Slave Falls

Slave Falls was a trickling waterfall during our visit in Autumn 2012.

Based on this experience, I’d have to say you have to come during Spring or immediately after a significant rain event if you want to see this waterfall as more than a puny trickle.

An added bonus for a hike to this waterfall was the chance to extend the excursion and experience the Needle Arch, which was a small but attractive natural arch surrounded by trees.

In any case, Slave Falls is said to be 60ft tall as it freefalls into a large alcove.

Unlike at Yahoo Falls, this trail ended at a fence discouraging further access into this alcove.

So although it physically looked possible to go behind the waterfall, infrastructure was put in to not sanction it.

Slavery at Slave Falls

Speaking of alcoves, I learned that the reason why this waterfall was called Slave Falls was because during pre-Civil War times, slaves would hide in the many alcoves here to avoid capture.

We noticed there were at least three such alcoves along the trail leading to the waterfall.

I’m sure there are probably more of them outside of the trail system.

Hiking to both Slave Falls and Needle Arch

The trail we took to this waterfall began at the Sawmill Trailhead (see directions below) and was about 1.3 miles one-way.

There was actually a trail junction at the 1.1-mile point of the hike where we could continue for 0.2 miles to the left for the waterfall or 0.2 miles to the right for Needle Arch.

Since the waterfall was disappointing during our visit, we were keen to visit Needle Arch.

Thus, the total overall hiking distance was probably about 2.8 to 3 miles.

We didn’t do the longer Slave Falls/Needle Arch loop as we were content to visit just the arch and the falls before returning to the trailhead.

The out-and-back Y-shaped route that we took was generally downhill en route to each of the attractions and all uphill on the way back to the Sawmill Trailhead.

However, the elevation gain was gradual and not terribly strenuous.

All in all, we spent about 1 hour 45 minutes for both the hiking and all the picture-taking.

Authorities

Slave Falls resides in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area near Oneida in Picket County, Tennessee. It is administered by the National Park Service. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, visit their website.

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Tagged with: big south fork, national recreation area, picket county, daniel boone, twin arches, kentucky, tennessee, waterfall, needle arch, sawmill

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