Butterflies "puddling" on the road. It is common to see several butterflies on dung or areas where animals have urinated, they get minerals and salts from the wastes!

Hiking at Frozen Head can bring a smile to your face on even the chilliest of days! I got a kick out of this smile that I found in the ice at the edge of the creek while photographing DeBord Falls.

Hiking in the winter is a treat, there are no bugs, few people and lots of pretty icicles! These two dogs enjoyed hiking with their family. The lab on the right made me a little nervous when he ran between the legs of my tripod which held my new week-old SLR camera! :0

Copy of Rod Terri FH Tower

DeBord Falls is usually split by a large rock. The falls are especially beautiful in the winter when they are encased in ice.

The trails along Panther Branch are short and easy to hike. They are also loaded with numerous kinds of wildflowers.

Panther Branch trail

Kids love to have their faces "painted" with ground up clay rocks from the creek. I do this activity with a class from my school each year.

The Militti family enjoys a trailside lunch of grapes, cheese, and crackers on the rocks below Emory Gap Falls. Who says you have to have a tablecloth, silverware, or even a table for that matter?!

Swinging on the tire swing at the playground is fun!

Even the littlest hikers enjoy getting out on the trail! We met the Broyles family at Emory Gap Falls on a snowy February day. The babies have it made, they don't have walk, Mom or Dad does the hard part! With the right kind of clothes and footwear, wintertime hiking can be a very pleasant experience!

Copy of FH Tower Rod1

Copy of FH sign1

These hikers from the Western Kentucky University Outdoor Recreation Adventure Center (a.k.a. WKU ORAC) were setting out for a chilly overnight campout at Tubb Springs on top of the mountain in mid-February 2007. Frozen Head has several primitive backcountry campsites which can be accessed by hiking. There are many different trails of varying degrees of difficulty in the park. This group was taking the long trail to the campsite.

1930's vintage CCC Dynamite Shack on the South Old Mac trail to the Lookout tower.

Panther Branch is full of large boulders. Look for trout in the clear water in the spring (the stream is often stocked for a tournament). I once saw a lone goldfish swimming in this stream, someone must have been tired of changing its bowl and released it!

The Panther Branch trailhead starts on a bridge over the creek.

Frozen Head State Park is located in Morgan County near Wartburg. Frozen Head is located in the Cumberland Mountains in Morgan County off Hwy 62. map...

An odd rock along the Emory Gap Falls trail. Since Frozen Head is located on the Cumberland Plateau, it has lots of sandstone. Some of the sandstone boulders have strange holes or formations.

TN parks sign

Copy of FH Michelle owl copy

The Visitor Center has books, T-shirts, caps, and patches for sale. Be sure to say hello to Charlie, the Corn snake in the display case beneath the counter (actually, you could just wave, snakes are deaf!) Ranger Dave, the park manager, is proud of the new hardwood floor in the lobby.

Copy of FH tower steps Rod

The view from Frozen Head mountain is spectacular on a clear autumn day!

Emory Gap falls is higher than DeBord Falls. It is found at the end of the trail. It falls over a cliff of sandstone overlaying a deep layer of softer shale.

Frozen Head has several pincic shelters. This one is located near the playground.

Panther Branch is a beautiful stream. The trail, of the same name, follows the stream. There are 3 waterfalls along this trail.

Ranger Jamie shows a millipede to a group of elementary school students.

These students try to find their "Pooh sticks" at the Panther Branch bridge.

These initials of past lovers will scar this tree for many years to come. Does HH still love LS? Who knows? Trees should never be carved on!

Copy of FH Michelle snake

The Visitor Center at Frozen Head is a nice place to warm up (or cool off, depending on the season) after a hike. There is always a friendly staff member at the desk to help give advice on trails or to help identify a wildflower or a bird.

Birders will enjoy Frozen Head, the park has a large number of species of birds. These Goldfinches and Junco are eating seeds beneath the feeder near the Visitor Center. We saw 8 species of birds here within just a few minutes on this cold February day.

DeBord Falls on a cold December day.

Emory Gap falls seen from the side. The large sandstone/shale "amphitheater" is interesting to explore.

This creekside playground is a favorite of kids of all ages!

DeBord Falls at Frozen Head State Park as seen from the overlook The park is well-known for its waterfalls, mountain views, and wildflowers. Each April the park hosts a wildflower pilgrimage. The park is famous for its 7 species of violets, crested iris, spotted and nodding mandarin, wild geranium, mountain laurel, and a valley full of great white trillium.

There is lots of wildlife at Frozen Head, but you won't normally see a llama on the trails! A family took their 3 llamas and an alpaca on their hike. Don't be surprised if you see llamas on some trails in the Smokies though, they are used as pack animals to deliver supplies to the lodge at Mt. Leconte a couple of times a week. Llamas, with their softer hooves and lighter body weight, are much more "environmentally friendly" than the "2000-pound cookie cutters" ---a.k.a. "horses!" By the way, this llama actually does have 4 legs!

This Salamander was found living in a small pool near DeBord Falls.

Please don't pick the flowers!