Quadrule Falls

When people ask me what my favorite waterfall in the state is, I often tell them Quadrule Falls. Picking a favorite isn't easy, as so many have unique stories, adventures, or happy accidents that led me to stumble upon them. Pine Island Double Falls was quite the journey to reach the base of, years before state LiDAR existed, and many people have told me it's their favorite in the state. Quadrule, on the other hand, has had kayakers bushwhack to its curtain to descend it in high water and experience the remote river.

Quadrule Falls sits on the Martins Fork of the Cumberland River in Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, buried deep in the remote mountains in the northern part of the park. It takes a three mile hike on ATV trails and then a one mile river wade to reach this hidden gem. KET sent a film crew to the falls decades ago, and that footage, along with kayaking websites, is how I first found out about it.

I believe it's the remoteness and the lack of visitation that make this one special. I hardly know anyone else who has been here. Add in the fact that a light drizzle coated the scene with glistening water right as I reached the falls, and it's easy to see why I often call this my favorite waterfall in the state. It's also the only waterfall photo I've taken that hangs in my house. If you ever want an adventure, take a summer hike and wade the river to see this remote and gorgeous waterfall.

The name is said to come from the Quadrule Indians, a local tradition or bit of local history describing a group of people living in the mountains in the area. Most likely the name actually derives from "quadroon," an old term meaning one quarter African American. This group was likely made up of people from several Native American tribes, Europeans, and Africans, all living together in the mountains. Not an actual tribe, but a community.

The waterfall: Quadrule Falls, Harlan County