Cedar Run and Whiteoak Canyon

Saturday we had breakfast at camp and headed south on Skyline Drive.  The rest of the group was doing Old Rag, but we couldn't take Alex on those trails, so headed out for some waterfalls instead.  We made a stop at  Pass Mountain Overlook for a nice early morning view.

Then we made one more stop at Hazel Mountain Overlook, where we could see clouds over the foothills below.

From here, we continued on to our destination for the day - White Oak Canyon.  Parking at Hawksbill Gap, we started off hiking down Cedar Run Trail.  The trail followed its namesake creek steeply downhill.  With all the recent rains, the creek was really flowing, even up near the top.

There were a lot of nice drops along the creek, a few that might be considered a waterfall.  One in particular was especially nice with the water flowing down in three streams over a mess of huge boulders.

I called this one Cedar Run Canyon Falls as it was nice enough to deserve a name.  Another cascade was flowing enough to generate a small rainbow.

Soon we came to the top of Upper Cedar Run Falls.  There were some nice cascades above and a couple guys were swimming here.  Looking downstream, the water fell through a narrow canyon.  Continuing on the trail a short ways, we scrambled down to the base.

It's a really cool waterfall flowing through a very narrow canyon.  We saw the two guys from the top later on and suggested this as a good place to swim.  It wasn't much further to the Middle Falls and we came out at the top again.  In high water, we had to wade across the creek and climb down the rocks on the opposite side.

After a few pictures, we crossed back to get on the trail.  It was just a short ways further to the lower falls, but a very steep climb down the bank to the base.  Lower Cedar Run Falls was really beautiful and worth the difficult climb down.

On the way back up, I spotted an American Giant Millipede scurrying along a rock.

Shortly after this point, we ran into a volunteer with PATC who recommended we avoid the Link Trail and instead stay on Cedar Run Trail to the end at Whiteoak Canyon Trail.  We had to cross Cedar Run at a spot that was tricky in high water, but we managed to keep our feet dry (except Alex).  There was some nice cascades upstream.

Shortly after this point was the split and we took the guy's advice.  When we reached the point where the Link Trail meets Whiteoak Canyon Trail, the wade would have been difficult so appreciated the advice.  Now we were following White Oak Canyon upstream.  It was half a mile or so further to the beginning of the waterfalls.  Before we reached the lowest one, we followed Tims River up a short ways to Tims River Falls.

It looked like the waterfall kept going up, but it would have been a tough climb.  Back on the main trail, we crossed Tims River on a down tree and noticed a little snake on part of the tree.

Stopping at the base of White Oak Canyon Falls #6, we had a nice lunch and enjoyed the view.

After lunch, I went closer to the base for some photos, then found a side path off the main trail that headed up to the top.  Scrambling further upstream, we made it to the base of Whiteoak Canyon Falls #5.  With the water level way up, I couldn't get out far enough to get an unobstructed view.

To get to #4, we would have to wade at the base and then climb up the other side.  Alex was already getting tired so we decided to pass on this one and headed back to the main trail.  White Oak Canyon Trail was not so easy either, especially heading up, but at least it's a trail.  After many stairs and switchbacks, Waterfall #3 soon came into sight.  Scrambling down from the trail, there was an interesting seasonal waterfall flowing down a cliff face.

There's no creek or intermittent stream - just a lot of water flowing down a cliff.  This certainly doesn't exist in normal water conditions, but it was pretty cool to see.  It would have been tough to get to the base of #3 in such high water, so we just headed back to the trail to see Whiteoak Creek Falls #3 from the overlook.

In between the waterfalls, the creek was not flat.  There were plenty of drops and cascades that were nearly waterfalls themselves.

Next up was White Oak Canyon Falls #2, kind of a crappy name for such a nice waterfall.

All of these waterfalls, in fact, deserve more than a number as they were really spectacular and so close together.  In another half-mile, we made it to #1 and went out on the overlook for a view of the highest waterfall in the canyon at more than 80 feet.

After some pictures, we continued on the trail and crossed the creek on a bridge, then took the fire road back to the parking.  When we were close to the trailhead, a young bear popped out of the woods.  He was up above us on the trail, but essentially following us from above.

