Cheeks Bend Cave, Maury County Tennessee

(Click to enlarge pictures)

 

     Cheeks Bend Cave is at the far end of a trail in the Duck River State Natural Area, a relatively new parcel of public land. I’ve been three times now and have thoroughly enjoyed each trip. This one was in 2008 and had friends and family along, so these are mostly people pictures. Here our little band sets off down the trail, which is a two mile long loop through a splendid cedar forest. I love cedar glades for their diversity, the nifty scenery, and the smell…that wonderful cedar smell.

 

     We stopped for a couple of pictures along the way; here is my big boy P. J. striking a thoughtful pose while my niece Shannon looks on bemusedly.

 

     And this is Weston, Shannon’s son and my little buddy.

 

     At the cave entrance with Jess and Shannon.

 

     The cave is short, less than a hundred feet from the trailside entrance to the lower bluff entrance, but the passage is surprisingly spacious, up to thitry feet high or more. This is looking in from just inside the lower entrance. It’s quite a sight!

 

     P. J.’s friend Josh and Jess just below the trailside entrance.

 

     There is a roomy ledge below the bluff entrance, a perfect place for a rest or a picnic or meditation or for just enjoying a nice view of the Duck River. This is Shannon and Jess bookending a pensive-looking Weston.

 

     Me and Jess. She’s a sweetie, a fine caver and a dear friend.

 

     Weston at the lower entrance. Yes, before the purist cavers bellow, we are ill-equipped. But this isn’t exactly a hardcore cave, you know.

 

     Eventually you must return the way you came; you could probably climb up the bluff if you absolutely had to make it a through trip, but there’s really no reason. Jess looks out the trailside entrance on her way out.

 

     Finally, we have this picture, and yes, I know it has nothing whatsoever to do with the cave, but we did see this on the way to the cave. This is a shot of some neat-looking “mammatus” clouds we saw between home and Columbia. We got rained on (just a little) but the sun popped back out and dried us right back off. I count this picture as advance payment for the soaking!

 

 

Back to the Pictures Page

 

Back to the Home Page