Fall is finally here! Before all the leaves turn orange, let's enjoy one more vibrant green hike of the season. These colors won't be back until March!
This month, on October 5th at 1 pm, we'll be visiting Short Springs State Natural Area, and hiking the Busby and Machine Falls Loop. That means we'll see not one, but two beautiful Tennessee waterfalls!
Trailside Talks is a monthly social event held on every first Sunday of the month. We will be bringing outdoor enthusiasts, hikers, and environmentalists together each month to enjoy the beautiful trails and waterfalls that Coffee County has to offer. And there are a lot!
According to AllTrails, the Busby and Machine Falls Loop at Short Springs State Natural Area is a 2.1 mile hike, with 295 feet of elevation gain, for an estimated total hiking time of 1 hour.
Please be advised that at the end of the hike, in order to reach the base of Machine Falls, there is a short steep section that has large steps, and then a short creek tracing section that may involve stepping in some shallow water. Machine Falls is gorgeous, and we encourage able-bodied attendees to make it to the base of the falls if possible, but this part of the hike is entirely optional. Safety is our #1 priority, and we do not recommend that anyone do anything that they are not comfortable doing.
One of our volunteers will stay at the top of the steep section while the rest of the group climbs down it to visit the base of Machine Falls. If you do not want to go down the steep section, feel free to stay with that volunteer. The rest of the group will return shortly, after visiting the base of Machine Falls.
Please follow the link to learn more about the hike, see pictures, and read hiker reviews:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/busby-machine-falls-loop--7
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Itinerary:
1:00 pm - 1:15 pm: Gather near the trailhead, by the information booth near the parking lot. We'll put on sunscreen and do a head count.
1:15 pm - 2:00 pm: Hike to Machine Falls.
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Relax! Have a seat, set up a hammock, lay down on a blanket, take a dip in the water, snack on some trail mix, or go explore. We will provide additional cold waters, snacks, music, and more sunscreen.
3:00 pm - 3:15 pm: Pack up, we're going home!
3:15 pm - 4:00 pm: Hike back to the parking lot, passing Busby Falls along the way. Congrats, you just completed an awesome hike and hang out day.
Feel free to leave at any time! If you need to leave before the rest of the group, just follow the trail back. Use Google Maps if needed. It will display trails, your location on them, and where you are relative to the parking lot and other landmarks.
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Essential Packing List:
- Water
- Sunblock
- Comfortable shoes
- Phone
Recommended Items:
- Backpack or fanny pack
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Snacks and beverages
- Small picnic blanket, towel, or outdoor seat pad
- Bug spray / mosquito repellant
Other Fun Items to Bring:
- Swimwear (put this on BEFORE the hike please!) and towel
- Water shoes or sandals
- Dogs (and poop bags)
- Camping hammock
- Camera
- Book
- Water guns
- *Lightweight* folding chair
Things to NOT Bring:
- Full-sized folding chairs (too heavy to carry)
- Full-sized coolers full of ice (too heavy to carry )
- Water balloons (they create litter)
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Please share this event with others. Bring a friend, or better yet, bring two!
The Coffee County Democratic Party is committed to strengthening the bonds between like-minded individuals in Coffee County, in the pursuit of a better tomorrow. It is through Trailside Talks, and other social events, that we hope to achieve this. We hope you'll join us in this quest. Let's build Coffee County, together.
See you there!
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Summary:
Event: Trailside Talks
Location: Short Springs State Natural Area
Address: 1 Powell Rd, Tullahoma, TN 37388
Date: Sunday, October 5th
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 PM (estimated)
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