Adventures in
Cherokee National Forest
We took advantage of a cloudy, rainy day to witness the beauty of Margarette Falls, a picturesque fan-shaped waterfall featuring a 60-foot drop. Understandably, it is one of the most popular waterfall trails in the area.
Enjoy exploring the same mountains and streams Margaret Doak, Margarette Falls namesake, enjoyed in the early 1920s. Imagine this forest at that time when it was home to the largest logging operation in Greene County, John Heilman Lumber Company. The area around the trailhead was a thriving logging camp, containing a boarding house, store, dining hall, and several other support buildings. A railroad, locally know as the Pea Vine, carried logs from the forest the twelve-mile trip to Greeneville.
The parking lot was empty when we arrived early on a week-day. The first .5-mile section of this trail is an easy hike on a closed Forest Service road. Shortly after leaving the road the trail forks, bear left and travel along Dry Creek .7 miles to the waterfall. This section of the trail is moderately difficult and crosses the stream several times, providing many opportunities to cool off in the creek while savoring the scenic cascades.
All Trails describes this waterfall hike as “a moderate 2.4 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail.” We think the “moderate” comes into play while navigating the rocky terrain. So watch your step but be prepared to be awed by the beauty.
The falls were really flowing because of all of the recent rainfall.
Water cascade just down stream from the falls.
We give this adventure a……
Dream Big, Travel Far, Live Well…
What’s Next?
More adventures in Tennessee’s Tri Cities area.
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