Weekend Gem-Scotts Gulf, Lost Creek and Dog Cove Traverse

These three state parks are close together but offer unique hiking destinations that compel the wilderness traveler to see all of in one go. Plus, 2 of them have no legal campsites in there borders so you kind of have to huff it or come back for a day hike, which we all know isn’t as good. We did a two nights at the Virgin Falls Camp (#8) and adventured around Dog Cove from there. We left the bulk of our gear and picked them after the Caney River section. I started at the Virgin Falls Parking Area and went up the road to the left a few hundred feet to the Poly Branch TH. Take the only trail there signed for Poly for a few feet before it splits, head left marked with a destination of a ranch off yonder. This trail brings you to close to the start of Polly Branch so you can follow its progress as you go. Follow the path as it seems like you are going to pop out in the back of some dude’s farm but don’t and drop down to Polly for a crossing. Soon you drift away from the creek and see a sign of a side trail leading to Jenny’s Falls. It’s in your best interest to head that way to see these charming falls. Once you are back at that intersection you should make a left and head down to get down to Polly Falls and the Caney River. Cross above the Falls and join up with the beautiful Caney as it cuts itself through the Cumberland Plateau landscape. This impressive waterway would surely nice to camp along it on another trip, there 2 of them in different locations when you come back next time. Soon you climb up remote feeling slopes to Gunstock Falls where a busted dam above have made this area more like a glacial tributary that an Appalachian stream. Soon the Holloway Connector TR on the right takes you back to the road you need to connect with again that brings you back to your car and the rest of gear and a luke warm Gatorade. Hit the road and make a right for a mile to get your gear and head down to Virgin Falls. A unassuming landscape soon starts transforming into a full blown wilderness experience in less than a mile. Soon Big Branch Falls come into view. This lovely little area is worth stopping for a spell, you should grab a lunch break here if you can. Next up is the Cable Camps located by a nice cove, this is also a nice place to saddle up for the night. Keep on past the rocky area around Big Laurel Branch Falls. This is the second time I have seen them and the scene is still as mesmerizing as the first. A robust cascade that disappears in a city sized rain gutter crevice behind the Falls, it’s an amazing sight that can’t be explained unless your there yourself. That’s the mountain life in a nutshell am I right? A little bit more hiking delivers you to a viewpoint midway up 100ft Virgin Falls. Head right to Camp #8 and set up as the night creeps in. Once you lay down you realize how amazing it is you to be sleeping so close to this prominent waterfall. Life can be so perfect some times!

Wake up and get yourself for a big day of hiking. Leave most of your gear at camp and head to the left of the falls following a red trail headed to Lost Cove. The way meanders in the forest for a while before climbing to a divide between Scotts Gulf’s Virgin Falls Watershed over into Lost Creek.  Start dropping down with random big boulders spread around the landscape giving it a dramatic feel. It feels that this Lost Creek Area is more remote and less traveled than anywhere you have been on this trip before. Mossy trail leads you down to an intersection where you make a right headed towards Dog Cove. The way starts climbing before joining with the Creek again and leads onwards to the lovely cathedral of Dry Creek Falls. This is truly one of the most pristine areas of East Tennessee’s wilderness arsenal. The Creek is more moss than stone with lovely shades of green that are difficult to express in words. A little more climbing brings you to 2 tiered Dry Creek Falls surrounded by steep walls lined in lichens of sea foam green that cling high above exploration. The sincere wilderness traveler feels bad even stepping off trail here because it might disturb this integrate scene laying so gracefully before you. Once you get your fill, keep climbing a bit before leveling off onto a nice shelf. The way goes up and down a bit through broken cliff rows, big boulders and small creeks. Down to the left you can see some isolated farm plots far below where a country dog is barking aimlessly. Getting closer to the cliffs edge before dropping down to Dog Cove, you can see Meditation Rock siting connected by only 3 sides to the edge. This man made looking viewpoint even has a flat rock near the edge perfect for a lonely travelers lunch break as they spy the action below them. Soon a short decent leads you to the head of Dog Cove at a rural TH. Cross the bridge and make a right to enter the meadow that has the first historic home, Beecher Wallace. This appears to be used by State as a ranger station and perhaps for seasonal folks to stay at too! This would be ideal situation for a under payed wilderness person to take in a summer season. With no one in sight, we kept on to Jimmy Davis’s Place located in a nice cove on its own. The house is getting worked on now and has a new tin roof on it and it looks like a future paint job too! They are gutting the inside and redoing the place to its original glory, should be a fantastic site when completed. We turned around here 8 miles in because of time, but it would be worthwhile I’m sure to see the final homestead and complete the loop up to Low Gap and Arch. We retraced our steps and got back to our camp feeling thoroughly satisfied with the day’s hiking.

Get you allergy stricken ass up and get camp busted down. Follow the white trail back up through Big Laurel Falls and such. Once you get past the Cable Camp area the terrain mellows out and you smoothly sail back to your car. Get a cheesesteak burrito and salad at a Buc-ees. Discuss your next adventure on the Cumberland Plateau and enjoy the rest of your day!