Nice day for a hike, so I hiked! This place would be, I guess in the Northeast corner of Greenville County. I'll tell you about it, you find it! A fairly short hike, very family friendly and interesting outdoorsy things to see. When that grandson of mine gets old enough to walk and fun enough to hang out with, this is another place we'll explore together. The trail passes by two ponds and a waterfall, some stumps that have been attacked by beavers and spectacular views.
After parking in the lot, you will walk down the paved road until you see this sign, then follow a dirt road up to the first pond. There is signage there explaining the view, which is worth a second look. The road continues to the second pond and then the waterfall. If I was able to buy this place I would. I'd build one of those cozy log cabins and live the rest of my days - lazy in these woods. Overwhelmingly peaceful with the sound of water and a light breeze playing in the tree tops. So good you want to smack your Mama, but I wouldn't do it, she may smack back! I'm going to post some pictures, see for yourself.
You can figure this out.
Mountain View- Hogback Mt. on left, Vaughn's Gap, Rocky Spur
Not really snowing but sure looks pretty!
Waterfall
View from trail
Beaver work
Long way to go
Hawk
Beaver dam
Mountains in Pond
I was in this Preserve only two hours and ten minutes, but I took sixty-two pictures, all of them interesting and showing the beauty of nature.
This is a Carolina Blue sky!!
Gracie - she has retired from hiking! She has earned the right to lay on the couch.
You would think that two middle aged men who have spent years wandering through the woods would be able to find their way to a State Park and from there to the trailhead. You would be wrong! We missed one turn and drove away out of the way to get to Oconee State Park and the beginning of the Foothills Trail. Thats one of the things that happen when friends get together and laugh and talk and enjoy one anothers company, we forget what we are doing. So we finally get to where we want to be only to find out we can't get there yet. A tree has fallen across the road and it is in the process of being removed so we have to wait about 45 minutes before we can even get to the trailhead. No big deal we wait by going to the gift shop and looking at stuff! Stuff is good, one can never get enough stuff!
We get started and our hiking plan is to go as far as we want and then turn around and hike back. Pretty simple if you ask me. We come to a sign that says, Hidden Falls, OK we'll hike to the falls and see what is there. My first guess is maybe a waterfall, I will be disappointed if I'm wrong. Jim keeps saying I hope we can find it, or lets not miss it, or something along those lines. I have to ask him to stop, we will find it!
Hidden Falls
Proof he found the falls.
Yours Truly
Was a nice day for a hike. I remember it being about a six mile out and back. Great fun!
It was such a boring trip from the boat ramp to the Toxaway River that I'm not even going to tell you about it!
Paddle two or three strokes on the left side, two or three strokes on the right side.
Stop.
Get out.
Stretch.
Yawn.
Scratch.
Sit.
Adjust!
Paddle on left.
Paddle on right.
Repeat!
Repeat!
Repeat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gracie sleeping in the bow and my butt sleeping in the stern.
Creating a small wake with my bow, cursing the big waves from the boats!
