Hidden Waterfalls in Gorges

Last weekend, we headed back to the Brevard area for another weekend of waterfall hunting. I met up with Casey and LeAnna right after work and we drove out to Brevard, arriving just after sunset. We set up camp at another roadside camping area in Pisgah National Forest, this time along Catheys Creek (KC3), just past the road to Kuykendall group campground. Saturday morning, we woke up and headed out towards Gorges State Park, stopping along the way at Catheys Creek Falls.

This one is right along the side of the road (FR 471) not far from our camping spot. We didn't see the trail leading down the falls and ended up bushwacking to get down. LeAnna gave up and went back to the car, but Casey and I continued on, stopping for a few minutes to take some pictures and then taking the actual trail back up to the road. Then we continued on, heading into Gorges at the Grassy Creek Access area. From the Rainbow Falls parking area, we drove along the Chestnut Mountain Road to Auger Hole Trail. Casey has his 4X4 Jeep - the only way we could drive along Chestnut Mountain Road. This is a very steep and bumpy gravel road that requires a 4X4 with at least 8 inches of clearance. We parked where the road intersects Augur Hole Trail and started hiking up the trail. It's more of an old logging road than a trail, but is limited to non-motor vehicle traffic. After a short while, we had a stream crossing at Bearwallow Creek. The water was very cold, but it wasn't too bad crossing. At least there was a spot to sit down on both sides to take off my boots.

Across the creek, we headed upstream just a bit to see a couple of pretty cascades along Bearwallow Creek, and then went back to the trail and continued on. Initially, the plan was to stop at Lower Bearwallow Falls, then drive to the Frozen Creek Access and hike down the trail from the other side. Casey said the last time he was here, crossing the Toxaway River would have been impossible. But we decided to hike down anyway and check it out.

Today, the water level was much lower and crossing the stream was no trouble at all.  A little ways past the crossing, we hit our first waterfall in the park. From the trail, it was a very difficult bushwack down a steep ridge to Chub Line Falls. Part way down, LeAnna slipped and slid 10 or so feet, catching herself on a down tree. I tried to go out and help, but slid too, crashing into her! Luckily, we were both able to catch ourselves on the down tree. A fall into Chub Line Falls would be fatal for sure.

This waterfall got its name from the fact that it marked how far chub minnows are able to swim up the Toxaway River. Pretty impressive that they can get this far and looking at the falls, it is understandable why they couldn't go further. Although not terribly big, the waterfall was extremely powerful. The Toxaway River is routed through a narrow opening and flows with great force. Unforuntately, it wasn't possible to get below the falls and get a great picture of the whole falls - just a couple looking down from the top of the falls. Trying to go any further downstream from the falls is made impossible by sheer cliff walls. When we were done here, we made the difficult climb back up to Augur Hole Trail and continued on for a ways.  Our next two waterfalls are at the confluence of Maple Spring Branch and Augur Fork Creek. Although there was marking tape and a very faint trail where people had walked before, the trail down to these falls was another challenging bushwack, though probably the easiest of the day. At the bottom, it was a very beautiful site - two very tall waterfalls plunging down cliffs to join together and flow into the Toxaway River. At the bottom, I could get a good view of the waterfall on Augur Fork Creek, but it was hard to see the one on Maple Spring Branch.

So we climbed up a bit and rested on a log in front of the waterfall on Maple Spring Branch.

This was a truly beautiful spot. A great view of one waterfall in front of us up close and turning around, we could see the other across the way.

We ate lunch up on the log and enjoyed the view for a while. The spray from the waterfall supported much plant life and created a wonderful little tropical paradise tucked away in a remote corner of the park. When we finished, we headed back down and then up back to the trail and started back the way we came. After crossing Toxaway River, we stopped for the highlight of the day - Lower Bearwallow Falls. Leaving the trail and hiking a short way along a ridge, some marking tape indicated a steep decent down into a beautiful clearing at the base of the falls.

Lower Bearwallow is about a 40 foot drop with some cascades of rocks towards the bottom. And there is a cliff face along the south side, making for a gorgeous setting. I think this could be my favorite waterfall in North Carolina - it was absolutely beautiful.

We spent some time snapping pictures and enjoying the scene, then made one last bushwack up to the trail and headed back to the jeep. Leaving Gorges, we stopped in Brevard at the Twin Dragons Chine Buffet and had dinner before making our way back to camp.

