John’s Jump Falls and DEW Falls, Pisgah National Forest, NC

($0). (0.6 mile total out and back, 45’ elevation). I would recommend using the AllTrails App to help find your way. There is no sign at the trailhead. John’s falls is about 0.1 mile. It starts out looking a bit like a deer trail and turns into a tricky scramble down to a pretty cascade waterfall. DEW Falls is a lightly trodden 0.3 mile trail through dense mountain laurel with a scramble down steps made of roots. It ends at a tropical feeling pool with a waterfall. A magical place. We had both these hikes all to ourselves.

http://www.ncwaterfalls.com/johns_jump1.htm

8

difficulty: 4

Upper Bearwallow Falls, Gorges State Park, NC

(0.5 mile out and back, 157’ elevation). It’s a steep trail to an overlook quite far from the waterfall. This is a busy trail but I’d say it really isn’t worth the effort it takes to climb back up. There are better ones nearby including the 2 we went to earlier today.

https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/gorges-state-park

3

difficulty: 3

We drove through Lake Toxaway, NC

another upscale community, to Headwater Outfitters in Rosman, NC. A nice place, geared towards fishing but it had some good stuff for hikers, too. I bought a new buff there.

https://headwatersoutfitters.com/

Mountain Fresh Grocery for a light dinner.

https://www.mfgro.com/

We walked across the road to see the Cashiers Christmas lights display

Then we came back to our hotel for a fire and toasted marshmallows. Did I say how great this place is yet?

https://thewellscashiers.com/