I had fiddle farted around the house all morning and now was racing the setting sun! The sun had a long way to go, but so did I. It's ten miles give or take a paddle stroke to the Toxaway River from the boat ramp. Plenty of time to arrive and get camp set up before dark, just have to keep moving and have short rest stops. Not my style of flat water canoeing! Normally do a little swimming and take cat naps while sitting on the shore, watching the sun slowly creep across the Carolina blue sky. Today I'm moving as if I have a goal in mind, I do, don't get caught on the lake after dark. Now don't misunderstand me, I love to paddle after dark under the full moon and clear night sky, but not when I have to scramble up a bank side with my camping gear. [ Just a side note - my iTunes playlist has been hijacked!! I listen to Gospel bluegrass, bluegrass and banjo picking as I write, but other types of music keep popping up. Oh, well! Who knows what I might write under the sounds of this modern Gospel music? Where has it come from? I'm not sure. ]
Gracie and I have arrived and the sun is still high above the mountain top. We have no beach to run aground on so I step out in about eight inches of water and tie the canoe to one of the many small trees growing in the lake bottom. Rain water has hollowed out a trail from the lake to the Foothills Trail and I'm able to walk up this so-so steep path to the Trail and then about fifteen or twenty feet over to the campsite. This is an official Foothills Trail campsite with a picnic table and fire ring. Gracie has her nose working and is wandering all over the site, I'm making three trips to remove the gear from the canoe to the campsite. The two man tent I have used for the past twelve years is now minus a rainfly but the rest of it is still good to go, mesh is good - no holes - bottom is good - no snakes can slither in while I sleep! [ GIVES ME THE WILLIES TO THINK ABOUT IT ] Not supposed to rain but I have a tarp to throw over the tent if it does. We talked this over, Gracie and I, the two man tent was brought instead of the newer one man tent so Gracie could sleep in the tent as she has done every time we have camped together. She would share the sleeping bag when she was smaller and insecure, I'd leave it unzipped so her feet would stick out and her back would be against my chest as we slept. As she got older she would sleep at my feet. Cold weather, curl up. Warm weather, stretch out. Tonight she slept outside the tent flap and I left it unzipped. No rain, a clear warm night with some moonlight.
Paddling down the lake toward the suspension bridge we smelled and saw a small cloud of smoke hanging around the trees near the main camping area, our site is a couple hundred or more yards from this much larger site. After setting up camp we hiked to the bridge and through the camp ground on our way there. A small fire was burning and two young men were washing up in the creek flowing into the lake. They didn't see us and we went on to the bridge and took a couple of pictures and bounced the bridge just to say we did and to make Gracie nervous. Heading back to our site we stopped and said, Hi, because that is the friendly thing to do. They were from FL and came to the NC Mountains just to hike the Jocassee Gorge. They had hiked in from Gorges State Park in NC down the Auger Hole Trail to the Foothills Trail, camped the night and then will hike out byway of the Canebrake Trail. They used the Frozen Creek Road Trail Head Parking area, what a good way to spent a weekend.
View from inside tent.
We strolled back to the tent and waited for darkness to settle in. It is always good to have an uneventful night when sleeping in the woods and we did. The moon was not full, it was waning away but gave enough light in the clear sky for me to see the lake when I woke up during the night. The weather changed from not warm to just a little chilly, perfect for this time of year. Gracie and I were in a Huck Finn state of mind, I had on a pair of swim shorts and that was all, before we left the boat ramp I had taken my shirt off and did not put it back on until we were loaded up and ready to drive up the ramp and out of the Park. I was loading the canoe when a fishing boat motored by and the father and two sons were all wrapped up in sweats and hats, it was cold speeding up the lake in the cool morning air. We didn't feel the cold quite as easily just walking around and getting ready to leave the camp site. We paddled into the sunlight and quickly warmed up cruising down the lake. It was a slow easy paddle back too the boat ramp, we were able to take our time and discover another special place tucked back in the shore line.
Not telling where this one is.
Then we loaded up and went home. It's taken me two months to get this posted, I've been easily distracted these pass few weeks with other things on my mind. I haven't even been back to the lake and that's a disappointing fact to share!
Standing at the end of the new remote boat ramp looking north. The foremost group of trees is an island, we will paddle to the right side and circle around it then proceed up the lake. You can see the ripple on the surface, another light breeze and no boat traffic. Excellent morning for a canoe trip, not even eight o'clock yet and we are already on the water. Don't have a destination in mind just a desire to be paddling and get away from the civilized life! Gracie and I left home before seven, we made a quick stop at the local Hardee's for a steak biscuit combo and then an uneventful drive to the lake. "I'd rather be lost on the lake then found at home." I have that hanging on the wall at home along with another one that says, "I love canoeing". Those are two good things because today I felt as if I was lost on the lake.
