Shuck Ridge Creek Falls

Sunday, we decided to hit just one waterfall, though it would be a pretty long hike. After packing up camp, we drove up Cathey’s Creek Road (FR-471) to where it ends at Gloucester Gap and FR-475. We left some cars here and shuttled another to the parking area just past FR-5095 and the trailhead for Waterfall on Long Branch at the trailhead for Daniel Ridge Loop Trail. Then we started hiking from Gloucester Gap up the Art Loeb Trail (Section 2) towards Pilot Mountain. In the past, it was possible to drive up FR-229 to near the summit, but this road has been closed due to unstable condition. So we had to make the extremely steep climb up the Art Loeb Trail. To make matters worse, the trail was incredibly overgrown, so for much of the climb, we were practically bushwhacking through dense vegetation. And of course it rained a bit, so that vegetation was wet. Dan had a machete and chopped away at some of it, but it did little to help. The trail crossed the forest road a couple of times and after about an hour and a half, we made it to the summit of Pilot Mountain.

Although there were still quite a few clouds in the sky, we were actually higher than most and had some nice views over the mountains from up here.

We stopped here for a few minutes to get some pictures, enjoy the view, and relax after the strenuous climb up, then continued on the trail. Going down from Pilot Mountain, the trail was again overgrown, but shortly it leveled off and became more open as we followed an old road. There were some campsites and several splits in the trail, which was poorly marked. Using maps and GPS, we were able to figure the way out and after another mile and a half or so, we got to Farlow Gap. There was a stake here and we were able to pick up Farlow Gap Trail (#106), which leads to the waterfall. This trail was much more cleared and blazed and a lot easier to follow.

The trail was quite steep, but going this way it was heading down so not nearly as bad. However, it would not be fun climbing up going in the other direction. In about a mile, we got to Shuck Ridge Creek Falls.

The trail crossed the creek above the falls and there was a very steep scramble down to the base, made even worse by the wet rocks.

But we managed to get down safely, get a couple of pictures, and then climb back up. Luckily, some exposed roots on the wet rocks provided a handhold to climb up. Then we crossed the creek and continued to follow Farlow Gap Trail. It was a much more gradual slope downwards from this point and the trail was much easier to follow. In about 2 miles, we got to the junction with Daniel Ridge Loop Trail (#105). We saw some mountain bikers along this trail, which is open to both hiking and biking and turned right, following the trail downwards along a creek. Right after the turn, we saw some enormous Chicken of the Woods fungi growing on a tree.

Overall, this was a particularly beautiful section of trail with rosebay rhododendron blooming along the creek and the trail.

At one point, the rhododendron formed a tunnel of green leaves and white flowers to hike through.

In about a mile, the trail followed another logging road and crossed Davidson River on a big bridge that led back to the parking lot. I shuttled the other drivers back to their cars at Gloucester Gap and then we packed the cars up and began the long drive home.