Bald River Falls Bridge reopens

By Mike Steely

Where else can you drive your car past a roaring waterfall and then safely park and walk back up the road to see it up close?

The Bald River Falls Bridge has been closed for a couple of years, and the entire span in Monroe County was replaced and opened in a ceremony recently. The bridge is wider, safer, and has a viewing platform overlooking the falls that’s just a few yards away.

The waterfall, south of Tellico Plains and a few miles off the Cherohala Skyway, is wild and beautiful. It’s one of my wife’s and my favorite places to visit, and there are lots of things to do and see on the way to and from there. It’s only a couple of hours south of Knoxville.

Just beyond the bridge is a parking area with restrooms and picnic tables. A short walk back up toward the main falls is a “Baby Falls” on the right, where kayakers often take the plunge into the pool below. Visitors often sit on the rocks above and watch the daredevils.

The replacement of the bridge meant long trips in and out for those residents living or camping on the south side of the falls. The improvements are drawing a crowd on weekends, so if you’d like to visit, any weekday is better.

On your way to or from Bald River Falls, you might want to take in the Charles Hall Museum in Tellico Plains or venture across the Cherohala Skyway into North Carolina for some breathtaking views with pull-offs, and then Robbinsville and Cherokee.

Or you could come back to Madisonville and Vonore and visit historic Fort Loudoun and the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum.

Taking a day away from work and the house can be refreshing and interesting.

You can get more information about Tellico Plains online at www.tellicoplainstn.com or at www.visitmonroetn.com.