Hiking Stinging Fork Falls

When we set out on the 2 hours and change drive we hadn't planned on even hiking this waterfall, but after we finished hiking Piney Falls Natural Area we still had plenty of sunlight left so we decided to hit one more waterfall- and Stinging Fork was it. 

Let me just say the drive to this waterfall is absolutely beautiful- but the hike? Raw beauty at it's finest, gorgeous trees, massive boulders it's truly breathtaking and quite the hike! Especially on the way back. We passed several hikers slowly making their way back to the parking lot looking exhausted and whispering between pants about how hard the trail was. But once you get down all the rough-hewn stairs and hike along the river to the falls it's the most picturesque gem. We climbed out on a boulder in the middle and just sat there relaxing and soaking up the peace.  

While we were sitting there, a group of hikers stumbled upon us turned out they had been lost for hours and couldn't find their way back out. We offered to let them hike back with us and the happily agreed, about halfway up all those stairs really hit you by the time we reached victory in the parking lot (and our cars) we were all exhausted but laughing and we all had another hike under our belts. 

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Exploring Tennessee's Upper and Lower Piney Falls

There are few things I enjoy more than gardening and hiking, so when Mr. Cottage had a rare weekend off we decided to hit the road and visit one Tennessee's many amazing waterfalls. The day was beautiful and cool and the sun was shining brightly. We had gotten our first frost just a week or so before and all of the leaves were brushed with brilliant colors. 

Because we were unfamiliar with this waterfall we opted to leave the dogs at home this trip much to their chagrin. But it allowed me to bring my camera and take pictures instead. The whole drive up was amazing! I think I had my face pressed up against the window whispering "WOW" the whole 2-hour trip. If you have ever been to Tennessee's Cumberland Plateau in fall you know what I mean!  

Piney Falls State Natural Area is about 2 gorgeous hours from Nashville, located in Grandview Tennessee. Our navigation got us lost the first time so double check the address it is sending you to, you want Fire Tower Rd. Grandview, TN 00000.

Piney Falls is one of only fourteen national natural landmarks in the state of Tennessee, it features amazing waterfalls, stunning old growth forests, breathtaking gorges, and beautiful creeks. Water pours over the 80 feet of Upper Piney Falls into a beautiful pool, before cascading 40 feet over Lower Piney Falls.

The forest views alone are magnificent, couple that with the water and it's breathtaking! We hiked to Lower Piney first- I could literally sit here all day, it's absolutely peaceful.

The rock face is just as magnificent! 

Next, we hiked to the upper falls, and I thought the lower falls was breathtaking! Just look at this one!

We followed the trail to the base of the Upper Falls, the trail is a bit steep and rocky and can be hard to find the markers in places but the view is so worth the trip!

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