A photographer friend of mine and I recently hiked into the Virgin Falls Naural Area (about 8 miles roundtrip) to photograph some of the many waterfalls in the area. Having experienced an extended rainy period, the creeks were full and the falls were raging. The entire trek into and out of the park was wet and misty and we got soaked! This is far more water than I have seen in any other photos of these falls. I was expecting a heavy trickle, at best.


Big Laurel Falls in the Virgin Falls Natural Area (Tennessee)
This 25 foot fall is one of many in the area that pours over a bluff and then disappears into a cave or sinkhole, rather than continuing as a stream.



Virgin Falls
Virgin Falls is about 120 feet high and as shown in the photograph ends by disappearing underground. What is not shown is that before pouring over the cliff, the creek emerges from a cave and is only above ground for a brief moment before resuming its underground path.