Water Sources Fiery Gizzard Update

From Assistant Park Manager Bill Knapp:

Water sources around the Gizzard are pretty well gone. Small Wilds, you can occasionally find a puddle to filter from but for the most part its gone. I wouldn't depend on it.

At Ravens Point the creek is dry. Nothing there to work with.

At the CCC campsite you can still get water at the bathrooms or down at the creek.

Father Adamz you can still get water at the bathrooms or there is some water going over the falls to filter from but not a lot. If it continues to stay hot it won't be there for long.

We are having periodic and scattered rain but it is still the dry season and what falls is quickly absorbed into the ground or evaporates.

Water Sources for Backpackers & Hikers

The midpoint of the Summer is almost here and the drought prone Cumberland Plateau is reacting to the lack of rainfall the past 6-8 weeks. Backpackers and hikers need to be aware of available water sources.

Check with the Rangers for the lastest updates.

Assistant Park Manager Bill Knapp reports:

Fiery Gizzard sites:

Small Wilds Campsite, very small puddles in the creek. (Not dependable).
Ravens Point, very small puddles in the creek. (Not dependable).
CCC, You can filter from the Gizzard, still large swimming hole.
Father Adamz, Foster Falls is still flowing, not much, but it's there.

Savage Gulf sites:

Dinky Line, no water
Savage Falls, water in the splash pool barely flowing.
Hobbs Cabin, Spring very dry (not dependable)
Collins East, water in boulder crossing, puddles /plunge pool.
Collins West, Spring very dry (not dependable)
Sawmill, Spring flowing would not acomodate large groups quickly.
Alum Gap, creek on top dried up, have to drop down to Big Creek to get water.
Stone Door Ranger Station, spiggot
Savage Gulf Ranger station, spiggot
Stage Coach Road, spring very dry (not dependable)

Water Sources for Backpackers & Hikers Update

From Assistant Park Manager Bill Knapp:

For the Fiery Gizzard, as a result of the recent rain, we are seeing some sizable puddles here and there to filter from. I am still telling people to pack their water in, just in case a large group is ahead of them. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Over this past weekend, almost every campground in the park was full. That's a lot of people for a little bit of water.

Ranger Jason is heading out on a Ravens point loop hike Sunday. He told me he is going to scout a little bit and would let me know what he finds. Will update again soon.

-Bill

From Ranger George Shinn:

We received under 1/2 inch rain the last week, more expected this week. There is a little water running over waterfalls and most creeks and tributaries have some water in them. The springs are still struggling, we are doing best to keep leaves and debris out of them. Stage Road & Collins Gulf springs are dry, but one can get water by taking a short hike to creeks located on map. It is dry, but water is available. We are expecting for situation to only get better this week.

Water Sources for Backpackers & Hikers Update

Note: We have had a little rain in the past 36 hours but not enough to make a significant difference for stream and spring flow improvements.

From Ranger Jamie Hambrock at Stone Door Ranger Station:

Water on the Stone Door side of the park is still flowing some at Schwoon springs, Ranger Falls and Greeter Falls. It probably won't change for awhile unless we get significant amounts of rain.

Water Sources for Backpackers & Hikers Update

Note that rain is in the forecast for the next several days but it is not raining yet.

From Ranger George Shinn, Savage Gulf Ranger Station:

We have no water except at the base of Savage Falls. There is some water puddled up in major creeks: Jumping Branch, Meadow Creek, Suter Falls and below going to Horsepound, but disappears in the middle underground. No springs are reliable as they are slow to fill up and we have had full campgrounds the past two weekends and many campers during the week. Folks will need to carry their water if they go any further than Savage Falls to camp.

We need lots of rain!

Water Sources for Backpackers & Hikers Update

From Ranger George Shinn at Savage Gulf Ranger Station:

Thankfully we are receiving rain today that should drastically help our small creeks and springs, but even with this we are so dry that it will only temporarily relieve some stress. Visitors shouldn't have too much trouble though finding water this weekend, it will at least be pooled up in many places.

On the other hand, the rain has put our parking lot project behind, so it has stopped this week, we are allowing vehicles to park, will have to be pushed to next week. Next week, Tuesday the 14th through Thursday the 16th, the parking lot at Savage Gulf off Highway 399 will be closed for repair and construction. The rest of the parking lots at Greeter Falls, Stone Door and Collins Gulf access will be open for visitor use day hikers.

Please advise all campers to make trek itinerary accordingly and park at Collins or Stone Door for the week of 14-16th of October, because they will not be able to park at Savage during those dates.

