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.