Old Dan Walking

To skip the chatter and go right to the pics of this walk, click the link below:

Gorges State Park, North Carolina(Opens in new window)

5 miles of out-and-back walking on three different trails in Gorges State Park in North Carolina. The walks were on Rainbow Falls Trail, Bearwallow Falls Trail, and Bearwallow Valley Overlook Trail – February 21, 2011

I know what you’re thinking…5 miles on three hikes? Yep, not very impressive, but I could really get used to this…actually two things about this. 1) 70 degree days with zero humidity and 2) Walking short trails with great payoffs, leaving me with lots of time and energy to really enjoy being there. But when you get right down to it, it is the variety of walking the southern mountains that is the real draw for me. Those who’ve followed my site know that I’m not a big fan of long he-man treks. Oh, I’ve done plenty of them, but give me a nice 8 miler any day over an exhausting 17 miler. Having walked up to 20 miles on previous jaunts makes me really appreciate days like this one. And when it comes to the weather, the same holds true. Give me the extreme southern seasons over the cushy and consistent San Diego Chamber of Commerce conditions any day. Walking the southern Appalachians in a driving July rainstorm or the oppressive humidity of an August afternoon helps the appreciation factor of a humidity-free 70 degree day, a blasé San Diego norm. Variety, most definitely the spice of a walker’s life.

I was excited about visiting a new-to-me place for a Monday walk, driving up in the early morning to the SC/NC border to visit nearly-new Gorges State Park, the westernmost State Park in the state of North Carolina. I’ve been over, around, and through this area countless times over the years, but never managed to set foot in this Park. The 7100-acre Park sits on land purchased from Duke Energy in 1999, covering the Blue Ridge Escarpment area between two gorgeous (pun intended) lakes, Lake Toxaway in North Carolina, close to Brevard, and Lake Jocassee in South Carolina. The Toxaway River bisects the Park as it travels down from Lake Toxaway and drains into Lake Jocassee just north of the South Carolina border. Waterfalls, cascades, pools, and rock walls abound in this area due to the 2000 foot elevation drop from top to bottom. Like many areas of the Blue Ridge Escarpment, it is a falls lover’s paradise.

An empty parking lot

Gorges State Park re-opened in 2005 after being closed for a year for renovations. You can feel the newness here, with perfect roads, unfinished parking areas, and shiny new signage. Plans are in the works to add camping areas, Ranger facilities, and a visitor center, but for now this Park is no-frills. An unmanned gate, a nice road to drive in on, two porta-johns, and a large empty Grassy Ridge parking area are all that await me to start today’s walk. The weather is spectacular.

I check out the nice new signage at the trailhead for today’s first trail, the popular 3 mile out-and-back Rainbow Falls Trail (1.5 miles each way), which is rated as ‘Strenuous’. Rainbow Falls Trail is only partially within Gorges State Park. The former method for hikers to get to Rainbow Falls and several nearby falls, by parking alongside NC Hwy 281, is now closed for safety reasons. After reading the wealth of information at the four large kiosks at the trailhead I immediately traverse downhill on the wide gravel roadbed through a forest of White and Virginia pine. The orange circle blazes on the trees and the small wooden bench seats beside the trail are all in pristine new condition. Walking is quick and easy going this direction, but it will be a nice uphill trudge on the return trip. One small brook is crossed and then I reach the Park boundary, entering Nantahala National Forest for the reminder of the walk. The orange blazes end here but the trail is still very wide and easy to follow.

Before long the trail reaches another, wider crossing. Rocks are strategically placed to avoid wet boots. Next to the creek is a large campsite with a rock fire ring, but there is nobody using the camp today. Now the trail reaches the edge of the Horsepasture River. This strong-flowing river is strewn with huge boulders, and the trail now turns to the right (northwest) to follow along its edge. Here the trail is thinner with more rocks and roots, traversing uphill and then downhill again twice before a final climb to the falls. There are many spots to drop off the trail and stand beside or on a huge mid-stream boulder to enjoy the many cascades. (use caution, the currents are strong) Up the last pull and the unmistakable sound of plunging water becomes audible.

A spectacular Rainbow

Wow! Rainbow Falls is a 125 foot masterpiece. It reminds me a lot of popular roadside Looking Glass Falls on steroids. Water crashes over the edge and hits a jutting ledge about ¾ of the way down the falls, sending a plume out several feet to hit the large boulders in the deep blue pool at the bottom. The namesake rainbow is very clearly visible at the bottom of the falls. Very nice…in fact so nice a cell phone picture message to wife, kids, parents, and brother is in order. “Wish you were here”. J

I stay awhile and enjoy the views and perfect day, but can’t help but think of the many people who’ve lost their lives playing in the falls above this one, being swept over the side to fall to their death. The most recent was just last year, a young woman who I’m sure is sorely missed. A wooden fence keeps visitors away from the dropping sides of the front observation area, but the trail continues on around the falls and you can see many side trails used to get that ‘perfect picture’. Be careful folks, because I know someone would miss you too. Sorry, you’ll just have to deal with my imperfect pictures.

From here the former path of the trail still continues uphill to reach the two falls that are above Rainbow: Drift Falls and Turtleback Falls. Two more falls, more difficult to get to, are downstream from Rainbow: Staircase Falls and Windy Falls. I skip those today. After lunch break it’s back the way I came, facing a much tougher but thankfully short uphill. On to the next trail…

Bearwallow Falls and view

With loads of time I take in two more trails, both easy 1 mile out-and-backs. The first heads downhill to the wooden observation platform for Upper Bearwallow Falls. This one is like Sliding Rock on steroids, more of a long plunge rather than a fall. It is nice but after Rainbow it is doesn’t quite have the wow factor. After that I take the Bearwallow Valley View Trail, thankfully uphill first through laurel and rhododendron tunnels and nice Galax groundcover to another observation platform.

This platform sits directly beside giant high-tension power lines and towers. Despite the partial obstruction of the lines and tower the view into South Carolina is nice, with deep blue Lake Jocassee and Keowee standing out among the pines. On the platform nice signage details the names of distant mountain peaks and the ironic circumstances that lead to the protection of this land between the lakes, home of rare salamanders and wildflowers like the Oconee Bell.  I head back downhill and finish with plenty of daylight left to enjoy the ride home on one of my favorite roads, SC Scenic Hwy 11.

Low elevation on my 5 miles of out-and-back walking was around 2500’ next to the Horsepasture River on the Rainbow Falls trail and high elevation was about 3100’ at the Rainbow Falls trailhead by the Grassy Ridge parking area. I know 5 miles isn’t very impressive, but with a lot of ups and downs I was almost tired when I finished up my walking today. Gorges State Park is most definitely worth a visit. With the warm weather we’ve experienced lately in these parts, the year’s first Spring blooms should only be days away..get out on the trails and enjoy it folks.

 

For pics of this walk, click the link below:

Gorges State Park, North Carolina(Opens in new window) 

As predicted, the weather was stellar for President's Day weekend. I just had to get on a trail, and decided to walk in a place that is brand new to me. Can you guess where I was?

A hint...it was gorgeous.

Send a comment if you'd care to guess. Check back in a couple of days and I'll have to journal posted.

-Old Dan

How's the weather in your town this weekend? How about this....

Courtesy: The Weather Channel Online

It's a safe bet that I'll be scanning my favorite hiking sites and guidebooks. See you out there on the trails this weekend. :o)