Big Ivy Hike

Saturday I left for the mountains for a week of waterfall chasing.  I left real early, getting to Asheville around sunrise and then heading into the Big Ivy/Coleman Boundary Area of Pisgah National Forest.  Right in the forest, I turned on FR-231 and drove to the end at Walker Creek Trailhead (#165).  Hiking up along Walker Branch, it crossed some nice cascades.

Then I got on Staire Creek Trail (183) and continued heading up along Staire Branch past some rocky cliffs.

There were some nice cascades along the trail as it headed though a rocky gorge.  After this point, it got pretty steep going up.  

There was an interesting rockhouse just off the trail with a stone wall and chairs.

The trail ended at FR-74 and I crossed and got on Bear Pen Trail (#176).  The first part of the trail was moderate and open, but as I got further up, the trail got steeper and more overgrown.  

As I got higher up, I started seeing more and more wildflowers.

The trail ended at Laurel Gap Trail, which was completely overgrown with the wildflowers.  

I don't think I've ever seen so many bee balm, coneflower and lilies in one place. 

It was really beautiful.  But it also sucked hiking through.  As it had rained overnight, the flowers were wet and soon I was completely soaked from practically bushwhacking down the trail.

I tried to focus on how beautiful all the flowers were and not how unpleasant the hike was.

When I made it to the road, I decided to not take this trail back.  Once was more than enough

There were more wildflowers along the road, but nothing like I had seen on Laurel Gap Trail.

And with the recent rains, mushrooms were popping up.

I hiked down to the end of FR-74 and picked up Douglas Falls Trail.

Even with the rain, the water level was a little low, but Douglas Falls was looking nice.  I had lunch here and tried to dry out my clothes a bit.

Then I walked behind and around the waterfall to view it from different angles.

There's a small cave in the cliffs behind the falls.

There was another couple here enjoying the falls as we talked about the area for a bit.

Hiking back, I took the road much of the way to avoid the overgrown trails.  Past Laurel Gap Trail, FR-74 Waterfall was right along the side of the road.

It's small, but rather pretty for a roadside.

I continued on past Staire Branch/Bear Den and then to Walker Creek/Perkins Trail.  I headed up along Perkins Trail (#175) for about a half-mile or so to where it crosses Walker Creek.

I thought Upper Walker Falls was here, but I couldn't find it.  I'll have to research this one more, but didn't feel like bushwhacking.  Then I headed back down to the road and continued to Walker Falls.

This is a pretty big roadside waterfall.

I scrambled down to the base, but I think the view from the road itself is best as you can see the upper sections.

Then I headed back to Walker Creek Trail and took that back down to the trailhead.

From here, I headed back to the highway and stopped for an early dinner at Mars Theatre Brewing Company.  Then I continued to Johnson City and checked into the Staybridge Suites.

Dix Park Sunflowers 2024

Saturday, we took Harper to the sunflowers at Dorothea Dix Park for her first time.  It's been so hot this summer, we got there right around sunrise to beat the heat and crowds.

And it was still pretty warm and muggy at 6 in the morning, but the sunflowers were beautiful in the early morning light.

The sunflowers seemed shorter this year than when visiting the past, maybe because of the very dry June we had.

We weren't the only ones enjoying the sunflowers first thing in the morning.  Bees, butterflies and other pollinators were busy at work in the field.

We got some pictures of Harper with the flowers and made a loop around the field, but it was warming up quickly.

Sandy and Harper took off and I continued hiking for a while on the Capital Area Greenway.  I took Rocky Branch Trail to Walnut Creek Trail and made a partial loop with Centennial Campus Connector.  By 10, it was really hot and I was glad to get back to air conditioning.

Crabtree Creek West

The final segment of Crabtree Creek Trail was recently finished, completing the 17-mile trail in the Capital Area Greenway.  Saturday was going to be really hot, so I got an early start at the trailhead for Crabtree Creek West along Ebenezer Church Road before 7.  The trail starts where Crabtree Creek leaves Umstead State Park, where the multi-use trail bridge has been removed.

Following the trail, it crosses Richland Creek on a footbridge just above the confluence.

Past here, it heads away from the creek and climbs up a ridge via an elaborate switchback structure.

In about a mile, the greenway comes out on Duraleigh Road and follows the sidewalk back to the creek.  Where the road crosses, the trail goes down and under the bridge.

Shortly past here was a large suspension bridge over the river.

I believe this was the last piece of the trail to be constructed.

In about 2 miles, the trail reaches Lindsey Drive, the former western terminus of the trail.  They made another bridge over the river that connects to Picardy Drive.

Past here, it was existing trail.  I went a few more miles, past the mall and beltline and then turned around as it was really warming up.

Cliffs of the Neuse on National Trails Day

Saturday, for National Trails Day, we took Harper for a hike to Cliffs of the Neuse State Park near Goldsboro.

Arriving around 830, we parked at the visitor center and set off on the Lake Trail.

Here, we took Galax Trail and Bird Trail and went out to the river.

350 Yard Trail climbed up to the overlook and other parking.

There was a nice view of Neuse River from here.

We then took Spanish Moss Trail and Longleaf Trail to finish up the loop.

A toad was hopping just off the trail.

And we saw a variegated fritillary along the gravel road.

Finish up our hike, we were getting hungry so stopped at Wilber's BBQ in Goldsboro for lunch.  Before leaving the area, we made another stop at Old Waynesborough Park for a short hike around the park before heading home.

We saw some interesting wildlife on our hike.

There was a clearwing hummingbird moth on the verbena.

I also spotted a couple beautiful passionflowers.

There was a little passionflower flea beetle on one of them. 

Most of the wildflowers were blooming in the open areas as the canopy had grown in.

After finishing our hike, we made the drive back to Raleigh.