I was a little concerned with Alex, who was definitely interested in a potential new friend.  Fortunately, the bear wasn't too interested in us and eventually disappeared into the woods.

Back at the car, we headed to Big Meadows for dinner.  The restaurant there is dog-friendly, but it was a long line, so we ate outside from the tap room instead.

After dinner, we headed back to camp for the evening.

South River Falls

It was Sandy's birthday weekend so we headed to Shenandoah National Park for a weekend of hiking, waterfalls, and camping.  Shenandoah is one of the only national parks that allow dogs on the trails so it would be great to bring Alex out on our trip.  We left early Friday morning and arrived at the South River Picnic Area around 930.  From here, we started hiking down South River Falls Trail.  With all the recent rain, the river was really flowing.  After a mile or so, we came to the overlook for the waterfall, but the view was mostly obscured by trees.

Continuing a short ways, we turned right on South River Falls Road and followed to the end at South River.  A short spur trail led upstream to the base of the falls.

The sun was shining right on it, but it was quite impressive in high water.  I climbed up to the base for a picture.

On the hike back, we made a loop by staying on the old road to South River Fire Road and then taking the Appalachian Trail back to the parking lot.

From here, we started driving north on Skyline Drive to meet our friends but had plenty of time to stop at some of the overlooks.  South River Overlook was just past the picnic area and there were a lot of goldenrod blooming here.

Just a little further was Baldface Mountain Overlook.

Our next stop was at the Point Overlook, though we didn't go all the way to the overlook.

A couple miles further, we stopped at Naked Creek Overlook.

Near Big Meadows, a couple cars had pulled over so we did too.  A mama bear and two cubs were in a tree right next to the road.

The cubs were fast asleep, while the mother seemed to be scratching her back against the tree bark.  A lot of thistle were blooming along the road here with butterflies galore.

A little past Big Meadows, we stopped at the Franklin Cliffs Overlook.

Crescent Rock Overlook was our next stop where we could see down into Ida Valley, which was set up for residents displaced by the creation of the park.

Next, we stopped at Thorofare Mountain Overlook.

And our final stop was Pinnacles Overlook.

Then we parked at Panorama by Thornton Gap to meet up with Justine and the rest of the group.  They all arrived shortly after we did.  Hiking the Appalachian Trail southbound, it was around 2 miles up to the summit of Mary's Rock.

There were great views from the exposed rocks at the top.

I climbed up the rocks for a good view.  Down below, Thornton Gap and Skyline Drive were visible.

After some pictures, we headed back.

Before reaching camp, we stopped at Elkwallow Wayside and got some dinner before heading to Matthews Arm campground.  We had a nice group site at the far end of the campground.  After setting up, we built a campfire and then went to bed early.

Boulderfield Falls Attempt

Sunday, we left Waynesville and headed to Shining Rock Wilderness.  Parking at the national forest area in Camp Daniel Boone, we got on Little East Fork Trail (#107) and headed into the wilderness.  The trail is all uphill following its namesake upstream but it was a gentle slope and very pleasant hike.  In about a mile, we followed a path down to the creek and took a break, enjoying views of the cascades.

At 1.3 miles, there was a gnarled old tree and another path down to the creek.  This one was very steep and difficult but there was a nice little waterfall on Little East Fork Pigeon River here.

I was glad we got this one today as it probably wouldn't be worth the difficult descent in low water.  Continuing on the trail another mile, the unnamed tributary for Boulderfield Falls was across the river.  Getting down to river level, however, wad not so easy.  The bank between the trail and river was almost a sheer drop and totally overgrown with rhododendron.  After a few attempts, we found a way down just above the confluence.  We went downstream to just below the confluence and found a safe place to cross and then tried to bushwhack upstream along the tributary.  It was really steep and totally overgrown with rhododendron.  We tried several different routes, but kept getting stuck and eventually decided to give up.  The hike back was pleasant and we spotted a bunch of pipevine swallowtail butterflies on the way.

Soon we were back to the camp and parking area.

Heading back, we took NC215 to the parkway and went northbound to start the drive home.  We stopped at Pounding Mill Overlook for beautiful sweeping views of the Blue Ridge escarpment.

