5/23/06 Whitewater Falls, NC

HIKERS – Amanda Anderson, Melissa Anderson, June Bellamy, John Bellamy, Ray Cowan, Terry Doyle, Wayne Miller, Bruce O’Connor, Bob Presley, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, John Ray, Dan Ross, Doug Russell, Bob Thompson, David Whitaker, and Geri Whitaker.

TRAIL INFO. – The Foothills Trail is well-maintained and this particular hike has a variety of terrain. It starts off with a steep descent down 150-something steps to an observation platform for Whitewater Falls, then a steep downhill walk to the bottom below the falls to the Whitewater River. The falls is not visible from the bottom. There is a very large boulder field and a foot-bridge accross the river. The trail is rolling up and down for a section with wooden steps in steep sections. Gradually, the trail brings you close to the river for a nice long flat walk to the intersection with the Bad Creek connector trail. Then, the trail turns left up a mountain to the intersection with the Lower Whitewater Falls side trail which we took down to the falls viewing platform. It is a fairly long downhill walk to the platform. This was our lunch spot for the day. Next, we reversed our path back to Upper Whitewater Falls.

Distance hiked – approx. 7 miles – difficulty is considered somewhat challenging for the section back up from the lower falls and back up to the upper falls from the river. The middle section is easy.

Directions: From Seneca SC, take Scenic Highway 11 past Tamassee, to Salem, SC continue to the intersection SC 11 and SC 130. Turn left onto 130 and drive approx. 10 miles. Look for the entrance to the Whitewater Falls Recreation Area and parking lot.

Another great day for a hike! Fair temperatures ranging from the lower 60’s to the mid 70’s F.

FLOWERS IN BLOOM: Mountain Laurel, Rattlesnake weed, Vasey’s Trillium, Indian Cucumber Root, Tulip Poplar, Whorled Loosestrife, Healall, White Violet, Yellow Star Grass, Partridgeberry, Hearts-a-Bursting, Devil’s Bit, Yellow Woodsorrel, Ragwort, Tall Bluet, Soloman’s Seal, False Solomon’s Seal, Squaw Root, Meadow Rue, Blue-eyed Grass, Flowering Spurge and Drum Heads, Halberd Leaved Yellow Violet, Mayapple, Foam Flower, Lyre-leaved sage, Jack in the pulpit, and yellow toadshade Trillium.

BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Red eyed vireo, Carolina wren, Titmouse, Black throated blue warbler, Crow, Oven bird, Cardinal, Towhee, Yellow throated vireo, Crested flycatcher, Rose breasted grosbeak, Hooded warbler, Common yellow throat, Pileated woodpecker.