Tight Squeeze at Windy Falls

Saturday, we woke up and had breakfast then drove to Gorges State Park. We took Raymond Fisher Trail to Chestnut Mountain Road and went a short ways to an old road on the left that entered Toxaway Game Land and descended down towards Horsepasture River. There were some cool golden spindle mushrooms growing along the trail.

In about 1.5 miles, the road ended at the river just above Windy Falls. There was a nice cascade just above, but it was hard to see around the rocks.

We climbed a little further and found another really nice cascade flowing around a big rock.

Then we started heading down along Windy Falls. The path was fairly easy to follow though steep in places. I managed to step on a hornet’s nest and got stung, not the best place for it. 

Soon we got to a steep ridge that was wet and probably too difficult to go down unaided. So we tied off a drop for the steep descent and would need it heading back up. Down from here, we came to a big rock near the base of Windy Falls. To go any further, we needed to squeeze through the keyhole. Sandy got stuck in the keyhole and was a little panicked. It looked like it might rain soon, so we decided not to risk it and headed back. 

By the time we got back to Chestnut Mountain Road, it was raining pretty heavily, so glad we turned back

It was still pretty early, so we headed into Pisgah National Forest to the Avery Creek Trailhead off FR-477.  We followed Avery Creek Trail (#327) for about a half-mile as it passed the top of Avery Creek Falls.

A short scramble path led down to the base of the falls.  I thought it looked pretty nice even in lower water.

There were a whole bunch of spring azure butterflies down here.

We climbed back up to the trail and continued following the creek upstream.  There was a mushroom that looked like a bagel.

In a little over a mile, a steep path led down to the base of Upper Avery Creek Falls.

We got some pictures and then hiked back.

We stopped at Ecusta Brewery and got dinner from the food truck and had drinks at the brewery.  After dinner, we returned to camp and made a fire before bed.