Autumn at Spivey Falls

Waterfalls hold a fascination for most all of us.

Some are mighty, roaring with a thunderous volume as they plummet over rocks and cliffs. Others are peaceful ribbons cascading down a stair-stepped rock face. And in between are all kinds of others. Each one has its own character. A large fall can drown out all other sounds in a deafening roar while a small fall may offer a soothing, flowing melody that lulls one into a peaceful trance. The Appalachian Mountains offer numerous opportunities to observe these beauties of nature and on a 2021 visit to the far northeast area of Tennessee, we were able to observe and photograph a number of these surrounded by mesmerizing fall colors.

Out of Erwin, TN, the Spivey Mountain Road leads east and then south as it crosses over into North Carolina. Still on the Tennessee side is Spivey Creek with its four beautiful waterfalls and the lower falls pictured here. Accessed from the Chandler Cove Road, the falls are located on private property. There’s enough room to park a couple vehicles and view the falls from a distance without crossing a barricade marking the property. We felt like we could not have stumbled across this scene at a better time with the white ribbon of the falls surrounded by tall trees crowned in their autumn glory. Truly a memorable location.