Stone Door Water Update

From Ranger Jamie Hambrock:

Schwoon Spring, Ranger Falls and Greeter falls are the only reliable sources on the Stone Door side of the Park that I can be sure are still good. I am pretty sure all the seasonal springs and streams are dry. Most of Big Creek is dry also, just a little section below Alum Gap has a little water.

Water Sources for Backpackers & Hikers

From Ranger George Shinn at the Savage Gulf Ranger Station:

Savage Gulf is extremely dry, there is no water available at campgrounds with the exception of Savage Falls.

There are some bigger creek crossings where one might be able to get a little water filtered, Jumping Branch and Meadow Creek on the North Rim Trail, Boulders Crossing on Collins Rim Trail and others are puddled in a few places.

Do not rely on springs as some fill up rather slowly and there are many large groups and folks camping now that drain them quickly as well as draining those puddles.

Please contact the Ranger Stations few days before your trek and get latest information for your itinerary.

We may see a fire ban, too, if we don't get rain soon.

South Cumberland Waterfalls in Full Flow

Park Manager John Christof reports today:

We got about six inches of rain as a result of the hurricane coming through this week. The waterfalls are great. This is a perfect opportunity to see and photograph our waterfalls in full flow surrounded by rich green vegetation. I hope everyone can get up here to see it while the water is high.

At present, there should be no problem finding water which is good news for Labor Day weekend backpackers.

Water Sources for Backpackers & Hikers Update

The dry season is upon us and while we have had a little rain over the past weekend, it isn't enough to keep all the wet weather streams in the park flowing. Here is an update from the Rangers about water sources in the Park:

Stone Door side of Savage Gulf

Water is at the usual dry summer levels. As for the Stone Door side of Savage Gulf, the seasonal stream near Alum Gap is not flowing but still has a few pools of water near the edge of the plateau, but this could dry up at any time. Ranger Falls, Schwoon Springs, and Greeter Falls are still reliable water sources (when purified of course). Ranger Jamie Hambrock

Fiery Gizzard

Creeks are not running at Small Wilds or Ravens Point, but there is still some standing water to filter. The Gizzard is still flowing so the CCC Campsite still has a water source. Father Adamz (Boy Scout Camppsite) is fine as well (barely). Ranger Jason Reynolds

Posted by Ron Castle

A Trip to the Park Between Christmas & New Year's

April asks a few questions about planning a trip during the 12 Days of Christmas, which is a great time to see South Cumberland.

What about water? As noted in the Friends newsletter last week, Ranger Jamie reports that most of the normal watering holes have water again. Carrying a little extra water as a precaution would be a good idea.

Is it possible that the Connector Trail between Stone Door and Hobbs Cabin could be made impassible as the result of a big rain? Yes this is always a possibility, but the bridges built in the past several years have improved the passability in all but the most extreme conditions. A safety note about high water crossings the hard way: don't. Wait for the water to recede to a safe level. The Rangers will come looking for you. Stay on the trails.

Are there deer hunters on the North Plateau this year? No, the Park is closed to hunting this year. The North Plateau has been open to hunting in recent years, but not this year, the dry weather conditions being one of the reasons.

Best wishes for the holidays and Merry Christmas,

Ron Castle

South Cumberland Water Source Update

The drought in Tennessee has affected the availability of water for backpackers at South Cumberland. We have had rain the past week. Here is the latest news from the Park:

Ranger Jamie Hambrock from Stone Door Ranger Station: Water at Schwoon spring is just dripping one drop at a time. It may dry up at any moment. The rain has not affected the springs on our side much at all. Most riverbeds and springs are still dry. Greeter Falls plunge pool is the only reliable source of water on Stone Door side. I have not checked Ranger Falls since it rained, but it was dry before it rained. Even if it is flowing it probably won't last long.

Ranger George Shinn from Savage Gulf Ranger Station: Even with the rain we received the water is still very low, the ground soaked it up. Our springs are not completely dry anymore, they have a little wetness. The creeks have a little water puddled up here and there. Savage Falls is a large puddle with no water flowing and Horsepound Falls and Suter Falls completely dry with no plunge pool at all. But, the recent rain has saved us from the possible worry of wildfires.

Cheers,

Ron Castle

Water Sources for Backpackers & Hikers

Assistant Park Manager Bill Knapp emailed me yesterday regarding water sources in the Park. Almost every normal watering hole in the Savage, Collins and Big Creek Gulf area is dry.

There IS a suitable water source at both ends of the Fiery Gizzard Trail.

If you are backpacking or planning a hike where you think you will need water along the way, please check with the Rangers for the latest information.

Do your rain dance.

Cheers,

Ron Castle