Icy Cumberland Falls and Eagle Falls

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Cumberland Falls, also known as Little Niagara, is the second largest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains. After two weeks of below freezing temperatures, the Falls continue to flow but the Lower Cumberland River became filled with ice and packed snow. I have visited Cumberland Falls many times during my life but this was a unique and beautiful sight. A misty freezing fog hung over the water and settled as ice on the boulders along the shore and cliffs giving the Falls a mysterious feeling.



The closest overlooks to the falls were closed behind locked metal gates, a very rare event.



Fog hanging over the Cumberland River above the falls.



After visiting the open observation decks, I hiked to Eagle Falls. The trail mostly follows the western cliff along the Cumberland River. The trail is well marked but narrow, with a steep drop off on one side. A misstep could lead to a tumble down to the Falls so I was very cautious around the icy columns that covered the path.





Looking back on the trail and Cumberland Falls. The weather was beginning to warm and had risen to the upper 40s, but the narrow path was filled with extremely slick sections.



Eagle Falls continued to crash down but the plunge pool was frozen all the way to the Cumberland River. The mist from the falls was settling on the boulders inside the cave and turning into ice, so I couldn't safely move much beyond this point. Usually I climb over the boulders and into the rock cave for a closer view, and then over another set of boulders to see the river.



The Cumberland River below the Cumberland Falls, at the edge of the ice pack.
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