Rocky Knob Hike

Sunday morning, we had a really good breakfast at the hotel and then parked at the Saddle Overlook along the Blue Ridge Parkway for a hike at Rocky Knob.  With the early morning sun in the east, we didn't bother with a picture from the overlook and started climbing up Rocky Knob on Rock Castle Gorge Trail.  We soon made it to the old AT shelter and took a short break.

Continuing on, we descended the peak via switchbacks and the trail met with Black Ridge Trail.  Some spiderwort was flowering along the trail.

There were a few spots with nice views of the gorge through the trees.

Where the two trails then split, we turned right to stay on Black Ridge Trail and cross the parkway.

The trail followed an old road and descended to a creek then started climbing back up.  There was an old chimney along here.

At the next split, we took Picnic Loop Trail around then took Black Ridge back to meet up with Rock Castle Gorge Trail.  Heading back, we took the spur to go around Rocky Knob without climbing and back to the Saddle Overlook.

The view was much better by this time.

From here, we continued a short ways southbound on the parkway to Mabry Mill.

It was really pretty with the rhododendron flowering around the mill.

After some pictures, we stopped at the restaurant for an ice cream.

Then we started making our way home.  Near Martinsville, we went south into North Carolina and parked at the Deshazo Mill access for Mayo River State Park.  Since out last visit, the park had made a small parking lot and blazed the trail to Fall Creek Falls.  It was less than 1/4 mile to the waterfall.

We decided to hike the rest of the trail since it was short.

Just another quarter mile out to where Fall Creek flows into Mayo River.

We enjoyed the view for a bit and then hiked back.

We drove most of the way home and stopped for dinner at Bright Penny in Mebane to finish out our weekend.