In the Fall of 2017, the boys and I took a Black Friday hiking trip to Tennessee. My way of escaping the hustle and bustle of Black Friday shoppers, and a chance to get into nature before the winter set in. This trip was on a whim; I did very little research on the area. I saw the falls, and I knew this is where I wanted the boys and me to spend the weekend. I did, however, research whether this was a tolerable hike for kids, as my youngest was seven at the time. The trail is a 4 mile out and back, with very little elevation change, other than the descent to the river and ascent back to the parking area.

We started this hike at 10 in the morning, enough time for the weather to warm up a little, and with my young kids, the perfect time to hike to avoid meltdowns. We hiked down the winding trail through the wooded area and down the steps to the river. On the hike there, we were walking upstream along the side of the Blackburn Fork State Scenic River. My kids were excited to jump from rock to rock, not necessary but fun for them, as we made our way to the falls. I wasn’t sure we were following the right trail, there is a section where crossing the river is necessary, and I was confident we had missed a more shallow crossing somewhere along the way. But, unfortunately, getting wet is not an option, so we removed our shoes, rolled up our pants, and crossed the river at about a knee to mid-thigh depth. The boys were in heaven, who doesn’t want to play in the water in November? I was a little more concerned, not wanting them to get cold, but I had brought a change of clothes for each of them, just in case.

We climbed through the boulders to a turn in the river to get our first glance of the falls. I should also mention, I had broken my left foot a few weeks prior, bouldering during this time was painful. I had been on restrictions for nine weeks, and technically, still under restrictions, but I could not wait any longer for a hiking expedition. I had read this hike was “easy,” so I figured I could handle it, but all the maneuvering on the uneven terrain had me limping on the broken foot. However, all of my boys, including my youngest, traversed the trail with ease.

The section leading to the falls has a few small rocks that we climbed, a couple of places where we had to cross over cracks in the boulders, but we finally made it to our destination. The falls were more of a trickle this time of year, but their beauty was breathtaking. The boys and I walked the ledges at the base of the falls. We were standing where the water cascaded down the third fall. The kids thought it was magical.

There were very few people on the trail that day, so it felt like we had the area to ourselves. Cummins Falls is a favorite swimming hole in the summer, as I will show in my pictures, and it changes the whole dynamic of the serenity of the falls but adds an opportunity for the kids to play in the water without worrying about hypothermia.

As I mentioned before, I had promised the boys to bring them back when we could swim in the summer. In July of 2017, I kept that promise, not realizing how crowded Cummins Falls could be this time of year. We stayed at Davy Crockett Campground ( http://www.davycrockettcampground.com/) , about a 30-minute drive from the falls themselves. I am not a fan of organized campgrounds, but I wanted activities for the kids, and this one delivered. My only complaint about the campground; the tent sites were SMALL. At the time, there were five, all grouped in a circle, and our neighbors were close enough we could hear all of their conversations. I had talked to the owner on a couple of occasions; he showed me plots they were working on to increase the tent capacity, and these sites seemed more separated and sheltered by trees. They appeared to be a more suitable atmosphere for tent camping.

When we pulled into the parking area at Cummins Falls, I was shocked at the number of vehicles already there, and it was just past 9 in the morning. The weather was hot and humid, typical for a July day in Tennessee, and the kids were ready to soak in the cold water of the river. The hike to the falls takes around 45 minutes, but we stopped along the way to cool ourselves in the pool. The rocks beneath the water are slick, and the water is shallow. We all slipped at least once, falling hard on the rocks below. We followed groups of people of all ages, some carrying babies as they waded through the water.

As we approached the waterfall, my anxiety level increased dramatically. People were everywhere. I wasn’t sure how I would keep track of my four boys in the crowd, but for their sake, I would let them swim for a little bit, at least. Cummins Falls State Park does provide life jackets at the falls but do not count on them; there is a chance there wouldn’t be any left if you were to get there later in the day. Thankfully, they had jackets for both of my younger boys. We climbed across the rocks, and one man reached for the shoulder of my seven-year-old as he lost balance trying to bypass other people. That truly pissed me off. He is seven, and he isn’t stable enough to hold a grown man. I reached for Hayden, pulled him back toward my side, not concerned if the man fell into the water.

We came to the base of the falls, and the kids swam for quite a while under the falls. They climbed up the three levels, soaking their heads and bodies in the fresh water. Jackson found an area where other kids were sliding from one level of the rock to the deeper water below, and he was in heaven. Ethan and I set at the edge of the water most of the time, keeping track of where the other three were. There are rangers stationed at the falls, but I think they are there to ensure there is no alcohol and to keep people of creating dangerous situations for others, not really as lifeguards. I am quite sure my kids could have swum there for hours, and when it came time to leave, they were not ready to go. I enjoyed the beauty of the falls in the Fall with fewer people, but the kids enjoyed the swimming and exploring during the summer more. I will take them back here, I am sure, as it has become one of their favorite places to hike.

Tips For a Successful Camping Trip With Kids:

1. Always be prepared for anything. While this is true for any trip with kids, camping provides unique challenges. Trial and error is the only way to learn what works for each individual, so play with your options.

2. Don’t freak out if something goes wrong. You’re bound to forget something. Improvising is an art learned with each camping trip, the more you go, the more you learn

3. Bring along games that require interaction. Too often we rely on technology to entertain our children; making camping trips mostly “tech free” allows for quality time spent with each other. Card games, board games, and small toys can entertain children for hours. We play “would you rather,” making up our own scenarios for the game. I have learned more about my own children while sitting around a campfire than anywhere else.

4. Research the area and know where to hike, explore, and visit with children. Some trails are not suitable for kids of all ages. Researching the area will allow you to plan what is safe for everyone on the trip.

5. Enjoy it. Don’t stress about what needs to be done, and don’t put unrealistic pressure on yourself to make the trip “memorable.” I have rarely heard my children say they were bored during any camping trip. Engage each other in conversation, and just go with the flow.

6. Follow the rules of the campground. People are there for relaxation. Be respectful of your neighbors and others in the campground. Comply with the campground “quiet hours.” A noisy neighbor at two in the morning can make for a dreadful camping trip.