October Waterfall Tour 2018
OCTOBER WATERFALL TOUR
Based out of Cumberland Mountain State Park
- Monday, October 1 through Wednesday, October 3
- $350 per person
- Package price includes meals, all interpretive programming, taxes, gratuities, and transportation to the various destinations. Price does not include lodging.
Join State Naturalist Randy Hedgepath and Ranger Cara Alexander on a three-day exploration of some of our most beautiful state waterfalls. This outdoor adventure features the waterfalls at Burgess Falls State Park, the spectacular beauty of Colditz Cove State Natural Area, Cummins Falls State Park, Frozen Head State Park and Rock Island State Park. Focusing on the beauty and history of these majestic falls, the tours include legends and folklore, and other educational and interpretive programs unique to each location. Tour begins at 1:00 PM on Monday through noon on Wednesday.
To register for the tour:
To make cabin reservations at Cumberland Mountain:
Photo ©Cara Alexander
Day 1: Monday, October 1
** A sturdy walking stick is recommended for the various hiking throughout the three days. For your convenience, you can find walking sticks available for purchase in the Fall Creek Falls gift shop located in the restaurant lobby.
1:00 PM: Meet guides Cara and Randy along with your fellow tour members in the meeting room at the park restaurant. Programs will be held in this room which is downstairs from the lobby. Directions can be obtained from the restaurant desk staff. Our first excursion will be to Colditz Cove State Natural Area where we will walk the easy to moderate trail to see Northrup Falls and the spectacular bluffs, old trees and interesting plants. We will return to Cumberland Mountain by 5 PM.
5:00-6:00 PM: Check into your Cumberland Mountain State Park cabin if you’ve chosen to stay with us.
6:00 PM: Dinner as a group in the park restaurant followed by an informal program by the State Naturalist about waterfalls of Tennessee which will be presented in the downstairs meeting room.
Day 2: Tuesday, October 2
7:00-8:00 AM: Meet for Breakfast in the park restaurant. A bag lunch will be provided to enjoy at the Burgess Falls picnic area. Please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions.
8:00 AM: Our all day trip will include Cummins Falls, Burgess Falls, and Rock Island State Parks. We will walk a total of 2 miles with mostly easy trail but there are short rugged sections. Good walking shoes, a backpack, and a walking stick are recommended. We will return to Cumberland Mountain by 5:00 PM.
6:00 PM: Meet for group dinner in the park restaurant.
Day 3: Wednesday, October 3
7:30-8:30 AM: Meet for breakfast in the park restaurant and please be sure to check out of your cabin before the excursion if you have chosen to stay with us.
8:30 AM: Our final day will be a trip to Frozen Head Sate Park where we will walk the easy 1 mile roundtrip trail to Debord Falls. We will return to Cumberland Mountain by noon.
All times are Central time.
Download Schedule (pdf)
Helpful Links
Cumberland Mountain State Park
Burgess Falls State Park
Colditz Cove State Natural Area
Cummins Falls State Park
Frozen Head State Park
Rock Island State Park
About Your Guides
State Naturalist, Randy Hedgepath has more than 34 years of experience with Tennessee State Parks. Randy has served as a Ranger Naturalist at South Cumberland and Radnor Lake State Parks. He was appointed State Naturalist for Tennessee State Parks in 2007. A graduate of UT-Martin and former National Park Service Interpretive Specialist, Randy is one of the most sought after interpretive specialists in the southeastern United States.
Park Ranger Cara Alexander graduated from U.T. Knoxville with a B.S. in Forestry and a minor in Wildlife and Fisheries Science. She began her career with Tennessee State Parks as the Seasonal Interpretive Ranger at David Crockett Birthplace and Fall Creek Falls State Parks. As a full time Ranger since 2011, Cara has worked at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park in Nashville and at Fall Creek Falls State Park. Her interests include hiking, birding, and photography.