area and got on Coon Den Falls Trail (#37).  Some hoary skullcap was blooming along the trail.

The rerouted trail followed the road then headed up Coon Den Branch.  There were some nice cascades before reaching the falls.

A short spur led to the 50-foot Coon Den Falls.

The lighting wasn't great, but it was really flowing.

After some pictures, I continued on the trail up to the Appalachian Trail.  I could see the top of the waterfall from the trail but there was too much foliage for a good view.  Once at the AT, I headed back.

From here, we started making our way home.  We stopped for dinner at Dooley's Tavern in Wilkesboro, then finished up the drive.

Margarette Falls

Sunday, we headed back into Cherokee National Forest to the Bullen Hollow Trailhead in the Bald Mountains area.  From the parking area, we followed Forest Road 5099 into the forest at an information kiosk.  Phillips Hollow Trail went left to cross Dry Fork, but we went right on Margarette Falls Trail (#189).

This trail followed West Fork Dry Creek upstream to its namesake.  There were some nice cascades and drops all along the creek.

At about a half mile on the trail, we crossed the creek on a steel footbridge.

Not long after, we had to cross back over, but this time without the aid of a bridge.  In high water, it was a little tricky to get across dry.

The trail ended at the spectacular Margarette Falls.

It's a beautiful 60-foot waterfall that fans out over layered rocks.  Unfortunately, the clouds were not cooperating.

The left section of the falls was mainly out of the sun.

It didn't look like any clouds were coming and more folks were showing up, so we made our way back.

From here, we headed to Round Knob Picnic Area.  As the crow flies, it's only a couple miles away, but was good thirty minute drive as Round Knob Road (FR-88) is quite rough.  We started off on the Davis Creek Trail (#19) that descended steeply from Round Knob.  Some fly poison was blooming on the hike down.

We followed a tributary down to Davis Creek, crossing it twice then another tributary before reaching the creek.

Since the water level was up, this was a wade to get across.  Once across, we went left on Artie Hollow Trail (#18) and followed a tributary up the hollow.  The trail was narrow and overgrown, but well blazed and easy to follow.  After a while, the trail got in the creek and we had to creek walk up a ways.  A few parts were tricky for Alex but he made it.  The trail then resumed and passed Mary Falls.

It was a steep scramble down to creek level for views of the waterfall.

But at least the clouds were cooperating for this one.

After some pictures, we scrambled back up and made our way back to Davis Creek and had lunch.  There was a big rat snake near the crossing.

The hike back up Davis Creek Trail was steep, but we went slow and stopped for wildlife.  I spotted a huge snail on a rhododendron leaf.

A little mushroom was popping up from a stump.

As we were almost back to the car, Sandy spotted a baby copperhead just off the trail.  Fortunately, Alex wasn't interested.

After all the uphill, we made it back to the car.

We headed back to Johnson City and stopped at Atlantic Ale House.  We got pizza from a food truck and had dinner and drinks.  Then we headed back to the hotel and started packing up.

Backbone Rock

Saturday, we took Alex to the mountains of northeast Tennessee for the long weekend.  We left early and headed to Cherokee National Forest, arriving at the trailhead for Gentry Creek Falls around 830.  With all the recent rain, the creek was way up.  Even the crossing of Cut Laurel Branch at the start of the hike required wading.  In about half a mile, we came to the first creek crossing of Gentry Creek and it was very deep and fast moving.

There was no safe way to cross, especially with the dog, so we turned around and headed back.  We'll have to return when the water level is lower.

From here, we drove to Backbone Rock Recreation Area and parked just south of the tunnel.

The short Backbone Falls Trail (#198) made a quick loop.  We climbed up from the parking area and soon crossed over the top of the falls.

We then came to a nice view of Backbone Falls.

With all the recent rains, it was really flowing through a narrow crevasse in the huge rock walls.

I scrambled down to the base but it was hard to see the upper portion of the falls.

After some pictures, we continued down more stairs to return to the parking lot.

Crossing the street, we picked up Backbone Rock Trail (#53) and climbed up to the ridge.

A spur trail went right out across the ridge.

There were nice views from atop the ridge above the tunnel.

A lot of mountain laurel was flowering up here.

We found a nice spot to take a break and eat lunch above the creek.

Then we hiked a little further up the trail.  Some galax was flowering along the way.

American cancer-root is an interesting-looking parasitic plant.

We also spotted a cute little mushroom popping up above the moss.

After about a mile, we turned around and headed back to the trailhead.

From here, we continued further west to Laurel Run Park in Hawkins County.  After getting our stuff together, we set off on the Laurel Run Trail.  We crossed the creek on a bridge and passed an old log building.

There was a cool tree along the creek a little further up.

At just over half a mile, we came to the unbridged crossing of Laurel Run.  In normal flows, this is an easy rock hop, but not today.  We had to wade and Alex got pretty wet.

It was just a short ways further to the scenic Laurel Run Falls.

Although only 12 feet, it was really pretty with a narrow cave going behind the falls.

Continuing on, there were some more scenic cascades above the falls.

Right past here, the trail turned left and started heading up.  Instead, we crossed Kiner Creek and followed a very overgrown path heading up along that creek.  There were some nice cascades along this creek too.

Shortly, the path ended at Kiner Creek Falls.

It was looking really good in the high water.

This one falls down an overhang with a small rockhouse behind.

We got some pictures and then made our way back.

We drove to Johnson City and checked into the Hampton Inn.  Then we went downtown and had tacos from White Duck and beer from Yee Haw brewing.  After dinner, we headed back to the hotel and went to bed after a long day.