July 29, 2014
| This week’s hike was on several short trails near Highlands, NC.
HIKERS – Geri Barrios, Wayne Barrios, Phil Brownrigg, Jan Burgess, Pam Euliss, Cup Gales, Stephen Gales, Tim Hale, Charles Hall, Bill Hunt, Jack Jacobi, Kim Johnson, Bob Magee, Trushna Nadig, Jeanne O’Connor, Vic Robson, Aaron Roy, Tony Presley, Joe Raguckas, John Ray, Carole Wintle and Jack Wintle. TRAIL INFO. – We first hiked the short but spectacular Dry Falls Trail off highway 64 west of Highlandsa. Next, we hiked the Whiteside Mountain loop trail up and across the rim of cliffs on Whiteside Mountain. Then we traveled back into Highlands and had lunch and hiked the nature trails at the Highlands Biological Station. For our final hike of the day, we hiked the Sunset Rocks Trail which begins across the road from the Biological Center. Total hiking distance today – Approximately 5 miles with easy to moderate difficulty level. Directions: Dry Falls – From Highlands, take Hwy 64 west for just over 3 miles from it’s intersection with Hwy 106. Look for a brown and white forest service sign for Dry Falls and turn left into the parking area. Whiteside Mountain – From downtown Highlands, go east on US 64 for 5.5 miles to the Whiteside Mountain Road sign turn right on paved road NC 1600 and go .6 mile. Highlands Biological Station – From Dillard, GA: Take Hwy 106 to Highlands and turn right onto Main Street. Continue straight through town. Turn left onto Sixth St. and make a right turn into the Station driveway. Another great day for a hike! Partly Cloudy and cool with temperatures ranging from 58 to 72 degrees F. WILDFLOWERS: White Bee Balm, Red Bee Balm, Stachys, Summersweet, Starry Campion, Primrose, White Yarrow, Leather Leaf Clematis, Hawk Weed, Black-eyed Susan, Lance Leaf Coreopsis, Joe Pye Weed, Turk’s Cap Lily, Spiderwort, White Wood Aster, White Baneberry / Doll’s Eyes, Bush Honeysuckle, (not counting the many that we saw at the Botanical Gardens). BIRDS IDENTIFIED: CHIPPING SPARROW, CROW, GOLD FINCH, TOWHEE, DARK EYED JUNCO, VIREO, NUTHATCH, INDIGO BUNTING. |
 Parking at the Dry Falls Parking Lot on Highway 64. |
 View of Dry Falls from the upper boardwalk. |
 Approaching spectacular Dry Falls! |
 The trail takes you behind the falls through a refreshing mist! |
 A breathtaking experience! |
 Next, we did the two mile loop trail at Whiteside Mt. for amazing views along the rim. |
 Bill and Martha at the high point of the mountain! |
 Countless great views… |
 A side trail leads to this amazing rock cliff! |
 We saw several groups of Turk’s Cap Lilies. |
 Next, we hiked the nature trails at the Highlands Biological Station. |
 Lunchtime at the Biological Center. |
 We then hiked the Sunset Rock Trail. Sunset Rock looks over Highlands to the west. |
 Sunrise Rock looks to the east toward Whiteside Mountain. |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r) Pam Euliss, John Ray, Charles Hall, Phil Brownrigg, Kim Johnson, Bob Magee, Jan Burgess, Carole Wintle, Jack Wintle, Geri Barrios, Wayne Barrios, Vic Robson, Jack Jacobi, Martha Hunt, Bill Hunt, Joe Raguckas, Jeanne O’Connor, Tim Hale, Trushna Nadig, Stephen Gales, Cup Gales and Tony Presley. |