Stinging Fork Pocket Wilderness / State Natural Area

is located on the Cumberland Plateau near Spring City; the parking area is on Shut-in Gap Road 5 miles from Piney River Pocket Wilderness. The beginning of the trail starts in a clear-cut pine forest. The dead trees in this photo are not victims of a hurricane, they had been attacked by the Southern Pine Beetle during the past few years. The trail soon passes from the clear cut into a lovely forest. This area has a beautiful waterfall, lovely cascades, and a deep sandstone gorge.

The view from the overlook is even better in the fall when the leaves are off the trees. Here my husband Ken (left) and our friend (and my photography mentor) Charlie enjoy the lovely vista. Ken is peering over the edge of the cliff, a very long dropoff. This would not be a good place for small children!

Ken and Charlie enjoy the view of the rushing creek below the falls.

We finally made it to the cascades at the top of the falls.

Another view of the cascade.

Like all of the Cumberland Plateau, the rocks are made of sandstone.

I did a bit of "bushwhacking" to get this shot of the cascades above the falls!

Stinging Fork creek has lots of large rocks.

These pine beetle larvae trails attest to the damage done to the trees in the forest on the ridge above. The larvae eat the green cambium layer just below the tree bark, quickly killing the tree. The land above the falls is Bowater Paper Company land which had been thickly planted in pines. A monoculture of trees can be seriously affected by an attack of insects or disease. The native beetles go through a cycle every so many years, millions of beetles killing most of the trees in the forests, then suddenly their numbers crash, allowing the surviving trees to grow again.

The trail comes to the edge of the river gorge. A turn to the left takes hikers to a lovely overlook called Indian Head Point. The rushing water of the cascades and falls far below can be heard from here.

There is a set of steps to help get you out of the gorge!

A cliff drips from a recent rainfall.

We took the hard way to get down to the plunge pool below the falls!

The beginning of the trail has lots of Climbing fern. This is an unusual fern that is found on the Cumberland Plateau.

Stinging Fork Falls is a 30-foot waterfall. There was a lot of water the day we visited due to a good rainfall two days earlier.

A pretty little cascade below the falls.

This "natural waterslide" creek would be inviting on a hot summer day! :)

The patterns in the wood of this pine stump fascinated me!

The Pocket Wilderness land is set aside by the Bowater Paper Company. The land to the right of the trail has young pine trees growing on it; a new forest in the making.

Whew, this was a good aerobic exercise!

Coming back from Indian Head Point take the right trail to Stinging Fork Falls (at the previous sign). The flat trail at the top suddenly drops down the side of the gorge. Be careful on the wooden steps!

Ken and Charlie pass a sandstone Rock House as we take the easier (and correct!) trail away from the falls.

The source of the red Red Maple leaf?

Another view of Stinging Fork Falls.

Stinging Fork Creek

More lovely creek water!

Here goes the water over the edge of the falls!

The view from the top of the plateau seems to go on forever! The tops of the Cumberland Mountains can be seen just above the treeline in the center of this photo.

The trail to the overlook is rocky. On this lovely day in November I found Trailing Arbutus, Mountain Laurel, and Rhododendron growing along the trail. Look for many wildflowers here in the spring!

On the trail on the way back up the gorge.

The flooding rains of September 2004 (compliments of Hurricane Ivan) caused this massive logjam at the base of the plunge pool. Charlie found a good, if not a bit slippery, spot to take pictures!

I liked these pretty little Red Maple leaves with the Christmas fern. Some of the most interesting sights can be right under your feet! :)

Pictures do not do justice to the power and beauty of rushing water!

This pretty cascade is in Stinging Fork creek. It ends in a long, flat slide.

The rocks near the overlook were carpeted with lichens and mosses.

A lovely red Red Maple leaf!