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.
Pictures are over HERE.
Loved it!! Have any of you been to Stillhouse? Are you likely to this summer?