DuPont State Forest Waterfalls

Sunday morning, we woke up later than expected due to the start of Daylight Saving Time. We broke camp and headed towards DuPont State Forest, stopping on the way at Connestee Falls. Unfortunately, due to development, it's not possible to get a good view of the falls. Although there is a "park" at the real estate office with a boardwalk, the only view is from the top of the falls, which makes it difficult to see. The boardwalk ends at the top of Connestee Falls with a view across to Batson Creek Falls. The two flow together and make a nice double waterfall, but to get a good view, one would need to live in or know someone who lives in the Connestee Falls development. After a few minutes, we continued on to DuPont and parked in the High Falls Access area. Heading down Buck Forest Road, we turned left on High Falls Trail and stopped for a minute at the overlook to see the falls.

High Falls (on Little River - there are several High Falls in the area) is a very impressive waterfall, especially when the water flow is good. The covered bridge on Buck Forest Road goes over the falls and you would think it would make for a nice scene. But its kind of crooked from the perspective of the High Falls overlook, so it seems kind of awkward up there. After a few photos, we continued down the trail to where it meets up with Triple Falls Trail and stopped at the overlook where we had a good view of the three distinct falls.

Actually, to get the best view, we had to climb up some rocks just behind the overlook. This was especially good for shots with people in it, since you can still see the falls behind them. Then we headed down the nearby stairs and climbed out onto the rocks and stopped for a short lunch break and to take some photos.

This spot is just above the lowest section of Triple Falls with a good view of the upper two falls.

After our lunch break, we headed back on the trail and went for a different view of High Falls. We followed an old trail down to the base of the falls to get a close up view of the power of the falls.

It was a little slippery, but I could get a shot looking up at the falls without the bridge visible. Then, we headed back up and took the Covered Bridge Trail for yet another view of High Falls from the top.

There were some people riding horses here - the horses stopped for a drink and then headed over the bridge continuing on Buck Forest Road.

Across the bridge, we hiked down Conservation Road, crossing the Lake Julia Spillway before turning on Bridal Veil Falls Road.

Reaching Bridal Veil Falls, we climbed towards the top of the exposed rock to where we could crawl behind the falls.

Near the top, almost all of the rock was covered in water and very slippery, so we took a trail through the woods to safely reach the top.

Several other people weren't so smart and tried walking up the wet rock, nearly falling. One woman said "I'll dry off if I fall." Yes, but broken bones will take a while to heal!

We crawled behind the falls and went to the other side, and then headed back. On our way out of DuPont, we stopped just outside the forest to see Shoal Creek Falls, a very pretty roadside waterfall.

One more waterfall, before making the long drive back to Raleigh.

Waterfalls along Horsepasture

Next, we headed to Gorges State Park to see some of the waterfalls along the Horsepasture River. From the Grassy Ridge Access area, we hiked down the Rainbow Falls Trail heading out of the park and into Pisgah National Forest. Our first stop was at Rainbow Falls, perhaps one of the most beautiful waterfalls in North Carolina.

Casey and I had been here several times before, but Sandy and the others had not. It's always fun to see the look on people's faces when they see the waterfall for the first time. The water level was much higher than I'm used to seeing in the summer and the waterfall was much more powerful. The area below the falls where I have swam in the past was being pounded with falling water and swimming would have been impossible even if the water was warm enough. Even up on the trail, we were getting wet from the spray, so we didn't go down to the viewing platform to get any closer. Next, we headed up to Turtleback Falls, which was also more powerful than usual.

It was also unusual to see no one there. I've only been here in the summer and there's always a big crowd of people water-sliding down Turtleback. So it seemed strange to see it deserted.

We stopped just upstream of the falls and had lunch. After eating, we headed upstream just a short ways further to the end of the National Forest land for a view of Drift Falls.

This waterfall is on private property and no trespassing is actively enforced. But with the foliage down and a telephoto lens, I was able to get some good shots while staying on National Forest property. Then we turned around and headed back. On the way back, we stopped at two more smaller falls along the Horsepasture River. Hidden Falls is a small waterfall just downstream of Rainbow Falls.

It's not real impressive, but makes for a nice swim hole when the weather is warmer. Surprisingly, there was actually someone swimming here - he must have been freezing! Then we headed down to Stairway Falls. I've seen this one before in the summer when the water levels are lower. But today, with the water up, it looked much more like a stairway.

After we were done here, we headed back to the parking area and made a quick stop at the new Visitor Center for Gorges State Park. They had some great photos of the waterfalls in the park and interesting exhibits on the geology and natural history of the park. From the back deck, there was a nice view of the mountains and gorges to the south, including Sassafras Mountain, the highest peak in South Carolina.

Leaving the park and heading towards South Carolina on NC-281, we stopped at a pullout just before the Thompson River and headed down to see White Owl Falls, a small but very pretty and scenic waterfall. From the pullout, we crossed the street and headed back along NC-281 until the end of the guard rail and hiked down a very short but steep trail to see the falls.

