Guest River Gorge and Little Stony Gorge – 9-25-2014
I finally got a chance to go on a hiking adventure with another new friend (and brother from another mother) Michael Taylor. He took John Forbes and I up to the Guest River Gorge where we hiked a short ways down to see some of the small waterfalls there. it was a bright sunny day and the water level was rather low so I will have to return in the future now that I know where it is. The first thing you come to from the parking area is a long tunnel (The Swede Tunnel built in 1922). This is a remnant of the old coal mining days when the trains were used to haul the coal. There are some coal veins still visible and some traces of the old mines that have been filled in with concreted rocks and lots of rock cliffs that tower high above you as you follow the river down into the gorge. The trail is of the ‘rails to trail’ type and is very smooth but does descend the whole time and there is not good access on the lower end (private) so one must come back out uphill.
The Swede Tunnel built 1922
Inside the tunnel. You can see the lines where the narrow strips of wood was used to form the concrete. This was most likely hardwood flooring strips.
This a very long tunnel
New bridge that was built to replace the old previous trestle bridges that the trains used to run on that are long since gone. This goes over the Guest River.
The Guest River
Looking back at the first bridge/river crossing
The Guest River Trail is 5.8 miles long and follows the gentle grade of an old railroad grade that was cut through Stone Mountain on its way towards the Clinch River. I am told it has 300 million year old sandstone cliffs that are 400 feet high above you in some places. We only went a couple of miles down before turning around as we had other locations we planned to see on this day but, I am sure I will be back here again soon. After the tunnel the trail crosses the Guest River and from there we continued down to a side trail off to the left where a couple of small falls are located on a side stream.
Upper Crab Apple Falls
Upper Crab Apple Falls
Upper Crab Apple Falls
Upper Crab Apple Falls
Lower Crab Apple Falls
Lower Crab Apple Falls
Lower Crab Apple Falls
After these we ventured a ways farther down the gorge before turning back.
John holding up this huge rock !
John looking for another huge rock to get under
John trying to figure out a way to get on top of this enormous rock in the river,,, umm, not that way John !
Obviously John found a way up from the front side !
From there we headed over towards the Little Stony Recreation Area stopping first at what is called Bear Rock where we got some phenomenal views of the Little Stony Gorge below us. I hope to get back here when the leaves are in full color.
John hanging off the edge of Bear Rock
View from Bear Rock looking out over the Little Stony Creek Gorge with part of the Clinch Mountain in the distance
View from Bear Rock = looking over Little Stony Gorge towards Clinch Mtn – I am told that is Moccasin Gap that divides the Clinch. One of only two major gaps in the Clinch Mtn range, is in Scott County. It was used by the Cherokee and Shawnee, and was the first gap through which the Daniel Boone Wilderness Road passed on its way to the better-known Cumberland Gap and Kentucky. Today it serves as a primary commercial route for industry, retail, and tourism businesses
The Gnome of Bear Rock !
View from Bear Rock
View from Bear Rock
Hanging my boots over the cliffs edge at Bear Rock enjoying the killer view
Looking down the Little Stony Creek Gorge from Bear Rock
It is a long way down !
Looking the other way towards the upper end of the Little Stony Creek Gorge
The narrow trail across Bear Rock
View from Bear Rock
Huge table rock on the edge of Bear Rock. I call this spearhead rock as it looks like a spear shaped arrowhead chipped out by Indians.
Looking down one of the cliffs. You can see bird poop where they apparently perch often. Maybe this one that was flying high above us.
Looking down into a huge crack to find a hole just large enough for a body to fit through en route to the bottom way way down below ! You can tell by the graffiti that people do this !
Colorful tree on top of Bear Rock
Me hanging ten off Bear Rock (Photo by John Forbes)
After literally hanging off the Bear Rock, we continued down to the trail head of Little Stony and made our way down to see the first two waterfalls there. Here are the upper falls:
Upper Stony Creek Falls
Upper Stony Creek Falls
Upper Stony Creek Falls
Upper Stony Creek Falls
Upper Stony Creek Falls
Red stone, red stone, red stone,,,
Upper Stony Creek Falls
Upper Stony Creek Falls
Upper Stony Creek Falls
Upper Stony Creek Falls
Upper Stony Creek Falls
Looking up the cliff on the right side of the upper falls
Standing behind Upper Stony Creek Falls
Upper Stony Creek Falls
Upper Stony Creek Falls
Upper Stony Creek Falls
Upper Stony Creek Falls
Me sitting at the top of Upper Stony Creek Falls
John Forbes sitting at the top of the Upper Stony Creek Falls
RAT sitting at the top of Upper Stony Creek Falls (Photo by John Forbes)
RAT behind the upper falls
Resident Gnome at the upper falls
The Gnome at the upper falls
Farther downstream there is the middle falls as seen here: (see if you can see why I call these Dragon Falls)
Middle Stony Creek Falls
Middle Stony Creek Falls
Middle Stony Creek Falls
Middle Stony Creek Falls
Middle Stony Creek Falls
Middle Stony Creek Falls
Middle Stony Creek Falls
Middle Stony Creek Falls
Middle Stony Creek Falls
Middle Stony Creek Falls
We did not have time to go to the lower falls, and there are close to a dozen more if you wish to explore off trail up the many side streams that flow into the gorge. I can`t wait to come back here to see them all when I have more time now that I know where this place is at.
Cool looking fungus found near lower Crab Apple Falls
Tiny fungus found near upper Crab Apple Falls
It was sunset by the time we got back to our cars in Kingsport, TN. and it had been another awesome day enjoying Nature with some new and awesome friends. I am already looking forward to the next adventure.
Sunset over Kingsport TN
Sunset skies looking towards Bays Mtn on my drive home (blurry due to moving)
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.
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