Colditz Cove State Natural Area (Blog Hike #69)

Trail: (unnamed)

Hike Location: Colditz Cove State Natural Area

Geographic Location: southeast of Jamestown, TN (36.35972, -84.86895)

Length: 1.5 miles

Difficulty: 6/10 (Moderate)

Dates Hiked: May 2015

Overview: A remote but scenic semi-loop featuring 63-foot Northrup Falls.

Area Information: https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/environment/program-areas/na-natural-areas/natural-areas-east-region/east-region-/na-na-colditz-cove.html

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=797259
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: West of Knoxville, take I-40 to US 127 (exit 317). Exit and go north on US 127.  Drive US 127 29 miles to SR 296 and turn right on SR 296.  Where SR 296 ends in the town of Allardt, continue straight on SR 52.  Take SR 52 an additional 1.1 miles to Northrup Falls Road (County Road 1636). Turn right on Northrup Falls Road.  The gravel parking area for Colditz Cove State Natural Area is on the right 1.1 miles down Northrup Falls Road.

The hike: Located in a remote area southeast of Jamestown, cliff-lined Colditz Cove presents a stark contrast to the surrounding farmland.  The main feature of the cove is 63-foot Northrup Falls, created by a medium-sized creek plunging into the head of the cove.  The cove, protected as a natural area by the state of Tennessee, is only accessible by the 1.5 mile trail described here.

Trailhead at Colditz Cove

            Begin at a small sign on the right side of the parking area.  The trail through the preserve is marked with green metal circles containing the universal hiking symbol.  After snaking around the parking area, you descend gently to cross a short wooden boardwalk over a wet area.  Once across the boardwalk, the trail curves left to join the old entrance trail, the one I used when I came here the first time in June 2000.  The old entrance trail is somewhat wider and better worn than the new one. 

            As you approach the rim of the cove, you enter a nice grove of hemlock trees.  Upon reaching the rim, the trail forks to form its loop.  I turned left here to hike the loop clockwise.  Staying near the rim, the trail heads through dense forest and begins heading south perilously close to the vertical cliff on the right.  Northrup Falls can be seen and heard to your right across the cove through some breaks in the trees.

Hemlock grove in a mist

            After following the rim for 0.4 miles, the trail drops steeply through a gap in the cliffs using switchbacks to enter the cove.  Ultimately, the trail turns 180 degrees right and begins heading north directly under the cliffline, which now towers 40 feet high on your right.

Wall of Colditz Cove

            The trail underneath the cliffs is very damp and rocky, making for poor footing.  An occasional fern has found enough soil in a crack of the rock to grow on the cliff.  The cove itself is heavily encumbered with rhododendron.  The trail retraces its clifftop course, soon to arrive at a boulder field under a rock shelter.  This boulder field offers the best view of Northrup Falls.  Water drops 63 vertical feet before hitting rocks and cascading into a nice plunge pool.  Northrup Falls gets its name from a family that operated a mill above the falls in the 1800’s.

Northrup Falls

            Getting through the boulder field will require some careful scrambling over the talus rocks, so just pick your way through the boulder field using whatever route looks most feasible.  Past the boulders, the trail passes behind Northrup Falls to give you an interesting view of the rhododendron-choked cove.  Now on the west side of the cove, you trace a nearly identical course below and above the rim as on the east side.  A few more boulders need to be negotiated, but they are not as extensive as the boulder field you have already been through.
            A slow gradual climb brings you up to the cliff line, and a single switchback lifts you back up to the rim. Just before closing the loop at 1.2 miles, you cross Big Branch, the creek that forms Northrup Falls, on a wooden footbridge.  Upon closing the loop, a left turn and gradual uphill walk will return you to your car to complete the hike.