Waterfall Trip Report March 16-22, 2024
Mar 30, 2024 15:18:53 GMT -8
rebeccad, kayman, and 5 more like this
Post by driftwoody on Mar 30, 2024 15:18:53 GMT -8
Had a week of vacation to use before the end of the month and the weather looked good, so off I headed to Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina. No backpacking this trip, just day hikes and car camping with a hotel in the middle of the 5 nights. Stayed at another hotel in Lexington KY on the way home after my last hike. The primary focus was waterfalls, though not exclusively.
Left Chicagoland on Saturday, taking the I-57 to I-24 route. Did a short leg stretcher at Ferne Clyffe State Park in Southern Illinois. Lots of people on a sunny Saturday, and the waterfall there was just a trickle. I hoped that wasn't a harbinger of things to come, but it turned out the water was flowing thereafter. I stayed that night at the Greeter Falls commercial campground (can't say I recommend it) near the west entrance to Savage Gulf in Tennessee. On Sunday I hiked to two waterfalls from the nearby trailhead, then drove around to the south entrance for a waterfall in Collins Gulf.
Boardtree Falls
Spiral Staircase down to Greeter Falls
Greeter Falls
Collins Gulf Overlook
Suter Falls
After driving to Point Park on top of Lookout Mountain for a bit of Civil War history and the awesome view of Chattanooga, I drove to Cloudland Canyon State Park in NW Georgia, and camped for the night. Temps dipped below freezing in the wee hours the rest of the week but I was comfy in my Warbonnet XLC Blackbird hammock, with down top & under quilts. On Monday I hiked about 7 miles in the state park, hiking down to the two waterfalls and around the West Rim for canyon views.
One of the views at Cloudland Canyon; notice the waterfall on the left (not one you can hike to)
Yours Truly at Cherokee Falls
Hemlock Falls
Another Cloudland Canyon view
After staying at a hotel in Etowah TN Monday night, my first plan for Tuesday was to drive the scenic Tellico River Road to Bald River Falls. Unfortunately the road was closed for bridge repairs, so I backtracked a little and drove the Cherohala Skyway to Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest in NC (named in honor of the WWI soldier who wrote the famous poem "Trees).
View from Cherohala Skyway
Yellow Poplar tree at Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest (I placed my glove at the bottom for scale)
After hiking the 2 mile loop there I headed north to see Fontana Dam (no pics) and along the way stopped for a short uphill hike to Yellow Creek Falls, which has some nice cascades before the falls
That night I found a very nice free campsite at Lake Santeetlah, with a fine view of the lake and marina
Wednesday started with a drive into the Nantahala Gorge, to visit the Upper Nantahala Cascades and waterfall on White Oak Creek
From there I drove north thru Bryson City into GSMNP for a short hike to Juney Whank, Indian Creek (pictured) and Tom Branch falls
Still had plenty of time so I visited the town of Cherokee, which is home to descendants of the Cherokee people who avoided removal along the Trail of Tears. Their Museum was under renovation, so I visited the Qualla Arts Center, which features fine native crafts. Then I decided to drive up & over the Smokies crest on Newfound Gap Road (view below). The road up to Clingmans Dome wasn't open yet, then I stopped at the Sugarlands visitor center where a reserved a campsite at Smokemont, back on the Cherokee side.
More GSMNP waterfalls on Thursday, beginning with Mingo Falls
Nest up, Soco Falls, on the SE edge of GSMNP. A steep scramble is required for a good view of the falls on the left
My next destination was Big Creek on the NE edge of the park, which can be reached fairly quickly via I-40. I stopped at the entrance ramp when I saw the traffic was at a dead standstill and it didn't move while I studied my detailed map for an alternative route, which was a long winding gravel road cut into the side of the mountain, too narrow most of the time for cars to pass (fortunately I encountered only one other vehicle, at one of the few wider spots). With frequent blind corners and rough spots, my 5 speed manual VW Golf was in 1st & 2nd gear for a very long stretch. Pavement appeared briefly at the historical Cataloochee Valey, which has a campground, not yet open. Had a nice chat with a couple from Germany, who were going on a hike from the trailhead there. More gravel roading from there until descending to lower elevations and the way to the Big Creek trailhead. My 4 mile roundtrip hike was to Mouse Creek Falls, but Big Creek itself is very scenic with some nice cascades and a swimming spot called Blue Hole.
My last two pics are of Mouse Creek Falls, and those falls with cascades on Big Creek. I sat on a boulder for lunch snacks, taking in that watery scene for a while.
Hiking back to the trailhead I had to decide whether to head home or attempt the final waterfall on my itinerary on Friday. The Ramsey Cascades hike is 4 miles uphill (8 miles roundtrip) with a steep last mile, ascending 2200 feet. I felt good, but my calf muscles were a bit sore. Traveling solo and with rain in the forecast, having a full weekend at home before going back to work on Monday was more appealing. I plan to retire at the end of this year, and hope to be in better shape after I'm no longer tied to a desk 10 hours a day. Ramsey cascades is still on my itinerary.
