The Soddy Daisy Chapter met at the Wal-Mart in Soddy Daisy where we left by 8:00 a.m. and carpooled to the Mabbitt Springs trailhead located just off of Wilson Ave. on Glenway Ave.. Since Roberts Mill Road was closed due to continuing road stabilization George had to travel up Signal Mtn Blvd. and work his way north towards the trailhead with a few missed turns along the way - Lol. He was familiar with coming in to it from the north but this way was a little new to him but we finally made it and everyone piled out of their vehicles and were eager to get a group picture made and hit the trail. There is a parking pull-off on Glenway Ave (which will hold about 3 vehicles). You will see a little foot bridge that leads you to the trail. The distance to Falling Water Falls is approximately 2.5 miles and would be rated as easy if it wasn’t for the total five miles to complete the hike so I would rate it as moderate but only due to the overall distance travelled. The only negative for this trail is that it’s not marked so you have to look for a slight depression in the ground but I didn’t find that to be too difficult since you can tell that it’s a popular trail for this area of Signal Mtn.
Some local history for this area that I found was that in the 1870s with the outbreak of two epidemics, cholera and yellow fever, that fell on Chattanooga many of the wealthier families felt the need to escape the epidemic so the families traveled on horses and in buggies up Rogers Gap Road, today’s “W,” in hopes the high ground and cool air of Walden’s Ridge complemented by the waters of Mabbitt Springs would protect their families from the cholera. Then again in 1878, the yellow fever epidemic started a second exodus from Chattanooga. The first families escaping the epidemics stayed in hotels that sprang up on the ridge and later established summer homes, especially in the area near and north of the top of Rogers Gap Road. The area became known as Summertown.
Located within a 136-acre, State of Tennessee Natural Area, this waterfall, named for Little Falling Water Creek that feeds it, drops 110 feet from this part of the Cumberland Plateau into Falling Water Gorge. From the top it may not look that impressive (could have been based on my exaggerated fear of heights) so my next hike to this falls will definitely have to be to the bottom of the falls and I’m told that my favorite bush-whacking hiker, Boodie Fox, is the man I need to see to reach this location from the Soddy Daisy area. Once we had a few minutes at the Falls we hiked back to the trailhead and agreed upon a location to have our usual Tuesday meal following the hike. We drove to the Home Folks Restaurant (Buffet Style) in Soddy Daisy and had a great meal with good friends! Happy Hiking! For a few pictures click here or on the Falling Waters tab above.
Larry