Lower Piney Falls, Tennessee

A previous post discussed Upper Piney Falls, which is not too distant from its downstream component.  The italicized portion is copied from that previous post...

After starting out on the hike, you're going to want to continue on the main path/road. At one point early on, there will be a small trail leading off to the left. Don't follow it, as I don't know where it leads. You'll continue on, and a little later, you'll come to another split in the path. Your first instinct will be to take the right path, since the left path looked blocked off by tree branches. The right path leads to the crest of the falls, which is not a great view.

Even though the left path looks like it's blocked, it can be bypassed very easily. After doing this, you'll come to a small elevation drop that you'll have to climb down. It's not that difficult. You may want to mark this point, as on the return hike, I had a difficult time finding where this "drop" occured, though it's the only real place you can get back up.

After this point, you will want to head to the right. If you head to the right, you should see a sign indicating Lower Piney Falls heading downhill.

If you head decide to head downhill, then you're in for a treat (physically, that is)!  It's a pretty steep descent, though I remember it wasn't terrible to traverse.  It's not difficult to get down the hill.  It's the march back up that's difficult.  Now, I mention there's a sign indicating the Lower Falls.  Well, Tennessee's site indicates that there is no trail access to the falls, so I have to wonder why there's a sign.  You don't really end up seeing the whole Lower Falls, just some drop on the river.  So, in the end, it's up to you whether you hike down a steep trail to see less than what you might expect...

Directions:
1) You're looking for TN-68 between Spring City and Grandview. Look for a sign indicating Piney Falls Natural Area.
2) The very narrow road leading to the parking area for the falls is known as Firetower Rd. Along the way, you should pass a farm or two.
3) At the parking area, follow the directions above.

Accessibility: 3/10

Thunderbird Falls, Alaska

I guess the first thing I'll say is that Thunderbird Falls is one cool name for a waterfall!  And to go along with that, it's also one cool waterfall.  After taking a look at the falls I visited in my short time in Alaska, Thunderbird Falls has go down as my current favorite.  There aren't a whole lot of competitors, and that might just be because many of the waterfalls are unadvertised or unknown (by most people). 

There's something about the falls that is just right.  It's in a perfect forest setting.  Coming in at a two-mile round trip hike, it doesn't take a terribly long time to get to the falls, but you also get to explore the Alaskan scenery around you.  When you get to the falls, there are two different options here...The first option is to go to the viewing platform near the crest of the falls.  This is where the photograph shown was taken.  It really reveals both segments of the falls and its height.  There's one portion that's hidden from view.  Now, if you don't feel like you're close enough to the falls, the second option is to descend down to the base.  The hike down isn't difficult until you get nearer the base.  At that point, it's actually flat ground, but in early June, there was still a significant amount of ice near the river, and the falls were flowing pretty well, so I did have to be extremely careful to ensure I didn't slip on the ice.  But once you get near the base, you'll be impressed.  It does require a little more work, though...

Directions:
1) Exit Highway 1 (Glenn Highway) at mile marker 25 (which is north of Anchorage). 
2) The signs clearly indicate the direction to the falls.  There is a parking area, and a $5 entrance fee.  (I feel that some people may have parked outside of the parking area to avoid that?)
3) Follow the trail to the falls!

Accessibility: 7/10 (to full viewpoint)

Upper Falls, California

Almost one year ago, I first mentioned my visit to Uvas Canyon County Park.  You can check up on that in the post about Granuja Falls.  I was a little bit disappointed by the park and its falls, though that could have been due to the time of year and the water levels.  Portions of trails were closed.  There wasn't much water flowing, but oh well.

So it seems odd that Upper Falls was apparently the highlight of that visit.  If you take a look at the photo, there isn't a significant amount of water flowing.  It was an enjoyable November day, though.  I also remember looking at the falls from "afar".  In relative terms, you're still pretty close to the falls, but they've put a fence in place that prevents you from getting closer.  In some ways, I don't mind, as I think we humans shouldn't be allowed to climb over everything just because we want to.  At the same time, it led to a more difficult time getting pictures.  Again...oh well!  In summary, maybe check the falls after a heavy rain.  You might be more impressed then.

