Gorges State Park - Bearwallow Valley & Falls Trails, Transylvania County (8-21-12) - dwhike

Bearwallow Valley Overlook

Gorges is quickly becoming one of my favorite afternoon haunts. Not only is it an easy 10-miles from our home outside of Lake Toxaway, it offers a unique opportunity for me to see a state park in development. Barely a decade ago facilities here consisted of a couple roadside dirt parking lots. Now, a paved loop road, numerous maintained trails, picnic facilities, and a soon-to-be-opened visitor center (October 2012) are all available amenities. On this particular day I didn't have all that much time so I thought I'd do a quick recon of two of the parks shorter trails; the Bearwallow Valley and Bearwallow Falls Trails.

Each are around a half-mile one way and their names tell you what they're all about. The Bearwallow Valley Trail winds uphill from the parking area to a nice view of the Bearwallow Valley stretching away to South Carolina. The Bearwallow Falls Trail leads to an overlook with a rather restricted view of Upper Bearwallow Falls. I wouldn't rate these trails as the 'best of the park' but I hadn't hiked 'em yet, so I had to go...

Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 35.101243, -82.945566

Mileage Hiked: 2.0 miles

Trailhead Temp: 73'F

Min. Elevation: 2,950'

Max Elevation: 3,300'

Trails Used (blaze color/shape): Bearwallow Valley (red triangles), Bearwallow Falls (blue triangles)

Gorges State Park - Bearwallow Valley & Falls Trails, Transylvania County (8-21-12)

Bearwallow Valley & Upper Bearwallow Falls Hike Route Map
My hike of the Bearwallow Valley Trail and Bearwallow Falls Trail at Gorges State Park as depicted a la Google Earth...
Upper Bearwallow Falls Route Map
An overview of my route. I parked at the lower of the two lots marked by picnic tables, hiked the Bearwallow Valley Trail, and then finished up on the Bearwallow Falls Trail...
Bearwallow Picnic Area
A flashy new picnic pavilion, bathrooms, and parking area had been constructed over the past season at the trailhead. Luckily for me, the crowds no doubt expected with such nice facilities hadn't materialized this day...
Bearwallow Valley Trail
No sooner did I get on the Bearwallow Valley Trail and it split! No signs (yet) but I knew to take the left fork as the right one leads over to the neighboring picnic area...
Bearwallow Valley Trail
The first quarter mile or so consists of a rather vigorous climb...just enough to get the heart pumping a bit...
Bearwallow Valley Trail
What's that smell? Hike for any period of time in the southern mountains and you'll pass sections of trail with an obnoxious smell. This is the culprit, Galax. These smelly little plants don't get any bigger than this, but they may be 20 or more years old!
Bearwallow Valley Trail
OK, another split...actually a "Y"...this is where I got confused. On such a short hike I didn't mind exploring. I had ascended from the left in this shot and first set out behind where I'm facing in this shot...
Bearwallow Valley Trail
I always enjoy late afternoon sunshine in the treetops...
Bearwallow Valley Trail
My foray onto the unmarked trail ended abruptly at this shabby clearing only a couple minutes from the junction. Not the prettiest view, but a nice look at neighboring Mt. Toxaway (4,764')...
Bearwallow Valley Trail
Back on the correct path...
Bearwallow Valley Trail
No views, no wildflowers, you know what that means...mushroom time!
Bearwallow Valley Trail
Shortly after rounding the ridge the trail makes a brief, gradual descent to the overlook...
Bearwallow Valley Overlook
The Bearwallow Valley Overlook...good thing it doesn't require much effort is the first thought I had. However, you have to take the power lines with a grain of salt. Those are Duke Energy lines, the company who originally owned this land. It was Duke Energy who decided to sell what is now Gorges State Park to the State of North Carolina rather than parceling it off to developers. So, I guess I can put up with the lines...
Bearwallow Valley Overlook
Hummmmmmmm.....
Bearwallow Valley Overlook
A short path over to the power line manway provides a slightly different angle of the view...
Upper Bearwallow Falls Trail
After a brisk walk back to the parking area, it was off onto the Bearwallow Falls Trail...
Upper Bearwallow Falls Trail
As the first trail was primarily a climb, this one's primarily a descent...
Upper Bearwallow Falls Trail
A wide path beneath stately pines...
Upper Bearwallow Falls Trail
Looking up again...
Upper Bearwallow Falls Trail
...and, of course, some more mushrooms...
Upper Bearwallow Falls Trail
As soon as I thought, "Maybe the falls will be on the shadowed side of the ridge (better for waterfall pics)", the trail turned back into the sun...
Upper Bearwallow Falls Trail
Another trail quickly over...the Upper Bearwallow Falls overlook...
Upper Bearwallow Falls
If you're familiar with other falls in Gorges, then Upper Bearwallow is kind of a disappointment (this is a generously zoomed shot). The majority of the falls is actually above this portion and is hidden by the trees. I can only hope that future trail plans offer better access to it...
Upper Bearwallow Falls
Unhappy that my hike was done so soon, I scrambled down a ways from the overlook to get closer to the river. I came out below this pretty and, as far as I know unnamed, cascade. Somehow, it completed the hike. Another fabulous trip into the woods...