Few months ago when i moved to Nashville,one of our neighbors, who was a really kind man, told us about the waterfalls near Nashville. Ever since I moved in, I have had a big desire to go and visit them. So that’s what i did. I have to say that it was a really beautiful hike and would definitely do it again. I will share a few tips how to make this hike really interesting.

Machine Falls Loop

It’s a part of Short Springs Natural Area. Depending on where you’re coming from, it’s about an hour drive from outside Nashville. It’s a pretty quick drive and i think you’ll enjoy it.

Where Do We Park ?

When you arrive, you’ll see a parking lot on the right side. It might be full when you arrive, but when i went there i was lucky, because it was empty. But if you come into the situation that the parking lot is full, then you should return at some different time, rather than parking in non-designated areas. 

What Should We Bring ?

Me and my family quickly made some sandwiches at home, and ate them before heading here. The choice is yours, but we like to eat before going, so we can focus on our adventure. You can carry some water bottles with you, if you want, but it’s not a really long hike. But just in case, I brought some with us. I would also advise you to bring some hiking shoes that are okay to get wet. You’ll definitely find yourself tromping through a few gurgling veins of creek water. I also advise you to bring a lunch in a backpack and have a picnic near waterfall. It’s really a great family experience. We also did this. 

How Long Is The Hike ?

We decided to do the part of Machine Falls loop that takes you down to the base of waterfall and back. I’d say it’s about 1.6 miles round trip, but it was really quick. I think it took us somewhere between 15-20 minutes to get to the falls. The pathway is covered by woods and trees and pretty narrowish. And in my opinion it makes it even more interesting.

Is It A Difficult Hike ?

Don’t worry, most of it is pretty easy. But be careful as you approach the falls, you’ll need to go this steep section. It’s a combination of steps and natural tree roots. Just be a little careful as you’re walking, and you’re good. Also be prepared for a bit of an adventure as you’re trying to get down to the falls.

Was It Crowded ?

Like i said the parking lot was empty, so we didn’t see anyone. We approached this bridge, but we decided to not continue the hike. We stayed at the base of falls, and after resting for a while, we decided to head back (the same way we come). We don’t usually take hikes, but this one was special and everyone was having a great time. Even my kids, who are constantly on their phones and distracted, enjoyed this hike and enjoyed nature.There are some really cool spots over here. For example we climbed up the rocks and stand by the water. I recommend you to take some pictures of this wonderful waterfall, and enjoy this beautiful view. Overall it was such an interesting experience.

There are lots of summer projects available for the gardening enthusiast. You’re probably harvesting summer vegetables and enjoying fresh flowers indoors, but this is the time when I start thinking about fall planting. There are many ways of creating new usable space in your yard, but I think one of the most attractive and enduring methods is to create new beds by constructing walls.

Timbers are a good medium for defining space, but I am partial to stone walls. I have an aversion to placing walls where no wall is needed, but walls are great for terracing a hilly backyard, raising a bed around the foundation of your home, leveling ground where it’s a little too steep or extending the size of an existing bed.

Construction of new homes today frequently raises foundations slightly from ground level to aid runoff. The slope away from the side of the foundation is sometimes too steep to use as a planting area. This is the perfect spot for a wall.

Building walls is not a difficult task, but it does take some time and planning. The process is the same whether you are extending a bed around the foundation of our house or terracing your steep backyard with a series of walls.

The amount of stone you’ll need naturally depends on the size of the wall you are planning to build. For sake of example, you should know that with approximately 1 ton of stone, you can build a wall 1-foot high and between 14-20 feet long.

Simply, the stones should be stacked like bricks – overlapping each other so that there are no vertical seams. Stones should be as flat as possible and 2 inches to 4 inches thick. Even though you are going to look at the edge of the piece, it should be 12 x12 to 12 x 18 inch flat surface so it is heavy enough to stay in place. When building a dry-laid stone wall, never go higher than 36 inches. Once you reach that height, step back into the hillside about three feet and go up again.

When you build the wall, you need to remember several things about soil and water. During the winter, moisture in the soil will expand when it freezes. Therefore, you must use several techniques to avoid the soil’s ability to push the stones out and ruin the wall.

A wall should be tiled. Starting slightly below grade level behind the wall, install a perforated tile that will allow for automatic removal of excess water. In addition, gravel should be used behind all walls to aid in water removal. I’ve seen walls that lasted 30 years and I’ve also seen walls that have fallen in three. So, don’t cut corners on this step.

Start the wall by removing the sod. The first layer of stone should be 1 to 2 courses below grade level. The stone should not be laid absolutely flat, but should be “dipped” slightly, tilting back into the soil. That way gravity helps hold the stone in place. In order to move the stone, the earth would have to push out, up and over at the same time.

Now it’s time for the second layer. In addition to dipping the layer of stone back slightly, there is one other technique you should use to keep your wall in place. Instead of placing the second layer flush with the first layer, it should be back from the front edge slightly, approximately one-fourth inch. Each additional layer should be moved back slightly as well. This is called battering and it’s one more assurance that your wall will last. (Dipping and battering – almost sounds like we’re deep-frying fish, but fishing is my other favorite summer project!)

Here are a few more tips: with a taller wall, you want to use stone up to 4 inches think. A shorter wall is fine with thinner stone, 2 inches to 4 inches; and smaller walls used more for their decorative quality are great for very thin stone – only 1 to 2 inches. With any wall, use the thicker stone on the bottom, thinner stone on top. It’s not a physical requirement – it’s just aesthetically pleasing.

There are a variety of stones and colors from which to choose. Talk with a stone supplier, letting him or her know what you have in mind and emphasizing longevity. After investing your time and money in a wall, you don’t want to have to re-build it. Also, when the stone is delivered, make certain you ask your supplier to dump the stone on your lawn, not your driveway. I’ve seen lots of stone get broken needlessly when it was dumped on a drive (it’s also hard on the driveway) and it may be several days before the driveway could be used.

You can create a beautiful usable space in your landscape with stone walls. It’s a rewarding project that will look good for years.