Directions:
1) Well, all I really remember is typing in the crossing/intersection of Uvas Road and Croy Road on my TomTom GPS. It's in the area of Tennant, at least my GPS accepted that as the city where those roads were found.
2) After getting to that intersection with my helpful GPS, turn left onto Croy Road, and head down that road to the very end. You'll pass through a private area, though you'll be ok. At the very end, there is the self-pay area, and then the parking area.
3) At the parking area, head out on the Waterfall Loop. Upper Falls is at the end of the loop, if I remember correctly.

Accessibility: 7/10

Lower Waikamoi Falls, Hawaii

I arrived in Maui last night, being completely exhausted.  After going to sleep for a considerable amount of time, I woke up ready to tackle the road to Hana.  The first waterfall I happened to stumble upon was Lower Waikamoi Falls, but let me tell you about my view about the Road to Hana first.

Reading about it online made we wonder whether this was going to be one insane drive.  You can search online and read about all of these people that are apparently too afraid to drive on the road.  But from my experience, this was no more difficult, dangerous, or "scary" than any of the other very curvy roads I've been on.  It is advertised as being 650 curves or so with NUMEROUS one-way bridges.  And there are a few points where you really can't see a what's around the curve.  But I did not fear for my life.  I have driven on the less traveled highways of Puerto Rico and been more scared than here.  There I had garbage trucks speeding at me with very little room to maneuver.  At least on the road to Hana, they seem to warn you when that is about to happen.  It is also nowhere near as nerve-wracking as driving over the 12,000' pass in the Rocky Mountain National Park, with only a foot or two between you and what seemed like a 2000' foot slide downhill...Let's just say that if you're used to any curved roads, you'll be more than ok.  I live in an area with some of the straightest roads possible, and I was still ok.  Just be careful!

Now there are a number of waterfalls along the Road to Hana.  I skipped Twin Falls, which might be the first falls along Route 360 (The road switches from 36 to 360.).  If I were driving by again, I might stop and visit, since I ended up at Hana around 3 pm with more than enough time to spare.  (I would recommend spending the night in Hana, if you can afford it, so that you don't have to rush.  I left at 9:30 am, and made it just fine.)  So the first falls I actually stopped at was Lower Waikamoi Falls.

As with many of the falls, you're essentially just pulling off the road, so be careful.  With Waikamoi Falls, you can see this falls without much difficulty.  There is another waterfall upstream, and for some reason I decided against pursuing it.  From what I've read, I believe you have to hike upstream, and I'm usually not for that.  Depending on the time of year, photos show the falls with much more volume.  There was still some water flowing, though.

Directions:
1) Start paying attention as the Road to Hana changes to Highway 360.  The mile markers restart.
2) Right around mile marker 10 (which isn't always that obvious), you'll a sign for the Waikamoi Nature Trail.  Very soon after this is Lower Waikamoi Falls.  They are not at the same parking area, though.

Accessibility: 10/10

Katoomba Falls, New South Wales

Of the many waterfalls in the Blue Mountains National Park, Katoomba Falls might just be the most impressive!  At around 800' tall, itt's really a truly spectacular view. 

Katoomba Falls can be easily accessed by the Blue Mountains Explorer Bus.  Look at the map to determine the stop.  Once you get there, you can view the falls from numerous different vantage points.  I believe there is one to the right of the falls, but it doesn't necessary lead to the best view.  If you head west, you'll end up seeing the Katoomba Cascades, and then you'll come out to the left of the falls.  A trail leads to the base of the first drop, and if you zoom in on the picture, you might notice the very brave people standing at the base.  There is a rope to prevent people from going too far, at least in theory.  Nobody really seemed to heed the rope.

