March 30th, 2008 - Margarette Falls and Bailey Falls are two gems located in Greene County, Tennessee.  Both can be found on the same stream (the West Fork of Dry Creek), however one is very easy to view while the other is very tough...

The hike begins on a graveled road that leads to a nice trail ascending alongside the stream.  (Note:  See more detailed directions below as I found the trail not very well marked, and the only sign was at the parking area.)  The sign called the trail to Margarette Falls something like "very difficult" or "extreme", but don't let that scare you...  It's a very moderate 1.2 mile hike with around 500 feet of elevation gain.  I would even recommend it for small children with the only difficulty being a couple of stream crossings that could get shoes wet.    

The whole area is extremely scenic with many cascades, numerous boulders and rocks, high cliffs, and three smaller waterfalls (~10') on the way up the trail.      

Numerous Cascades

Margarette Falls is a very pretty ~60' cascading waterfall.  It would normally be a great one to photograph, but the high sunlight didn't give me very good photo opportunities today.  I ate some lunch and did my best with the camera, then I decided to head on upstream to find Bailey Falls.  

I first had to climb the steep embankment to the right of the Margarette Falls to get to the crest.  This was not too tough as there was a decent trail leading the way, however once I started heading on upstream the trail ceased.  This was actually one of the toughest bushwhacks I've encountered lately, and I wouldn't recommend trying it alone, or if you don't want to get really wet and muddy.  In many places the sidewalls of the ravine were so steep that I simply had to walk up the middle of the stream.  In other places I had to scramble over large rocks and ledges, or ford the stream across tricky cascades.  I also passed another small 10' waterfall (I think named Glen Falls).  The entire bushwhack was tough and slow going.  But after what I think was about .3 miles upstream from Margarette Falls, I found Bailey Falls... and it was worth it.

The falls set deep in an extremely narrow ravine.  It almost felt as if being in the middle of a cave as the sides of the ravine were beyond vertical and probably 50+ feet high.  The waterfall itself is two-tiered with what I would think would be around 40' of overall drop.  I stood in the middle of the stream since there was no where else to stand, and I took the photos seen below.       

I carefully retraced my steps back to Margarette Falls, and then back down the trail to the Jeep for a round-trip of 3.1 miles, and 700 feet in elevation gain.  

Total Miles Hiked:  3.1 

Getting There:  

Driving (this is probably not the fastest way, but it's the way I went) - From Johnson City, take I-26 to the Erwin/Jonesborough exit (#37). At the end of the ramp turn right and take State Rt. 81/107 for 6.5 miles.  Stay on Rt. 107 by turning left and continue for 14.8 miles. Turn left onto 351 South and drive 0.7 miles where you will take a left on Middle Creek Road. Drive 3.5 miles on Middle Creek Road until you reach a stop sign where you will take a right onto Greystone Road.  Follow Greystone for 2.0 miles, and take a left onto Shelton Mission Road where you will follow it for another 2.0 miles.  You will see a sign for the trails, and then the parking area will be immediately on your left.  

Trails (there were no signs at trail junctions and very few blazes, so please read carefully) - From the parking area you will see a road (blocked off) and the only sign designating the trails.  It's private property on either side of this road, but it's fine to take it.  Walk up this road for approximately .5 mile  until it dead ends.  This is the confusing area... You will see two trails here... take the one on your right (at the two large boulders).  After approximately 50 yards this trail will split again... take the one to the left.  This is the trail to Margarette Falls, which will be reached in another .7 mile.  To get to Bailey Falls, climb the steep hill to the right of Margarette Falls and keep going upstream (off trail) for another .3 mile.