Then we headed to our last waterfall for the day; and the biggest. Just before the South Carolina state line, we stopped at the Whitewater Falls day-use recreation area in Nantahala National Forest. At 411 feet, Upper Whitewater Falls is claimed to be the highest in North Carolina and the eastern US. Walking down the paved trail to the first overlook, there was a great view of Lake Jocassee to the south.

We stopped at the upper overlook then headed down the stairs to the lower overlook, which has the best views of the falls.

Actually, climbing down just below the overlook and out on some rocks provided the best views.

After a few pictures we headed back to the cars as the sun was beginning to set. On the way back to the campsite, we stopped at Hawg Wild BBQ just before entering Pisgah National Forest for dinner.

Waterfalls near Brevard

This past weekend, we headed out to the Brevard area for a couples' weekend of camping, hiking, and waterfalls! We drove up on Friday night and camped out in Pisgah National Forest in the Avery Creek roadside campgrounds near Davidson River campground. Saturday morning, we woke up and started our waterfall adventure with Looking Glass Falls, just up the road from our campground on US-276. This one is right along the side of the road with a few stairs leading down to a viewing area at the base of the falls.

As such, it is one of the most popular waterfalls in the area, but there wasn't a crowd when we arrived while it was still early (and quite cold) in the morning.

After a few photos, we continued on, heading down US-64 past Brevard towards Rosman and turned onto NC-215. Our next stop was the Living Waters Ministry, about 7.5 miles up NC-215 for three more waterfalls. These waterfalls are on private property, but the people at the ministry are kind enough to allow public access to the waterfalls. Heading down the short trail, we immediately came upon the first waterfall.

Here, Shoal Creek and the North Fork of the French Broad River meet up just behind an old mill, with a pretty waterfall on each.

From here, a short quarter-mile trail leads downstream to Bird Rock Falls, which is a smaller waterfall, but within a beautiful setting of a giant rock bluff over the falls. We walked out onto the rocks below the falls, looking up at the massive cliff above us.

Although Bird Rock Falls is not a very big waterfall, the scenery around the falls made it very beautiful.

After a few photos, we headed back. Along the way, I noticed several smaller cascades along the creek between the falls, but it was hard to get out and get a good picture through all trees.

Leaving this area, we drove back to US-64 and out next stop was at Toxaway Falls. We pulled over at the bridge on US-64 and stopped for a few pictures of the falls from above.

The river flows from Lake Toxaway under US-64 and down the bedrock as it continues into Gorges State Park. A major flood in the early 20th century swept past the dam and washed away much of the vegetation leaving exposed bedrock where the river flows downstream. Although it's not possible to get a good picture from the road above the falls, the colorful bedrock was very pretty. Another time, I'd like to try and hike down to get a better view of the falls. The west side of the river is private condos with no public access, but the east side is part of Gorges State Park and as such, its possible to bushwhack down and get a better view.

Stadium Park in the Snow

This, past weekend, I had to travel up to Canton, Ohio for my grandma's funeral. After a very long drive in a snowstorm that turned into a two-day trip, I really needed to stretch my legs and get outside, despite the snowy weather. I remember now why I moved to NC. So before the wake, I headed over to Stadium park to go for a walk. I started off in the first parking lot on Stadium Park Drive just of 12th Street and tried to make my way to the trail.

The trail itself is a "rubber road", a soft paved greenway trail that makes a narrow loop. Due to the deep snow, I couldn't actually see the trail, and had to follow footprints in the snow to try and stay on the trail.

I followed the trail as it lead along a small creek that was mostly frozen but had a few spots that were still liquid and a couple of ducks were swimming around at these parts.

At the northern end of the trail near the stadium, there is a small lagoon. Since everything was covered in snow, I had to be especially careful to stay on the trail and not venture out onto ice.

I also found a spot where the creek falls a couple feet over a cascade - the moving water kept it unfrozen and provided an opportunity to see a "waterfall", even in Canton, Ohio.

Then I followed the other side of the loop back towards 12th Street and crossed the street into Monument Park. I took the trail here over to the William McKinley Monument and took some pictures of the monument.

On a nicer day, I could have gone up and down the stairs to simulate a mountain, but they were snowy and icy and would have been very dangerous to try in this weather.

There was even a sign that said No Sled Riding - not that I thought riding a sled down icy stairs would be a good idea.

Then I followed the trail back and did another loop around Stadium Park and finished up. Despite moving quickly, I was getting quite cold. Not used to the freezing Ohio temperatures anymore.