Stillhouse Hollow Falls is located on 90 acres of old forest off of
Highway 43 between Columbia and Lawrenceburg. The trail to the
falls and the cache is about 1.5 miles roundtrip, so plan
accordingly. The area is on the Western Highland Rim in the Duck
River watershed. The geology of this region creates scenic natural
features such as seeps, flat shale-bottom streams, and waterfalls,
both small and large, which help shape the region’s dissected
topography.
This 90 acre area is named for its most significant feature,
Stillhouse Hollow Falls, which can be seen by walking approximately
2/3 of a mile along the Stillhouse Hollow Falls trail. The trail
crosses an unnamed tributary that forms small scenic cascades
before plunging approximately 75 feet over the falls. A deep hollow
is formed below the falls that is surrounded by steep slopes where
wet-weather springs emerge contributing to a rich habitat
supporting a colorful spring wildflower display of trillium,
spiderwort, wild geranium, phlox and many other species.
The beginning of the trail to the falls passes by a showy shrub
layer of oak-leaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia), Alabama azalea
(Rhododendron alabamense), deerberry and downy mock-orange
(Philadelphus pubescens). The forest on the lower slopes and along
the stream is comprised of a canopy of large sugar maples,
sycamores, white oaks, beeches, and tulip poplars beneath which
grow many species of shrubs such as spicebush, pawpaw, and alder.
On the steeper slopes below the waterfall, bladdernut (Staphylea
trifolia) and pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) are plentiful.
The surrounding upper slopes and the steeper dry ridges are where
large oaks and hickories dominate the forest canopy.
The trail meanders along heading steadily downhill to an
overlook near the top of the falls. There are great views from
here, but head on down the trail to approach the falls from the
bottom in order to hunt the cache. After crossing the stream below
the falls you will come upon the remnants of what I can only assume
was the stillhouse. Today there is only a chimney that marks the
spot. The cache is located up the hill directly behind the chimney.
Be careful while climbing the hill, it is mostly loose shale gravel
covered with leaves, so footing is treacherous at best. After you
locate the cache, be sure to head on down the trail to view the
falls from the bottom, they are impressive. If you would like,
there is a swimming hole at the base of the falls that looks
awfully inviting, just keep your eyes open for snakes and frogs and
such. I hope you enjoy hunting in this beautiful little corner of
Tennessee as it used to be.
Taking the time to stop and place this cache made me late to
Keymaker's 5K event down in Florence, and since this is just the
sort of spot he enjoys caching in, I thought it would be a fitting
tribute to him, so think nice thoughts about Keymaker while you
hunt this one.
There is ample parking at the trailhead on Highway 43, plus a
kiosk with a description of the area and a map of the trail.
