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.

Rock Castle Gorge & Mabry Mill

Saturday, we took Alex to Virginia for a weekend of hiking and wildflowers.  We left early and arrived at the lower trailhead for Rock Castle Gorge Trail in Rocky Knob Recreation Area.  With a light rain, it wasn't too crowded when we arrived just after 9.  Rocky Castle Gorge Trail is a loop, but we were only hiking the part where we expected to see the most wildflowers along the fire road.  Near the start, we saw a little red eft newt along the trail.

There were a lot of striped cream violets along this lower part of the trail.

There were a lot of irises, but most were well past peak.  We did spot a a few jack in the pulpits.

The may apples were flowering as well.

After a mile or so, we crossed Rock Castle Creek on a footbridge and then passed by the Austin House.  There were two more creek crossings and then we stayed on river right side for the rest of the road.  In about 2.5 miles, the trail crossed a tributary at Rock Castle Cascades.

Even in fairly high water, the stream was too small to make much of a waterfall.  It's pretty high but the upper section is very overgrown.

Near the waterfall, some blue violets were flowering.

The trail split off from the fire road and crossed the creek one last time.  We hiked as far as Bare Rocks about a half-mile from the split.  Some beautiful showy orchis were flowering along this section.

This short section has some of the best wildflowers, with hillsides of trillium.

There were a lot of wild geranium blooming near Bare Rocks.

There were a few patches of fire pink.

But the trillium really steals the show!

On the hike back, we stopped some large-flowered bellwort.

The hike back was all downhill and went quickly.

From here, we took VA-8 up to the parkway and made a quick stop at Rock Castle Gorge Overlook.

Then we continued a few more miles to Mabry Mill.

The old mill was really beautiful in the spring.  We took turns checking out the inside as pets are not allowed in.

Then we toured around the grounds to see some of the other historical buildings and artifacts.

The lumber drying racks were used to dry wood produced in the mill.

The millraces that channel water to the mill and power the waterwheel snaked all throughout the property.

We really enjoyed our visit, despite the light rain.  In fact, the rain made it even more photogenic and kept the crowds away.

From here, we made our way to Floyd.

After checking in to the Pine Tavern Lodge, we went to Mickey G's Italian for dinner.  Back at the room, we watched a nice sunset from the back porch.

Wildflowers in Rock Castle Gorge

Being the middle of April, it's getting to be peak wildflower time.  So on Saturday, Alex and I headed up to Virginia to hike at Rocky Knob on the Rock Castle Gorge Trail, one of the best wildflower hikes in the region.  We arrived around 9 and parked at the Fire Road Gate off CC Camp Road.  By starting here, we could do the steep part of the hike first and then have a more relaxing hike back down.  Right across the bridge over Rock Castle Creek, we turned right and started heading up along Little Rock Castle Creek.  The trail wasn't too steep at first and we were already seeing some trillium and star chickweed along the trail.

But Alex didn't want to stop long enough for a picture, so we kept climbing.  As the trail got away from the creek, it started to get really steep.  We crossed several small tributaries and finally came to a bench and took a little break.  From this point, it was still uphill, but not nearly so steep.  Eventually, the trail opened up as we got to the Blue Ridge Parkway and hiked through an open area.  We made a quick stop at the Saddle Overlook.

In the opposite direction was the conspicuous Buffalo Mountain, the highest point in Floyd County.

Continuing on, we climb up towards the summit of Rocky Knob.  At the old shelter, we stopped for another break to enjoy the views of Rock Castle Gorge down below.

It really put the climb up here in perspective.  The trail then switchbacked down the mountain and passed Rock Castle Gorge Overlook with more views down in the gorge.

Past Rocky Knob, there was just a little uphill to the summit of Grassy Knoll, and then the trail began to descend steeply down into the gorge.  After crossing a tributary, the wildflowers were really starting to pop.

I saw some pretty bloodroot with big white flowers.

And the trilliums were plentiful, white trillium in particular were just blanketing the hillsides here.

One had a small spider on its flower.

After passing the big rock outcrop, we crossed Rock Castle Creek on a bridge.

From here, the hike back was all following the old fire road.  And there were lots more trillium along the road here too.

I passed by Rock Castle Cascades, a small waterfall, but the lighting was really poor.  There were some small white flowers growing in big patches, but not sure what they are.

Further on past the Austin House, I found a big patch of Virginia bluebells right along the trail.

And right near the end, there were a lot of dwarf crested irises in bloom.

It was a great wildflower hike, though Alex was a little impatient with the stops.

He really enjoyed his hike, but was happy to get back to the car and rest.