Day 19
April 19, 2023
With only three stops for the day, there was no rush to get out of Murfreesboro. The Short Spring Natural Area is a free park in Tullahoma, TN. It's quite popular and the guidebook suggests getting there early since parking is limited. They were right. There's enough space for maybe fifteen cars. No Parking signs line the road, but plenty park there when the lot fills up. There were only two cars when I pulled up.
Once a month, groups of volunteers come to pick up trash and clear downed trees. It really is a well cared for park. If you do the entire double loop perimeter trail, it's about three and a half miles.
And it's always good to see excellent signage and plenty of trail markings.
There are three waterfalls on these loops and I made my way toward Busby Falls.
Finally to the overlook of Busby Falls...
Next is the overlook for Machine Falls. Some days you get lucky. Others you get the sun shining in the worst possible spot.
This is Adams Falls. I didn't see any easy way to get down below, so I walked on.
By the time I had made it back to the lot, it was full. There were at least six cars parked illegally, and more down the road.
On the drive in, I saw a sign for Rutledge Falls and a small parking area. I was passing it again on the way out and stopped. The falls are on private land. The owners welcome visitors as long as you're respectful.
My next stop was the Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park. There's a mile and a half loop trail through the park with three waterfalls. While that would be worthy of a visit on its own, the history of the place made it all the more appealing.
Between 80 and 550AD, Native Americans chose this wide open field for some unknown purpose. Very little has been found inside the confines of the field itself. But, the people who lived here felt it important to build a wall around its border. The first stage was a ring of stones, then a second adjacent ring. Earth and gravel filled the space between. Over time, they built the ring higher, in some places as high as six feet. On the north-east corner, the only entrance is also flanked by two walls.
For unknown reasons, the builders then abandoned the site.
This is from the loop trail. The mound to the left is the wall surrounding the site.
A trail leads down to a slightly better angle.
If you follow the trail around the perimeter, it brings you to Little Step Falls.
Continue around the river on the other side and you'll find the Big Falls.
Alongside the falls are the remnants of the Old Stone Fort Paper Company.
I left the park and headed to my last stop of the day. This took me to the town of Sewanee, Tennessee. There are a set of trails leading to multiple waterfalls and overlooks. If I had realized this earlier, I could have spent a day exploring.
It was mid afternoon and I was thinking a late lunch. Shenanigans just felt like a good choice. The name alone seemed inviting. Their menu is based around pizza, sandwiches and salads. Perfect.
On the south side of town, at the end of the aptly named Natural Bridge Road. There's a small parking lot at the end. Follow the stairs down and you'll fine the Sewanee Arch. The span runs 148 feet. And yes, you can still walk across.
The view from the arch...
My home for the night was a half hour drive away in the town of Lynchburg, made famous by the Jack Daniels Distillery. I'm not a whiskey fan, so I had no interest in tours or tastings. I just found the Country Inn and called it a day.
Just how big is Jack Daniels to the tourism industry here? These were build into the check in desk at the motel...
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