Cheoah Bald on the Bartram Trail

Sunday kicked off our mountain week with Amaroq in classic style: an early start and a scenic drive through the Nantahala Gorge to the Bartram Trail trailhead in the Cheoah Backcountry Area. We geared up, crossed the railroad tracks, and headed left onto Section 12, the final stretch of Bartram Trail leading to Cheoah Bald. A shiny new bridge over Ledbetter Creek greeted us right away (a welcome upgrade since my last visit).  From there, the trail turned relentlessly steep, and we felt every step in the July heat and humidity. The nearly perpetual clouds of gnats didn’t help either. After the initial big climb, the path eased as we dropped toward the first creek crossing.

I let Amaroq cool his paws and grab a drink in the refreshing water. A couple more easy rock-hops followed, and around 2.5 miles in we reached Bartram Falls.

The lighting wasn’t ideal (same on the way down), but I still love the dramatic upper section where the water tumbles into a tight V-shaped canyon just above the main drop.

Three more creek crossings later, the trail left the drainage, crossed an old road, and ramped up steeply again.

The final push was overgrown in spots, but we pushed through.

Just over 4 miles from the start, we joined the Appalachian Trail and turned right (southbound) for the short quarter-mile jaunt to the summit of Cheoah Bald.

The views were fantastic, sweeping down into the Nantahala Gorge we’d just climbed out of.

We enjoyed a quick snack, but the persistent flies and gnats kept our break short.

The return was mostly downhill and much easier on the legs.

Back at the bottom, we made a quick detour to Findley Falls as the sun finally broke through.  

It's a peaceful spot to relax before jumping back in the car. 

From there, we headed west to Andrews and the newly opened Cover Falls Preserve.

The easy half-mile trail led to a beautiful 40-foot Cover Falls.

I scrambled around the rocks for photos while another couple captured their own shots and videos.

We headed out just as rain started to fall.

Dinner was excellent pizza at Happy Trout Brewing in town, followed by check-in at 129 Cabins and a well-earned deep sleep.

Stairstep Falls in Green River

Sunday morning, we enjoyed breakfast at the hotel before checking out and making our way to Green River Game Land. We parked at the Long Ridge Trailhead and began hiking Long Ridge Trail, another old gravel road that proved to be very stroller-friendly.

Along the way, we spotted several interesting mushrooms and a variety of wildflowers.

The beautiful passionflowers really stole the show.

At the trail junction, we turned onto Turkey Gut Trail.

Although this section followed another old road, it was much more overgrown.

Even so, it remained surprisingly manageable with the stroller as we descended less than a mile to Stairstep Falls Trail.  The waterfall was just off the trail, but reaching the base required scrambling down a steep path. 

Even with the water running low and less-than-ideal lighting, Stairstep Falls was an impressive sight.

I'd love to return after a good rain when the flow is stronger and the lighting is more favorable.

After taking a few photos, we retraced our steps, stopping often to admire more wildflowers along the trail.

Back at the trailhead, we chatted with a friendly woman who was out foraging for berries and mushrooms with her dog. We packed up our gear and began the drive home, bringing another great mountain weekend to a close.

Turtleback Falls

Saturday, we headed to the mountains for the weekend in search of cooler temperatures. Our first stop was Gorges State Park, where we parked at the Rainbow Falls Trailhead. The trail begins along an old road, and at first it seemed like it would be manageable with the stroller. Harper walked part of the way, and the smooth trail made pushing the stroller fairly easy. There were a couple of creek crossings, but even those weren't too difficult to navigate. Once we crossed into Pisgah National Forest, however, the trail became much less stroller-friendly. Roots, rocks, and numerous steps made progress slow and challenging. Several times I had to pick up the stroller and carry it over obstacles, and by the time we reached Turtleback Falls, I was completely exhausted. Fortunately, the cool water was the perfect reward. I spent some time sliding down Turtleback Falls while Sandy, Amaroq, and Harper stayed on dry land and watched. The water was icy cold but incredibly refreshing after the strenuous hike. After enjoying the falls for a while, we continued to nearby Rainbow Falls, where we took photos and admired the impressive cascade.

A few adventurous visitors were even free-climbing the rock face before jumping into the pool below.

The return hike was a little easier, but the experience confirmed that this is definitely not a trail I'd attempt with a stroller again. 

After leaving the park, we drove to Brevard for dinner at Oskar Blues. Harper had a great time playing with a couple of little boys and a toy dump truck, happily filling it with gravel and dumping it back out again. From there, we continued to Flat Rock and checked into the Mountain Inn for the evening, ready to relax after a long day of hiking and adventure.

Galax New River Trail Hike

Monday morning, we enjoyed a quick breakfast before driving to Galax and the New River Trail State Park trailhead. Although rain had been in the forecast, it had cleared by the time we started hiking. The trail began by crossing Chestnut Creek on two scenic bridges, then continued toward the Cliffview Access.

Along the way, we were surprised by a large snapping turtle parked right in the middle of the path.

A little farther on, about another mile, we passed Cliffview Campground, where the trail ran alongside some beautifully rocky sections of the creek.

Lots of wildflowers were blooming along the trail - Dames rocket is an invasive species, but very pretty flowers.

Roughly five miles in, we reached the highlight of the day: Chestnut Creek Falls.

The views from the bridge and picnic area were excellent, and we found a scramble path down to the base.

The rocks were quite slippery, so we took it slow and enjoyed the scene from a safe spot.

After a short break, we continued on and spotted another snapping turtle on the bridge over Chestnut Creek.

We hiked about another mile, passing another trailhead and an old railroad turntable before deciding to turn around.

On the way back, we spotted a cute little rat snake sunning itself along the trail.

We returned to the car feeling refreshed and began the drive home.

SW Virginia Appalachian Trail Hike

Sunday morning, we had breakfast before driving to the Appalachian Trail parking area just north of I-81. From there, we headed southbound on the trail, making a quick detour to Davis Cemetery along the way.

Lots of wildflower were blooming along here.

The trail crossed a creek lined with blooming wildflowers before passing beneath the interstate and continuing beside a nearby gas station.

We also spotted several false chanterelle mushrooms emerging along the trail.

Some sections were muddy and overgrown, but the route eventually opened up to a scenic stretch with expansive views.

There was alternating sunny and foggy sections.

After about three miles, we passed the Southwest Virginia Settlers Museum.

A couple miles past here was Chatfield Memorial Shelter.

The trail got a little steeper and rockier at this point.

We went about another mile before reaching the View of Walker Mountain.

The rhododendrons were in full bloom throughout this section, adding plenty of color to the hike.

The overlook provided a beautiful view and made the perfect turnaround point.

The sun started poking out on the hike back.

After the hike, we stopped for lunch at Seven Sisters Brewing before heading to Crystal Springs Recreation Area for one final walk.

Starting on the main trail, we followed Shortcut Trail up to Border Trail, where blooming mountain laurel lined the route.

Turning left, we made our way back via Crystal Springs Loop Trail, completing a pleasant circuit back to the parking area.

With the day's adventures finished, we returned to the hotel to pack up and prepare for the trip home.