Continue down the trail on your left, and you'll end up at another viewpoint of the falls that I liked the most.  This one seemed to best reveal the true magnitude of the falls.  While you're further away, you realize that this is one tall waterfall.   There are two major drops, and it seemed like the falls might just continue on a ways further "downstream."

Directions:
1) Head to Katoomba.  You can actually walk to the falls from Katoomba, though it is easier to purchase an Explorer Bus pass that gets you to the falls.  The falls are found at stops 10, 11, or 12.
2) Explore around the area for your favorite vantage point.  A trail on the left side of the falls is really fun, and I believe you pass by an interesting, but much smaller, second waterfall. 

Accessibility: 10/10 (from the viewpoint near stop 10), 6/10 (to get to the other viewpoints)

Caribou Falls, Minnesota

I haven't posted about any waterfalls in a while, and I figured I'd decide to post one of my favorite waterfalls in Minnesota.  I visited this waterfall in May 2010, and really did find it to be impressive.  I hadn't posted on this falls because I choose waterfalls randomly.  One or two other waterfall enthusiasts had mentioned that I should visit this falls, and I completely agree that if you haven't seen Caribou Falls, go and visit it.

The hike to the falls deals with some uphill and downhill portions, followed by a set of stairs.  I don't think anybody realizes what a treat they're in for.  The falls are partially hidden from view until you pass this one corner, and then boom!

When I visited, I was almost all by myself, but it was extremely peaceful!  There were two other people there, and I thought it was so cool that they had brought their lawn chairs, and were sitting at the end of the stairs just enjoying the falls.  I just had such fun exploring all of the different view of the falls.  I'm under the impression that the falls are taller than they appear.  There is a 2nd drop that is visible in this picture, but I believe that it may go back even further.  I also think that the falls has such a unique drop pattern.  It almost falls at a diagonal.

I don't think I'm being very poetic here, and I should be in order to express the beauty of Caribou Falls...but oh well, just go and visit this spectacular waterfall!

Directions:
1) As you're driving along MN-61, look for the Caribou River and the Caribou State Wayside.  If you're headed north, the parking area will be off the road on your left.
2) As you park, follow the pretty obvious trail to the falls.

Accessibility: 7/10

McGowan Falls, Ontario

I sometimes enjoy what happens when waterfalls meet human ingenuity.  It can be cool to see how the water has been harnessed to do powerful things.  In the case of McGowan Falls, though, human ingenuity tends to detract from the already small falls.  While the river is relatively wide, there is only a small portion that currently has a significant drop, and that is around 4-5' in height.  I would be curious to know what the falls look like without the dam directly above.  The one benefit is that is very easy to visit. 

Directions:
1) Take Grey County Road 4 into Durham.
2) If you are heading west, as I was, there will be a street, George Street E, off of Co. Rd. 4.  Turn right onto George Street E.
3) There will be a parking area on your right (again heading west).  The falls might not even be obvious, but the dam will be.

Accessibility: 10/10

Gorman Falls, Texas

Gorman Falls is one of those ethereal places on earth that I'm not really sure how to describe.  The falls are unlike many other falls I've ever seen.  They are least where you would expect them, emerging from a spring near the base of the falls.  So instead of being confined to one or two paths, the falls seems to fall in whatever way it pleases. 

I found the falls to be extremely enjoyable, but they are a little bugger to photograph.  I found that the most photogenic viewpoint was right at the end of the stairs, taking a right.  There was this clay "ledge" of sorts where you could get beautiful views of the water cascading down, but at that vantage point, you can't see the whole falls.  When you try to see the falls in its entirety, which can be difficult, it seems less photogenic, as each little sub-fall is thin and wispy.  So from the side, all of those add up to make it appear "fuller."  It's just a fun place to explore and try to get unique and interesting pics.  And the travertine (calcium deposits) only make it that more impressive. 

