Hiking Twin Falls (North Carolina). Staying Close to the Action.

North Carolina Travelog #2
Pisgah National Forest, NC - Wed, 20 Sep 2023. 3:30pm

We got off to a late start today. After arriving at our hotel last night close to 11pm we were awake until almost 1am. We slept in past 9 today and didn't get rolling until after 11. Fortunately we're staying close to the action so it was a short drive out to an area rich with hikes. We stopped first at the Pisgah National Forest visitors center a few miles from town to check up on trails and conditions. A helpful but self-important volunteer gave us lots of suggestions on where to go the next few days.

We've kicked off today with a hike to Twin Falls. Ironically we were just at Twin Falls State Park yesterday... but that was West Virginia. This is North Carolina. Totally different falls.



We started near a creek and hiked upstream to the back of a canyon. There were found first the larger of the two twin falls. (They're not really twins.) We were astonished by how tall this falls is. In multiple drops and cascades it falls probably 300 feet. As we started to climb up to the base of one of the larger tiers the higher reaches disappeared from sight.



We sat for a while near this triple tier of the falls. Then it was time to go hunting the twin. We knew it was at the back of an adjacent corner of the canyon; we'd seen a glimpse of it on the way in. But would a slick, steep, muddy trail get us over there?



It turns out the trail was fine. ...Well, the trail was pretty rough actually, but it was fine for us with good shoes and skills. You can see in this photo, BTW, that these falls are not at all twins. There are two of them, and they're both waterfalls, but that's as far as the similarities go.



This falls wasn't quite as pleasant to spend time sitting at, though we did have fun walking the narrow footpath through the hollow behind the falls. The first step through the water on the high side was like taking a quick shower. After that it was just drippiness from the wet rock wall plus spatter from the falls. The weather is just warm enough we didn't care about getting damp. Plus, we have dry clothes in the car if needed.

Speaking of the car, we're back down to the trailhead now. Despite starting late today we have time to visit at least one more falls, maybe two. Again, that's the benefit of staying close to the action!

Looking Glass Falls

North Carolina Travelog #3
Pisgah National Forest, NC - Wed, 20 Sep 2023. 5:30pm

After wrapping up our hike to Twin Falls it was just a short drive up the country highway to our next stop of the afternoon, Looking Glass Falls. Again, the benefit of staying close to the action!

Unlike Twin Falls, Looking Glass Falls doesn't require a hike up a steep trail followed by careful footwork on slick rocks to get close to the falls. It's right next to the highway and only requires careful footwork on slick rocks to get close to the falls. 😅 Lest that still sound too daunting, consider that this couple made it in their wedding clothes!



A few other hikers waited with us at the top of the steps for the soon-to-be-married couple to finish their photo op. It was uncrowded enough on our mid-week visit to wait 10 minutes. Plus, we felt a connection with them. Hawk and I are on this trip to celebrate our wedding anniversary, as were the other hikers we waited with at the top. The couple at the bottom is starting their own, similar tradition today.

Key Falls

North Carolina Travelog #4
Brevard, NC - Wed, 20 Sep 2023. 6:10pm

After getting a late start and already visiting two waterfalls today (Twin Falls and Looking Glass Falls) we found we had time to squeeze in a third at the end. This is Key Falls, on the property of a B&B outside of Brevard.



The property owners kindly allow public access to see the falls. We parked in front of the inn down a short gravel lane (there were no other cars in the parking lot) and hoofed up a hill about 1/4 mile.

On the one hand this is a small waterfall. With the natural stair steps of rock layers it doesn't look like much. But the little tiers added together are at least a 25 foot drop. There's a natural stone bench on a slab of rock opposite the bottom of the falls. We sat there for a while to appreciate the scene.

In beauty I walk.