2018 Trip 3: April 14, KY and TN

Corbin, KY. April 14

Cumberland Falls on the Cumberland River, south central Kentucky

Winter Storm Xanto is making its way across the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. and we are caught in its southern rain. We left Gatlinburg behind as the early morning drive was still in warmth and sunlight. Construction on I-40 was at its weekend height but leaving early translated only into a slight delay. First stop Wartburg TN, a two-hour drive from Gatlinburg. Can we make it before the rain moves in?

Wartburg is the headquarters for the Obed Wild and Scenic River, a unit of the National Park Service. We did not expect to spend much time here, the Obed is known for whitewater kayaking and rock climbing. Neither of these are activities meant for us. The National Park Service describes a Wild and Scenic River as: a designation that includes high bluffs, sculpted cliffs, and lush forested slopes that creep to the edge of the river, which can be placid in summer and torrential in winter and spring.

Looking down at Clear Creek in Obed Wild and Scenic River from Lilly Bluff overlook

The headquarters had a video and we watched that after chatting with the ranger on duty, a guy originally from Pottstown PA. We drove another 20 minutes to Lilly Bluff, an overlook offering vistas of the river far below and the cliffs on each side. As we left the overlook area, the rain drops started with a light drizzle. First priority accomplished. The rain allowed us to justify not staying around to go on a hike.

Second stop was lunch, the Preston Steakhouse in Oneida, TN. Oneida is 3,700 people and appeared to be the local shopping area for the region. Lunch was reasonable, back to bar-b-q.

After refueling, our third stop was the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. Big South Fork is 125,000 acres, twice the size of Congaree National Park that we visited a week ago. It straddles the Kentucky and Tennessee border with possibly 25% in Kentucky and 75% in Tennessee. The Cumberland Plateau with its hills, forests, and fast flowing streams provide a wild and rugged terrain. The Big South Fork was the first NPS unit with the combined designation of national river and national recreation area. This occurred after private companies stopped the logging, coal mining, timbering, and oil drilling that pretty much left the area a mess.

Views of the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River in Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area

It was raining hard by now and we quickly realized that there was a lot more to do here than we would accomplish in the current weather conditions. We walked down by the river and took some photos and marked this a place to come back to in the future.

Just over the Kentucky line near Corbin Ky is the Cumberland Falls State Resort Park. It will be our lodging for the next two nights. Initial impression was not good. We had booked a spacious woodland cabin with fridge, microwave, etc. The numerous ants on the kitchen counter were unexpected and unwelcome. We moved to a smaller room in the main Dupont Lodge without fridge, microwave or ants.

The park was established in 1931 and several of the buildings and trails were constructed by the CCC and WPA. The big attraction here is the 65 foot high falls of the Cumberland River. In addition, each month at full moon (with a clear sky obviously) the falls glow in a manner described as a Moonbow. Supposedly the only other location like this is at Victoria Falls in Africa. We will miss it, it is not full moon and it certainly is not a clear sky tonight.

Ed and Chris April 15