We paddled to the island and stopped to listen to mother nature talk to us about how sweet the birds sing and how many different ones we can hear if we just sit still and absorb the sounds around us. We rocked with the movement of the still lake water. The cloud cover and the surrounding tree covered hills created an amphitheater for the blend of notes bouncing around the canoe making me smile. We continue paddling up the right side of the lake following close to the shore. This shore line is not friendly toward us canoeist, no place to stop and stand on good old Mother earth, we just paddle and listen for the small hidden waterfalls tumbling into the lake.
Very small Falls hidden back in a cave.
I hear several of these and can see most of them but a few are behind the under growth. Pull out your map of the lake and find Bootleg Mtn. on the eastern side of the lake, this is where we are following the water's edge. When I get to the end of the point I normally make a beeline for the Oconee county side and skim pass the land mass jutting into the lake, but today we stay with the shore and curve to the right entering a part of the lake where I usually do not go. I have seen fish jumping all morning, but something new pops up next to the canoe and I am surprised to see a group of otter sliding into the lake. One is most nosey and keeps popping up and holding himself for three or four seconds trying to figure out what I am. I did the best I could to get this picture, he did not pose for me. [ If I ever capsize on the lake, it will be trying to take a picture! ]
Otter head
Gracie and I see a place to beach the canoe and eat some lunch, maybe kick back and relax for an hour. I never like to come to the lake if I have to hurry.
Almost Heaven
We stay here a couple of hours and you ask the question. "What do you for two hours on that small bit of beach?" The answer -- NOTHING -- Now do you get it? Life really "don't get much better then this" I know that there are some people who are afraid to be by themselves, I guess they are scared of what they see when it is just them and themselves all alone with no place to go! Remember a wise turtle once said, "Hiking is good for the soul and canoeing will make you whole!"
Enough introspection! Paddle on to new adventures! There are more trees to see. Rock formations rising out of the cold depths of clear water! Dead trees standing guard over crumbling cliffs! The exciting danger filled days of a flat water canoeist on a lazy hot summer day. Off in the distance the sound of a motor powered boat and all five senses are on full alert anticipating the wake heading my way, the canoe will rock once, twice, maybe three times and then the instability and danger will be past until the next time! Gracie sleeps on! I paddle steadily! What new action packed story will I have to relay to the wife when I return home? Hold on to the gunnels it could get rough!
OK then, moving on toward Laurel Fork Creek Falls my mind goes blank. I don't know where on the lake I am. Really where am I? I see nothing familiar and sit in wonderment at my lack of knowledge of this part of the lake. Just keep moving with the shore on your right and something will be familiar in a minute. Yes, now I know where I am! Have stopped here many times on my way to the suspension bridge and the Toxaway River.
Trail into mountains. Not Foothills Spur Trail.
From here we go to the water falls behind the rock, boat traffic picks up the closer we get to this popular waterfalls. A spur trail of the Foothills trail stops at the lake giving access to the camping area at the top of the falls. Have hiked to the camping area and did an overnighter a couple of times, came in from the 178 trail head, my most favorite part of the Foothills trail. A good rugged hike for an old man. There is a parked pontoon blocking the entrance to the falls, people are fishing! People move the boat! We have come to see water falling from on high not "persons of interest" fishing.
Laurel Creek Falls from a distance.
Laurel Creek Falls
You can see Gracie is not happy, we are bumped up next to the pontoon and a fishing line is almost in the canoe. The dog on the pontoon is barking and I'm trying to take a picture so we are just free floating. I say I'm sorry for being in their space, but I'm really not! They need to move! They don't! This is a beautiful place, the mist from the falls keeps everything green and cool. We paddle out to the main part of the lake and turn toward the boat ramps and return the way we came. We still don't get in a hurry and steadily move on down the lake. The sun is out and it has warmed up, I stop and take a quick swim to cool off, drink some Gatorade and hand comb my hair back over the top of my head. This is important to understand when we get to the ramp and the other boaters are giving me strange looks. When I go to the car I look in the mirror and see my hair sticking up and out all over my head. Wild man look! That and no shirt seems to scare people away!