Directions:
1) From Lampasas, I headed west on Farm Road 580, which is paved.
2) After 20 miles or so, you'll clearly see a sign for the entrance to Colorado Bend State Park.  If you are heading west, the entrance will be on your left.  (I think it might be county road 442.)
3) After you turn, it will seem odd.  There are numerous signs indicating private property, so keep following the signs that lead to the entrance to the park.
4) After about a mile, a sign will indicate the Gorman Falls Trail.  Turn left here. 
5) Drive to the end of the road, park, and pay the $4 per person entrance fee at the self-pay box.
6) Follow the trail.  (Look for armadillos...We came across one foraging.)

Accessibility: 5/10 (This is NOT a bad trail, but it is by no means handicapped-accessible.  Near the end, it does get a little bit steep, but on the way back up it is not bad.)

Falling Creek Falls, Florida

I think I have spent more time trying to figure out if there are any significant waterfalls in Florida than actually visiting waterfalls in Florida.  It's difficult, since Florida is so flat.  When you do a search, you will most likely find Falling Waters State Park in the Panhandle, which is the obvious winner in the Florida waterfall contest.  I haven't visited that yet, though.  By pure determination and hunting through Google's images, I found at least two other waterfalls: Steinhatchee Falls and Falling Creek Falls.  I'll save Steinhatchee Falls for a later time.

Falling Creek Falls was actually WAY more impressive than I expected.  And that was all due to lowered expectations.  Of the pictures I had seen, I was expecting an EXTREMELY small waterfall.  Now, I know it's all relative, but at 5 or 6' tall, it was much taller than I expected.  And that can often lead to much more happiness than over-expecting, only to be let down.  So, to say the least, I was thoroughly pleased, and wondered why this wasn't advertised more.  Florida is beautiful and sunny, but it often seems monotonous, at least geologically speaking...so it seemed nice to find something a little more out of the ordinary.  It also helped that even though it was nearly the beginning of winter, in this part of Florida, it had a very September-ish feel, at least to a Michiganian.

Directions:
1) This little gem of a waterfall is not very difficult to find.  At the junction of I-10 and US-41 north of Lake City, head north on US-41 for a very short distance, only about 0.2 miles.
2) Right off of US-41 is Falling Creek Road.  Turn right onto Falling Creek Road, and head down to the park.
3) At the park, follow the beautiful boardwalk to the falls (to your left).

Accessibility: 10/10 (I think a wheelchair could even do this.)

Upper White Oak Canyon Falls, Virginia

In early December, I decided to take a trip to the Washington, D.C. region, and explore a little bit of Shenandoah National Park for a weekend.  There are a pretty significant number of waterfalls in the park, so it was a little bit difficult to decide which one or two to visit, but in the end I decided on hiking the trail that leads to the waterfalls in White Oak Canyon.  There are some pretty great falls along the trail, but be prepared for one intense hike.

I started from the parking area along Skyline Drive, and the hike DOWN wasn't bad at all.  To get to the impressive, but somewhat hindered, Upper White Oak Canyon Falls, you've got to hike a little something less than 2.5 miles.  There are then numerous falls further downstream, but every fall you visit adds time to your hike.  (No duh, of course it adds more time, but this becomes far more obvious on the way back up!)  So if you just want to see a really great, and what I expect is a surprisingly tall waterfall, stop at this first major falls, Upper White Oak Canyon Falls.

The pain begins to appear on the way back UP.  Even in those 2.5 miles, you've descended something like 800-1000 feet (at least).  On the way back, you ascend those 1000 feet, at a minimum, and it can be very tiring.  Bring food, water, and the will to get back to the parking lot!

Directions:
1) At the intersection of US-211 and Skyline Drive, head south on Skyline Drive.
2) After five or six miles, you should see the parking area for the White Oak Canyon Trail, which is where your journey begins.  It's just after the entrance to the Skyland Resort.
3) From here, follow the very clear signage for about 2.5 miles to the first falls.  More falls await if you decide.

Accessibility: 2/10