THE WALLS OF JERICHO

 

 

We got off to lazy start on Monday.  We stopped at Cracker Barrel (the Wal-Mart of restaurants!) for breakfast.  We arrived shortly after a bus, so we actually had to wait in the gift shop (shudder) for a table.  Once we escaped the Cracker Barrel we headed west out of Chattanooga.  We drove to the Alabama trailhead for The Walls of Jericho, which is located south of the Tennessee trailhead but north of the horseback riders’ trailhead.  At least this time we drove down the correct road – unlike our previous attempt back in December.

 

 It was a sunny, cool morning, and there were only a couple of other cars in the parking area.  We noticed that there are some primitive campsites a short distance from the trailhead.  That is worth remembering if we decide to do this hike again.

 

The first 3 miles of the hike are rather ho hum.  A long, gradual descent brought us to a bridge over Hurricane Creek.  Along the way we passed entrances to several caves.  The first two didn’t look inviting, but the third begged to be explored.  The entrance is fairly large, so I donned my headlamp and descended into the darkness.  The initial descent was steep and slippery.  By the time I reached the bottom, I was concerned about whether I would be able to climb back out!  The cave was basically one large room with a few modest formations.  The highlight was spotting a cool cave critter – I think it was an orange salamander with an incredibly long tail.

 

From there we continued the long, gradual descent on switchbacks to Hurricane Creek.  We crossed it on a sturdy bridge, passed through a clearing, and continued to Turkey Creek.  On the far side we found a large camping area, which was one of several campsites we passed on our hike.  The Clark Cemetery is adjacent to the camping area.  It features some old gravestones, and, on our visit, quite a few wildflowers.  Boone decided that it would be a good place to roll around on his back.  I’ve heard of rolling in your grave, but rolling on a grave?  I decided that this was either bad manners or bad mojo and ran Boone out of there.

 

We passed a junction here with a trail that climbs to the top of the cliffs above the canyon.  I mis-read the trail map at the parking area, thinking that this trail made a loop with the trail through the canyon.  Apparently it doesn’t.  We continued upstream along Turkey Creek, towards the mouth of the canyon.

 

We passed many more wildflowers and a couple of campsites before the canyon narrowed and the walls steepened.  Before long a 100’ rock wall towered above us.  After a couple of steep ups and downs we descended back down to Turkey Creek.  We followed it a bit farther to the edge of a large pool.  It is bordered by cliffs on both sides, and is fed by a small, cascading waterfall.  Just upstream around a bend is a second waterfall.  I was eager to explore it, but I wanted to take my time at the lower falls. 

 

It was a sunny day and the light was poor for photography, but that didn’t stop me from trying.  I waded out into the pool and took some shots from underneath the overhanging cliff.  Meanwhile, Christy was fascinated by dozens of Yellow Swallowtail Butterflies fluttering about.

 

She eventually hiked ahead of me to the upper falls.  By the time I followed, she was scrambling up a dry pouroff farther up the canyon.  That part of Turkey Creek was dry.  The water that tumbles over the two waterfalls erupts from a cave in the side of the cliff.  As soon as I saw that, I just knew that I would have to explore up into that cave as far as I possibly could.

 

It turns out that isn’t very far at all.  I climbed to the top of the upper waterfall and approached the entrance to the cave.  I was at the brink of the falls, so I was extremely careful with my footing as I peered inside.  The water was roaring out of a fairly large tunnel, but only a few feet upstream it constricted.  It may be possible to crawl up in there if it is dry, but I doubt you’d make it very far.  I contented myself with taking photos from the mouth of the cave.

 

We lounged around a bit before beginning the hike out.  The climb back to the car was a steady ascent, but it wasn’t steep.  I thought it was actually pretty easy.  It’s considered a strenuous hike though, so don’t take my word for it!

 

That evening we finally drove to DeSoto State Park.  We bought 3 nights in the primitive campground.  By primitive, they mean “no RV’s”.  It’s a pretty nice place, with spacious sites.  There is only a pit toilet, but we had full access to the showers and bathrooms in the RV campground a short drive away.  The campsites really vary there though.  Our site featured a fire pit and one and a half picnic tables.  Some of the other sites had no amenities at all.  Best of all, we were right next to a picnic shelter.  That would come in handy if it rained later in the week.

 

The campground has around 20 sites and was about half full.  While we were setting up we were constantly entertained by the screams of the neighborhood children.  Eventually Christy remarked about one particularly enthusiastic bellow.  I said, “actually, that wasn’t a child.  It was a full-grown adult.  That’s why they call this the ‘primitive’ campground”.

 

Alcohol is prohibited in the campground, but I was suffering from a severe case of selective illiteracy, so I was completely incapable of reading the sign with that prohibition.  We enjoyed a nice campfire before heading to the tent.  The next day I planned a short morning hike while Christy was mountain biking.  Then we would hike together to DeSoto Falls that afternoon.



Continue reading about our Spring, 2016 trip to the Cumberland Plateau as we explore DeSoto State Park and the Little River Canyon.

Back to Alabama

Back to Hiking and Backpacking Trip Reports

Home



Please remember to Leave No Trace!