It was a good a day! An easy breeze, an overcast sky, and clear gentle water made this day one to remember. This is the first chance I've had to put the canoe on Jocassee this year. All the rain that we've had, has been filling the lake back up to within a couple of feet of "full pond". The woods surrounding the lake and shouldering the shore are a rich deep green, many small cricks and trickles of water flow and drip into the clear deep waters. The shore debris fills the small coves and masks the rivulets of water sneaking into the lake. Paddling quietly one can hear the water moving over and around the moss covered stones and cutting a trail through the forest floor making its way under the debris and joining the lake. We sit and listen to the moving water entering into the lake and hear the small waves slap the steep shore line. Gracie sleeps in the bow unconcerned as I tune in to the birds singing and circulating from one tree branch to another. A bass boat sits low in the water as three big men cast their lines toward shore, I slowly and quietly ease around them not disturbing their concentration or small talk. One sees Gracie riding low in the bow and says, "You got your dog with you". I respond, "Yep, she's a good dog". Gracie lifts her head and looks his way, he turns back toward shore and I head out across the lake one lazy stroke, another lazy stroke, we bob with the wind driven wave and move away.
It's just over a mile to the Double Springs campground, we head that direction, but have a couple stops to make before paddling around the shore. We are not in a hurry, have no deadline to meet, and feel really laid back and lazy. It's been a busy year, this two thousand thirteen! Had a huge dump truck load of dirt/soil dumped at the foot of the driveway and spent many an hour moving it to the back of the yard to increase the size of and raise the flower beds. It took an old worn out wheelbarrow, an old worn out man, and a brand new flat bottomed shovel to move it. I applied the same mentality moving dirt as I do to hiking or canoeing, one step at a time - one stroke at a time - one shovel at a time! Never ceases to amaze me how far - how much I can get done one bit at a time. My wife is the gardener, I'm the yard boy! It will be another year or two before we get it finished, but what we've done looks good. I'll post pictures later this summer. The other event crossing my mind as I was crossing the lake was the addition of the grandson to my small family. I never expected to be a grandfather, but am very blest to be one. I'm planning on spending many an hour wandering around the familiar trails seeing things that can only be seen through the eyes of a child. I 'll let him led me along and share in his discoveries. He's three weeks old and right now he doesn't do much, I told him he needs to grow up and be a man but just do it one day at a time, if he does it that way it will be OK! I think I have a picture here somewhere - Why yes, yes I do!
Future Outdoors Man -- Wyatt
Gracie and I navigate to the left of the campground seeking to find a secret place, a place of solitude, a haven of rest - a really cool place, in every meaning of the word. We've been here in years past, talking with a kayaker dude one day, he told me about it and how to find it. Thank you- kayaker dude! I'll share with likeminded canoeist and kayakers, just don't tell the motorboat people!
Entrance, don't tell!
This is all the directions you get, just follow the shoreline and keep your ears open.
[ Posting this video almost stressed me out! I wasn't sure that it was working so I ended up posting it twice with two different sites. I finally went to check where I can preview the blog before posting and there they both were and they both worked. Can't figure out how to delete one of them so watch which ever one is best for you. ]
Returning to this really cool spot on the lake, it is even cool when the temps. are in the high nineties. I paddle in here and sit listening to the quite of nature and watch the hypnotic water trickle down the rock face. Gracie sighs and sleeps relaxing in the revitalizing comfort of this place. Time to move on. We move to the right following the shore right pass the campground, stopping to get out of the canoe and stretch our legs.
At rest!
This one of the few spots where the lake bed tapers to the shore line, when the lake is full most of the shore line is a drop off. On my many travels around this lake I've decided that five feet below full pond is just the right level for canoes and kayaks to find and enjoy small sandy rest areas. We sit here awhile and then head to a hidden cove kinda tucked back out of the way. The water level had been so low for so long that lots of grass and weeds grew on the exposed shore line, now all that is covered by water and "it's a jungle out here!" It took a little time to get to the cove - just follow the shoreline - but we made it and stopped here to eat a bit of lunch.
Back half of canoe is in the water!
We eat a small lunch and sit enjoying the quiet day before paddling to the boat ramp.
