Rock Island State Park, Warren/White Counties, Tennessee

(Click to enlarge pictures)

 

     I have a lot more pictures of this somewhere, and I swear I’m going to find them and put them up here soon, but for now, here are the few I have here of the quite amazing Rock Island State Park. Though it’s not exactly well known in comparison to some of its neighboring natural areas like Fall Creek Falls or Burgess Falls, it sure does pack a lot of neat stuff into a small area. I have been back a couple of times, once to hike a couple of trails with Dan McDowell, and once to do some fossil rubbings with my son P. J.

 

          

There are some amazingly turbulent waters beneath and around Great Falls, and this is a favorite place for kayakers to come and practice their trade. They will at times get right beneath the falls, which is pretty spectacular to watch.

 

     This is Great Falls, and if you look closely enough in the center of the picture you will see some insane folks climbing in the cascades. This is very slick rock, sportsfans, and one slip will ruin your day…

 

     …which of course meant that I had to get out amongst it too. Maybe a bit farther, though…

 

     This is the view from just above the main cataract. All I can say is, wow. I’ve taken a lot of pictures since from the talus pile on the opposite bank. Mind you, as powerful as this all looks, I think the flow was rather low this day.

 

     Is that a gleam of madness in my eye? Perhaps…yes, I was soaking wet…

 

     There are trails at Rock Island, though I didn’t hit many of them on this particular visit. I have since been on the Collins River Loop and Eagle Trails, and they are both quite neat. This bit of nicely-patterned stump will do for my bark shot for this locale, I think; it is one of my favorite outdoor pix of all time.

 

     In and out of the area you pass through this nifty archway. Tres cool!

 

          

Finally, on this trip home (not that far from Rock Island proper) I ran across this gorgeous field of tiny purple somethings. It made for an amazing picture that cloudy skies could only enhance. Terrific!

 

 

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