After having to stay indoors yesterday because of all the rain, Jason and I hit the trails and found another beautiful waterfall in Tennessee, Backbone Falls.
On our way to the falls, we drove past South Holston Lake, where we stopped and climbed down to the water to check things out. There were some people out in their boats enjoying Labor Day, but not many because of the overcast skies.
South Holston Lake
South Holston Lake
After leaving the lake we headed on a road that Jason loves . . . and, well, me not so much. Today I got a little car sick because of all the twists and turns. The first time we traveled this road it was only a few days after we arrived in Tennessee and I was fine, well better off than today. The Snake has 489 curves to be exact. Thank goodness we did not drive the whole thing and left in a different direction.
The Snake
The Snake
I was thankful when we arrived at our destination and got out of the car . . . yeah no more curves and solid grounds. After we parked we headed towards Backbone Rock and hiked up quite a few stairs that took us to the top of the tunnel.
Backbone Rock, a fairly short hike.
I sat on a rock next to a tree as I looked down at the road and creek below us.
According to a sign posted near Backbone Rock, “Around 1900, the Beaver Dam Railway Company blasted and drilled the tunnel to provide railroad access from Damascus into Shady Valley’s rich manganese and iron ores and timber. Within the next 20 years, the area’s privately owned timber had been cut over twice and ravaged by a devastating fire.”
The railroad tracks were removed in 1924 when the route was opened to cars. The tunnel was then expanded into a two lane road in 1930.
Backbone Rock, as well as 20,000 surrounding acres, were purchased when Congress allowed the federal government to acquire land in 1911, which was formed as part of Tennessee’s National Forest lands.
Backbone Rock, known as the shortest tunnel in the world. It was a great site to see from above and alongside the road.
We walked across the street and found another trail, a trail that led us to Backbone Falls.
Of course as soon as we arrived at this trail, there were more stairs that went straight up, which were kind of slippery from all of the rain yesterday.
A rather short hike later, which was up hill, we started to hear the sounds of the waterfall.
Jason stood very close to the edge of the top of the waterfall and took some pretty incredible pictures looking down.
And then we walked down even more stairs . . .
Until we saw this . . .
At one point Jason and I walked on the rocks located at the base of the waterfall, so we could feel just how cold the water was . . . COLD!
But worth it, I love walking right up to a waterfall, there is no feeling like it, no feeling at all. To feel that rush of cold air, while touching the cold rock and the water, best feeling.
We decided to walk down the creek a little bit, where of course I found more water to take pictures of . . .
We then walked back up the stream to where the waterfall was located and got back on the trail, which included more stairs that led us out a different way than we went in alongside the road.
I had to capture one more beautiful sight before we walked back to the car. More water, more incredibly calming sounds to end another fantastic hike.
Backbone Falls was a beautiful waterfall, one we got to witness alone, as we were the only ones on this trail.
