Story and photography by Harrison McClary
a full gallery of images of the park is located here
Rock Island State Park located at 82 Beach Rd, Rock Island, TN 38581-4200 is a great day trip from the Nashville area. The park has several hiking trails and areas for swimming and boating.
Several stunning waterfalls and cataracts dot the area making it an excellent place for hiking, sight seeing and swimming. There is an old cotton mill and also a small stone castle easily seen from the road.
A trail begins behind the old Cotton Mill and goes down into the river gorge where many of the swimming holes are located. Here small waterfalls drop into deep water swimming holes. The trail down consists of approximately 110 stone steps. These steps are wet in places. If taking small children be sure to keep them close as the steps can be slippery. Once in the river bed be careful as it can be slippery also. Be aware that this area is below a dam. If the alarms sound you need to vacate the area, if water is released it will rise rapidly.
If you go down stream from the base of the stairs there is a large swimming hole with surrounding cliffs and a small natural dam that makes a great place to sit and watch the activities.
As you walk down the river bed you will notice several cataracts. The whole area is very photogenic and makes for great photography.
A trail begins behind the old Cotton Mill and goes down into the river gorge where many of the swimming holes are located. Here small waterfalls drop into deep water swimming holes. The trail down consists of approximately 110 stone steps. These steps are wet in places. If taking small children be sure to keep them close as the steps can be slippery. Once in the river bed be careful as it can be slippery also. Be aware that this area is below a dam. If the alarms sound you need to vacate the area, if water is released it will rise rapidly.
If you go down stream from the base of the stairs there is a large swimming hole with surrounding cliffs and a small natural dam that makes a great place to sit and watch the activities.
As you walk down the river bed you will notice several cataracts. The whole area is very photogenic and makes for great photography.
On a different trail accessed from the far side of the river is a short hike to a pair of waterfalls that seemingly drop out of the side of a hill. These stunning waterfalls make a great
photographic subject, and if the dam is closed a nice hike to their bottom. Do be aware that these are right below a water generating dam. If the alarm sounds and the lights flash you need to exit the water immediately. Water will soon be released from the dam causing the water to rise rapidly creating a dangerous situation. If you take children stay close to them and be sure you can carry them out easily. I was in the river bed making photos of the waterfalls when the alarm sounded. It is very loud. I immediately left he river bed and hiked back to the trail head. Once the water was released the rock I was standing on was under a foot of very rapidly moving water in minutes. I did have plenty of time to exit the river before they released the water from the time the alarm first sounded. Do not assume you have a lot of time, just leave when the alarm sounds.
Rock Island also has cabins and camp grounds. It would make a nice weekend get away as well as a day trip.
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