Rod Fruin Photography

In mid July I ventured up into the Smoky Mountains in eastern Tennessee and spent a few days around the Roaring Fork Trail

Roaring Fork Trail is a trail, that for 5.5 miles winds along and across the creek from which it takes its name.Essentially, the whole stream is a series of amazing cascades.

It spills down one of the steepest water gradients in the eastern United States.

The trail passes through an old-growth forest of Eastern hemlocks. The spires of the tall, straight evergreens sometimes reach more than 100 feet, the diameter of the sturdy trunks below stretching as much as 5 feet across. Hardwoods such as sweet birch and black locust grow in these damp woodlands, as does silverbell (Halesia tetraptera), a primarily southern Appalachian tree whose white, bell-shaped flowers emerge in spring. Below these trees thrives an understory of rhododendron, mountain laurel, flame azalea, and dog-hobble.

The area along the creek is home to an abundance of birds and other wildlife, such as black-capped and Carolina chickadees, tufted titmice, and pileated woodpeckers, as well as the barred owl. The retreating flanks of a black bear are frequently seen hustling out of sight of passing hikers.

Water is a constant companion on this journey. Cascades, rapids, and falls adorn the roadside. The sound of rushing water is never far away. The air feels damp and tropical throughout the summer months, yet the icy water rarely reaches 60F degrees.