Most people who visit Jones Gap State Park stroll the gently ascending Jones Gap Trail to Jones Gap Falls. It’s an easy, scenic pathway alongside the Middle Saluda River and is child- and pet-friendly. The park features a ranger station … Continued
Read about my complete Uinta Highline Trail experience, including prep, gear, logistics, and post-hike impressions. If you’re not familiar with the Unita Highline Trail (UHT), it’s a footpath that follows the ridgeline of the High Uintas Mountains in northeastern Utah. … Continued
Read about my complete Uinta Highline Trail experience, including prep, gear, logistics, and post-hike impressions. After hiking the John Muir Trail (JMT) around Labor Day in 2017, I decided I would make it an annual tradition to take a trip … Continued
Slick Rock Falls is a 35-foot plunge waterfall below the south face of Looking Glass Rock on FS 475B, also known as Headwaters Road. You can see the falls from the gravel road, but you’ll need to walk up the … Continued
I spent most of January fighting off head and chest colds, so I wanted to get out in February and grind out some miles. I considered several trails, but the lack of car shuttling tipped the scales in favor of … Continued
I’ve hiked Looking Glass Rock many times. It’s the hike I take people on when they’re in the area and want to see a spectacle. I mostly do it for exercise. The climb up and back down demands 3400 feet … Continued
The Whitewater River features two large cascades as it flows from the mountains of North Carolina into Lake Jocassee. Upper Whitewater Falls is on the NC side of the border and the Lower Whitewater Falls is on the SC side. … Continued
I have very flat feet. If you read through some of my older posts, you’ll see me talking about my feet hurting and sometimes even going numb on bumpy ground. Over the years, I’ve tried several shoes and orthotics and … Continued
There are lots of ways to get to Shining Rock. The 4.3-mile Ivestor Gap Trail is probably the easiest way in terms of difficulty. The Art Loeb Trail is probably the most rewarding in terms of beauty. The 4-mile Shining … Continued
Mt Mitchell is the highest summit east of the Mississippi River. The area offers the standard features of a state park (stores, restrooms, picnic tables, campsites, restaurant, etc). Like Clingman’s Dome, the vast majority of visitors drive to a parking … Continued