Soak Creek TTA Scenic City

 Tammy led a great hike at Soak Creek. We met at the Piney River parking area to arrange a shuttle for the 15 hikers. We started the hike at the Stinging Fork trailhead. Several folks had not been here before. The waterfall was beautiful today with lots of water. Then forward, following the creek, up and down the ridges. Saw quite a few hepatica leaves, a few violet leaves, and one buttercup blooming, jut a couple hundred yards from ice still below a rock wall.  Tennessee weather, cold enough for ice, warm enough to make flowers bloom.  

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Soak Creek TTA

Tammy's report:

 Soak Creek trail has a great diversity of sights to see. We started at the Piney River parking lot and climbed over the metal gate at the entrance of a rocky ATV road. No signage, just the gate indicating the start of the trail. We walked along the bluffs towering on one side of the path and the cascading creek on the other side. After walking about 1.5 miles, there was a gap in the bluffs and white blazes directing us to ascend the bluff. And that is the signature of the Soak Creek Trail- going up then down the mountain side countless times. But the wildflowers entertained us along the way. The trail also wandered over flat areas next to the tumbling creek where we saw yellow butterflies flying along up the creek. Seeing the sign for Stinging Fork Falls was indeed a relief. We scampered over the rocks to experience the falls. In awe, we sat in the amphitheater, watched the water crash over the rocky cliff and fall into the creek below to the thunder of its own making. A late lunch, a photo-op and finished the trail by hiking up the wooden steps for one final ascent out of the ravine to the Stinging Fork Falls parking lot. We had the whole trail to ourselves until we got to the top of the ravine, where we met hikers coming from the parking area to see the falls. The parking lot was full. 

7 miles and 1700 ft elevation change. 

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Soak Creek - TTA

TTA joint hike Soddy Daisy and Plateau led by Ranger Josh and Ranger Ryan. We had 17 hikers plus the two Rangers. Lots of wildflowers and  water in the roadbed to try to rockhop around and through. We hiked the 2.5 miles to the creek crossing, and lunch by the creek.There is an old well in the area to the left of the creek crossing. It's fairly deep and rock lined. 

This area will someday be linked to Stinging Fork Falls SNA and Piney Falls SNA. 
Thanks to Cheryl and George for organizing the hike. 

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