Stillhouse Hollow Falls State Natural Area

Stillhouse Hollow Falls opened last summer as a Tennessee State Natural Area. The 90 acre tract was acquired with the help of a number of conservation organizations from the open market. The 75′ waterfall on the property makes this a treasure worth preserving. The trail map can be found HERE. Some other useful information from the University Of Tennessee on the area can be found HERE.

Distance: 1.5 miles total, there and back
Total Elevation Climb: 325 feet, mainly ups on the way back
Trail type: single track dirt and rock
Temperature: lower 50s, sunshine and clear, blue skies
Time: 1.5 hours including 1 hour of stops and lollygagging
Significant features: waterfall!!!

Stillhouse is a great short hike with a big payoff. It’s also about 10 miles from my parents house, so it’s really convenient to grab some of mom’s groceries on the way back (which I did, thanks for the burger mom!). Tennessee Trails has some quite a bit of work on the trail since I was last at Stillhouse.

I headed down the trail with several switchbacks for about 1/2 mile. At the bottom, I crossed the unnamed stream over a bridge and walked parallel to the stream. I saw the small cascades, but that’s not Stillhouse! I ran into a friend from Tennessee Trails and his children who were on there way back up. I walked right up to the top side of the falls (there’s a trail to get right next to it now). I continued past the falls on the main trail, down some steps, across the stream again, and back towards the falls. I passed an old home site I didn’t noticed last time. It really isn’t that old with concrete block foundation and bricked chimney. The falls are just spectacular, and are a real treasure for the area. I think I’ll be at this swimming hole come summertime! I spent about an hour here reading and journaling before anyone else came down.