I stumbled upon Turnpike Creek Beach while hiking a patchwork loop through the Shining Rock Wilderness. I camped near the Ivestor Gap/Art Loeb Trail intersection. After breaking camp the next morning, I took the Fork Mountain Trail north to this … Continued
The Coosa Backcountry Trail in Vogel State Park in northeast Georgia features a 12.9-mile loop. The park stresses that this shouldn’t be treated as a day-hike, but I disagree with that. The elevation is moderate-to-strenuous for seasoned hikers, but I … Continued
I was supposed to do the steep section of the Foothills Trail over the weekend, but someone set Pinnacle Mountain on fire. All trails in the Table Rock area were closed. My timing has never been very good. View this … Continued
Winding Stairs Trail is a 3.5-mile hike of moderate difficulty in the Mountain Rest wilderness area near where GA, NC, and SC intersect. It’s very close to Cherry Hill Campground and Burrells Ford Campground. There’s actually a spur off the … Continued
The Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area is filled with waterfalls. One of the more fun day trips in the area is Jones Gap Falls in Jones Gap State Park. It’s easy to access and fun to hike. The park also features … Continued
I drive over Caesars Head all the time on my way to Jones Gap State Park, Dupont State Forest, and Table Rock State Park. It’s near the border between North and South Carolina. HWY 276 runs right over the peak … Continued
Raven Cliff Falls is an out-and-back trail in Caesars Head State Park. It’s just off US 276 on the South Carolina side of the SC/NC border. The trail is crowded year-round. There’s a well-kept gravel parking lot on the east … Continued
Bubbling Spring Branch Cascades is a waterfall right off of Highway 215 in Pisgah National Forest. It’s about a mile and a half north of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, close to Bubbling Spring Branch Falls and Wildcat … Continued