Left Chicagoland on Saturday, taking the I-57 to I-24 route. Did a short leg stretcher at Ferne Clyffe State Park in Southern Illinois. Lots of people on a sunny Saturday, and the waterfall there was just a trickle. I hoped that wasn't a harbinger of things to come, but it turned out the water was flowing thereafter. I stayed that night at the Greeter Falls commercial campground (can't say I recommend it) near the west entrance to Savage Gulf in Tennessee. On Sunday I hiked to two waterfalls from the nearby trailhead, then drove around to the south entrance for a waterfall in Collins Gulf.
Boardtree Falls
Spiral Staircase down to Greeter Falls
Greeter Falls
Collins Gulf Overlook
Suter Falls
After driving to Point Park on top of Lookout Mountain for a bit of Civil War history and the awesome view of Chattanooga, I drove to Cloudland Canyon State Park in NW Georgia, and camped for the night. Temps dipped below freezing in the wee hours the rest of the week but I was comfy in my Warbonnet XLC Blackbird hammock, with down top & under quilts. On Monday I hiked about 7 miles in the state park, hiking down to the two waterfalls and around the West Rim for canyon views.
One of the views at Cloudland Canyon; notice the waterfall on the left (not one you can hike to)
Yours Truly at Cherokee Falls
Hemlock Falls
Another Cloudland Canyon view
After staying at a hotel in Etowah TN Monday night, my first plan for Tuesday was to drive the scenic Tellico River Road to Bald River Falls. Unfortunately the road was closed for bridge repairs, so I backtracked a little and drove the Cherohala Skyway to Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest in NC (named in honor of the WWI soldier who wrote the famous poem "Trees).
View from Cherohala Skyway
Yellow Poplar tree at Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest (I placed my glove at the bottom for scale)
After hiking the 2 mile loop there I headed north to see Fontana Dam (no pics) and along the way stopped for a short uphill hike to Yellow Creek Falls, which has some nice cascades before the falls
That night I found a very nice free campsite at Lake Santeetlah, with a fine view of the lake and marina
Wednesday started with a drive into the Nantahala Gorge, to visit the Upper Nantahala Cascades and waterfall on White Oak Creek
From there I drove north thru Bryson City into GSMNP for a short hike to Juney Whank, Indian Creek (pictured) and Tom Branch falls
Still had plenty of time so I visited the town of Cherokee, which is home to descendants of the Cherokee people who avoided removal along the Trail of Tears. Their Museum was under renovation, so I visited the Qualla Arts Center, which features fine native crafts. Then I decided to drive up & over the Smokies crest on Newfound Gap Road (view below). The road up to Clingmans Dome wasn't open yet, then I stopped at the Sugarlands visitor center where a reserved a campsite at Smokemont, back on the Cherokee side.
More GSMNP waterfalls on Thursday, beginning with Mingo Falls
Nest up, Soco Falls, on the SE edge of GSMNP. A steep scramble is required for a good view of the falls on the left
My next destination was Big Creek on the NE edge of the park, which can be reached fairly quickly via I-40. I stopped at the entrance ramp when I saw the traffic was at a dead standstill and it didn't move while I studied my detailed map for an alternative route, which was a long winding gravel road cut into the side of the mountain, too narrow most of the time for cars to pass (fortunately I encountered only one other vehicle, at one of the few wider spots). With frequent blind corners and rough spots, my 5 speed manual VW Golf was in 1st & 2nd gear for a very long stretch. Pavement appeared briefly at the historical Cataloochee Valey, which has a campground, not yet open. Had a nice chat with a couple from Germany, who were going on a hike from the trailhead there. More gravel roading from there until descending to lower elevations and the way to the Big Creek trailhead. My 4 mile roundtrip hike was to Mouse Creek Falls, but Big Creek itself is very scenic with some nice cascades and a swimming spot called Blue Hole.
My last two pics are of Mouse Creek Falls, and those falls with cascades on Big Creek. I sat on a boulder for lunch snacks, taking in that watery scene for a while.
Hiking back to the trailhead I had to decide whether to head home or attempt the final waterfall on my itinerary on Friday. The Ramsey Cascades hike is 4 miles uphill (8 miles roundtrip) with a steep last mile, ascending 2200 feet. I felt good, but my calf muscles were a bit sore. Traveling solo and with rain in the forecast, having a full weekend at home before going back to work on Monday was more appealing. I plan to retire at the end of this year, and hope to be in better shape after I'm no longer tied to a desk 10 hours a day. Ramsey cascades is still on my itinerary.
