Rock Island State Park
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We drove east on Chicken Road from Cedars of Lebanon State Park to go visit Rock Island State Park. It was our first time to see this area of the Western Highland Rim. The land slowly rises in elevation.
Rock Island State Park has something for anyone who is interested in nature. Kenny and I enjoyed watching this Dragonfly when it landed on a near-by rock.
Twin Falls is a "man-made" waterfall which occured when the Collins River rose as it backed up behind the Great Falls Dam. The water began to leak from Great Falls Lake through caves in the hillside. The spectacular 65' - 80' falls cascaded into the Caney Fork River below. Pretty nice for a big "leak"! :)
We saw these 2 kids jumping from the large rock. Someone added a wooden ladder above the rock to make the jump a little easier.
Mosses and algae grow at the base of the cliff.
These vultures were coming in to roost on a railing above the powerhouse late in the evening. They have left their white-streaked "calling cards" on the limestone cliff to the left.
These 2 fishermen were getting ready to try their luck too. I got to try out a bit of my new Spanish skills (I'm just learning!) with them.
The rolling hills of the Western Highland Rim can be seen in the distance in this photo. We were surprised to see many nurseries where trees, shrubs and many bedding plants are grown. It is amazing how someone can live in a state all their life and still learn about new areas!
, related to sea stars ("starfish"). These small circles, called "ossicles", are broken pieces of the stalks.
A pretty side cascade stair-steps down the cliff next to Twin Falls.
The Caney Fork River below the Lower Great Falls has lots of large boulders, great for rockhopping! The rocks can be slick, so wear sturdy shoes and be careful!
Southern Maidenhair Ferns on the cliff at Rock Island SP.
The Great Falls powerhouse below the dam.
Rock Island State Park has 10 nice cabins for rent to visitors. The following photo shows the inside of the cabin. Contact the park for rental rates.
These Fossils are unbroken stalks of crinoids.
is easily viewed from an overlook. It is possible to get down to the falls by way of a steep trail.
The path from the bluff to the river is a challenge when it is wet. It is not a trail for flipflops or open sandals!
Hanging gardens of ferns grow thickly on the damp northeast-facing cliff. At times I felt as though I was in a Hawaiian rainforest instead of middle Tennessee!
This wooden, one-lane bridge at Rock Island State Park crosses the Caney Fork River, you have to cross it to go to the Twin Falls overlook.
An inside view of a Cabin at Rock Island State Park.
The limestone rock formations near the falls are pocked with holes.
We saw some people jump from the cliff near the waterfall into pool below. This is a dangerous form of entertainment, one mistake could result in paralysis or even death!
I was excited to find these Liverwort plants! The ones on the left with the tiny umbrella-shaped structures are male plants. The lighter colored green plants on the right have small green gemmae cups, used for vegetative reproduction.
is a jewel of a park nestled next to Center Hill Lake at the confluence of the Caney Fork and Collins Rivers in Warren County. Sand Beach is a large natural sand beach (it wasn't trucked in like some beaches in TN!). For more information on the park, visit the website: https://www.state.tn.us/environment/parks/RockIsland map...
A fisherlady tries her luck on the Caney Fork River below the falls.
