It has been a while since my last trip to the Elk River (Big Falls) area so when my friend Dave Aldridge asked if I was interested in going with him to Splash Dam Falls there was no hesitation in my saying yes. It was a mild winter day and the water levels were decent however the forecast was for sunny skies which would once again doom any chances we had of getting any good photos of these falls. Since it was a Tuesday we got a later start of around 10am due to my working until 5am that same morning but it is not far nor is it a difficult hike to get to the falls. We were there before noon (going in the only way I knew how) but, we would find a much easier way on the way out. The route starts at the Elk River Falls (aka Big Falls) and follows the Elk River until you take a side trail (crossing the Jones Creek) to the Appalachian Trail where you continue North until you reach the turn off to Splash Dam Falls. There is no signs or markings so you just have to know where it is in order to find them. Once you locate the turn off, it is a short ways to a hobo camp/party spot of sorts where there is always lots of trash and things hanging on clothes lines. After this you follow a trail through the open area to reach the top of the falls where you can walk out on a huge flat rock where the entire river squeezes down into the narrow crevice of the falls.
Splash Dam Falls
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Posted on 25 February '12 by RAT, under RATtreks. No Comments.
For many years I have been wanting to see the falls on Painter Creek as they are at least 200 feet in height (overall) which is quite intriguing for a waterfall lover however, it seems that I waited too long as easy access is now not available. This is due to the landowner being victimized by theft and vandalism in recent years causing him to block off the access and tighten up on the security of his house and property that is located there. The only information (and pics) my research could find on these falls was obtained by coming in the hard way from Cassi Creek which also requires permission to cross private property not to mention hiking up and over a steep mountain with no trails through laurel hells and having to climb back up and over on the return trip. Add in the fact that this brings you out on top of the falls and to see them and get any decent pictures would require a dangerous descent down them and the reverse to get back. The details of that trip did not interest me so about a year or more ago I spoke with a nice man who lives in the last house on the Painter Creek road who gave me the name and number of the lawyer who owns the private property behind the massive gate there but I ended up misplacing that information by the time I was ready to use it ! It just so happens that while on a waterfall hike with my friend Dave Aldridge, on our way back from Margarite Falls one day we met a nice guy and his dog heading into the mountain for a camping trip who turned out to be the lawyers partner who gave us the name and number again. This was not lost this time and Dave managed to contact the property owner and get us permission to cross his property in order to get to the falls. So on Friday, January 6, 2012, Dave, Lou, Bol’Dar and myself set out to find our way to these back-country falls.
Upper part of Painter Creek Falls
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Posted on 15 February '12 by RAT, under RATtreks. 2 Comments.
My name is 'RAT' and I love the mountains and waterfalls of the East TN. area where I live and I hope you enjoy this blog about my outdoor adventures.