Looking Glass Rock was visible in the distance.  Further down, we made another stop at Walnut Cove Overlook.

After this stop, we got on the interstate to head home, stopping for Las Salsas on the way.

Flooded Falls

It had rained almost nonstop for the last week and there was flooding in the mountains so a great time to chase waterfalls.  We left at 5 and headed to NC-215 north of Rosman.  Our first stop was a gravel pull off 2.6 north of US-64.  We continued on the road a hundred feet or so to a smaller grassy pull off and then bushwhacked down towards Big Bearwallow Creek.  There was some semblance of a path, but it was very steep.  As we got close to the creek, we could see something upstream, but there was no path at all.  We had to cross the creek and wade through dig hobble to the base.

It was a fairly nice drop, though it was really covered in rhododendron and dead trees.  And this was not the waterfall, though it could be considered the upper section.  A little further downstream was the top of Big Bearwallow Falls.

It was very steep and slippery getting down to the base and across the creek, but it was a very nice waterfall, especially in high water.

A tree growing here had a number of mushrooms growing on it.

Our next stop was just up NC-215 off Macedonia Church Road.  Lemon Falls was just down from the road and some stone steps made a path down.  Not a high waterfall, but very scenic.

The water was too deep to cross for a picture.  From here, we continued north on NC-215 to Courthouse Creek Road (FR-140).  Along the way, we stopped at Sumney Cove Falls.  An unnamed tributary in Sumney Cove drops into North Fork French Broad River on the other side.

It was mostly obscured by summer foliage, but was really flowing in the high water.  North Fork was way too high to wade to the other side.

We then drove to the parking for Courthouse Falls.  A short hike along Courthouse Falls Trail (#130) and Sumney Cove Trail (#129) led to a split where Courthouse Falls Trail goes left and Sumney Cove Trail goes right.  We went straight and followed a scramble path down to Mill Station Creek near the base of Cody Falls.

Cody Falls is very similar in appearance to Courthouse Falls but smaller.  I waded the creek to the other side for some pictures but the sun had come out.  Climbing back up to the trail, we made a quick stop to see Courthouse Falls.

We've visited several times before but this was definitely the highest water.  Near the falls was a weeping rock with a number of downy lobelia blooming.

Butterflies were all about about, pollinating the flowers.

Back to the main road, we continued up to the parkway and went south about 3 miles to the pull off at Haywood Gap.  A lot of cutleaf coneflower were blooming along the parkway.

Heading eastbound on MST, the trail split almost immediately and we went left onto Haywood Gap Trail (#142) and into Middle Prong Wilderness.  The trail descended steeply eventually picking up Haywood Gap Stream and followed it downstream.  About half a mile down, we crossed the creek and the trail leveled off a bit.  Just over a mile from the parkway, the trail forded Middle Prong.   Here, we got off the trail and creek walked a shortways upstream to the confluence of Haywood Gap and Buckeye Creek.  It was another 1000 feet or so to Buckeye Falls, but the creek walking was tough in high water.  Three decent size cascades were quite challenging to climb up before we made it to the base of Buckeye Falls.

As we approached the waterfall, we could see the whole thing, but at the base we could only see the lowest section.

We decided not to try and climb any higher and turned around from here.  Along the hike back, we spotted some Indian Pipe, an interesting plant that does not photosynthesize.

It was all uphill back to the car, but only the last part was particularly steep.

On the way to Waynesville, we stopped for a couple easy waterfalls along NC215.  First, we stopped at Little Wildcat Falls.  An unnamed tributary drops under the road and flows into West Fork Pigeon River near the confluence with Bubbling Springs Branch.

Normally, there's not much to see, but it's a nice roadside waterfall in high water.  A pipevine swallowtail butterfly was next to the road here.

Next, we stopped at Sunburst Falls.  Upstream of the bridge, the river was raging.

So much so, that we couldn't get down to see the lower section.  Finally, we made one more stop where the road crosses Green Creek.

A lot of wildflowers were blooming here including beebalm and impatiens.

A short hike led to the scenic Little Bird Falls.

The water was higher than the last time I visited and the setting was reminiscent of a tropical rain forest.

By this time, it was getting late so we headed to Waynesville for dinner and checked in to the Econo Lodge.