RATtreks

Waterfall Tour, Backwards – March 15, 2014

I was recently contacted by a local guy whom I had become acquainted with on the Tennessee Waterfalls Facebook page asking for information on how to get to Josiah and Lilybeth Falls. He was planning on going with another person from the waterfalls group to try and find them and had heard that I was the authority on this area.  They were wanting to go from the bottom up starting at Pine Ridge Falls and asked if I thought they could find them. I had to be truthful and tell them that I did not recommend that due to there being no trails, some dangerous cliffs and steep climbs that the best way was to come from the top down but that going that way would also require being shown the way due to the old road into Devil Fork Valley being more or less impassable having been devastated with blow downs caused  by the pine bark beetles a few years ago. I tried to get some others together to do the Waterfall Tour but was unsuccessful given the short notice. I also actually did not feel quite up to such a long and strenuous all day trip so I reconsidered going from the bottom up and ended up agreeing to show them the way.

My car was in the shop so Jon Phillips was nice enough to go out of his way to swing by and pick me up so that we could meet up with Jason Horton at the Longarm Branch trail head around 8:30am. We got there a few minutes before Jason, so Jon cleaned up some trash around the trail head while we waited. Soon enough Jason pulled in and started getting out of his truck, and getting out of his truck, and getting out of his truck ! Yeah this took a minute as Jason is 7′ 4″ tall !! With a size 17 boot, of course I started calling him Bigfoot ! As we began hiking up the Longarm Branch Trail we hit it off very well as if we had known each other for years. it just goes to show you that meeting people on the internet with common interests especially when it comes to hiking and waterfalls, is a safe thing to do. It did not take long to reach Pine Ridge Falls where we had to climb around the right edge which is a bit tricky but none of us had any issues. Please be aware that if you try this, to be extremely careful as there is not much to hold on to nor much of a place to step and a fall here could be serious. Perhaps this old picture might put it in perspective.

Continuing up Devil Creek on the now overgrown trail, crossing the creek a couple of times, it did not take long to reach the old log road that leads to almost Josiah Falls. I showed them the way across the creek there and up through the large boulder garden to reach the base of the falls. The water level was decent and Josiah Falls is a very photogenic falls. It was a cloudy day and we were there early so I knew these guys could get some great pics as they were carrying some much nicer cameras than what I have ! we stayed here for at least 30 minutes enjoying the beauty and taking what pics we could get.

From there the real adventure began ! I started the steep climb up the right side of the falls making my way to the ninja trail that goes over the top at just the right place to keep one from climbing higher than you need to but yet staying off the slick, slanted rock that hides just beneath the leaves near the top edge of the falls however, I did show Jason the really secret ninja trail around a very narrow ledge that leads around the top edge of the falls which is plenty dangerous and he did take that way around and over the top which is shorter. I was definitely impressed ! Jon and I ended up coming back that way later that day as you get a great view of the top of Josiah falls that you can not see from below as there is a lot more to them. Once across the top I led them down to what I call the split. There is another creek coming in on the right (when going this direction) and a bonus waterfall there which is unnamed, at least until now as Jon and Jason quickly named them Rat Falls.

We opted to not to stop and take pics but instead to continue to Lilybeth Falls while the light was still good so, I showed them the secret path of least resistance around the left side of the cliff there after crossing the right fork of the creek, which continues up the left fork to the next and much larger cliff. The Devil’s Slide Falls is out to the left end of this cliff but, I led us up the right side to reach the top where it is a short distance through the trees and laurels to the base of Lilybeth Falls. The guys were now in Heaven as they quickly setup their gear to get some pics. I pointed out some of the cool locations and angles that I had learned over the years  and then setup o get a few shots for myself. This was one of the first times I had ever been there this early in the day and I was thinking it was a really good idea to be going backwards  on this tour as it had only taken about an hour and a half to get there with a distance of only about a mile and a half if that. I still wonder where the names of these falls came from as I have always called Lilybeth Falls the Upper Devil Fork Falls and Josiah the Middle Devil Fork Falls and Pine Ridge Falls was called the Lower Devil Fork Falls. For many years we passed right by the Devils Slide Falls so I am not sure what we would have called those had we known about them some 30 years ago when we first started coming there ! We spent quite awhile at Lilybeth Falls taking pics.

From there I led them downstream a short ways to the top of the Devils Slide Falls to get that view. The sun was just starting to burn through the clouds by this time. There is a spot in the creek just above there where the water cascades over a few small drop offs which made for some good pics if you have a good camera. We all took some time there laying on the rock like lizards to get that shot ! Of course mine were nowhere near as nice as theirs !

We donned our packs and went back down the cliff doing what I call the ‘slide for life’, then made our way along the base of the cliff over to the Devils Slide Falls where we took a long lunch break while everyone got what pics they could.

From there we made our way back down to the smaller (but no less difficult) cliff at the split to setup and get some shots of the newly named Rat Falls. There are some really nice cascades  just prior to the split and Jon and Jason decided it was worth climbing down to them. I was glad they did because they got some really nice shots there.

We all got some decent shots of Rat Falls as the sun does not really get into there that much. (although I was unable to locate any of Jason`s photos of RAT Falls)

From there we climbed back up and over to Josiah, this time taking the shorter but more dangerous route along the cliff ledge just above the top of the falls. Jason had gone ahead and was already at the base of the falls taking more pics. In his haste he had ran off and left his water bottle and carrier back at Rat Falls but, luckily we seen it and returned it to him. Coming back down the steep side of Josiah falls is treacherous but the last part is a slide for life which I did Bear Grylles style ! Jon followed just behind me.

After a few more shots of Josiah with the now different light, we continued downstream stopping at some of the pools and cascades we had passed up on the way in.

From there it did not take long to get back to the top of Pine Ridge Falls where there was a nice family there that seemed rather surprised that someone would be coming out that way and seemed fascinated by the way we climbed across the falls on the narrow cliff there. They were some nice folks and had us take their picture in front of the falls using their cameras which I gladly did. They had some questions about the area before they left. We soon followed behind them and within a few minutes were back at the trucks. It has been a grand day in the woods and I was happy to have met some new waterfall loving friends. I am sure we will be hiking somewhere in the wilds again in the near future.

The night before this trip I had mentioned to a friend that I was going hiking with two really good photographers and that I was planning on picking their brains for some good camera knowledge and tricks. When I returned home that same friend asked me what I had learned to which I replied: “I only learned one thing,,,,, that I need to buy a Canon 60 D” !

To see these and many photo`s of these and many other waterfalls, please visit our Photo Gallery here.