NC Waterfalls: High Shoals Falls

High Shoals Falls is located in South Mountain State Park located in a rugged area of Burke County in the state of NC. There is a lot to see and do, but the highlight is the 80 foot waterfall. The park has over 40 miles of hiking trials and 30 miles of bridle trials. There are two picnic areas and sheltered picnic area for groups. If you are in to backpacking, there are 20 some campsites at 6 different locations. A Visitor's Center has exhibitions on the cultural and natural history of the area. After hearing so much about South Mountain from different people and how pretty the waterfall was, we decided to take a trip and go see for ourselves.

The hiking trial to the falls is called The High Shoals Loop and is 2.7 miles long. It is considered a strenuous hike. We didn't complete the loop. We walked, hiked, and climbed the mile to the top of falls and turned around to go back the way we came. Near the end of the trial to the top of the falls are 100 steps to climb. (I think that is the correct number. It might be more.)  While the hike was almost a little bit more than I could handle, the falls made it worth the climb. 

Visitor's Center

The High Shoals Falls Loop starts out like this but don't let it fool you. It will get harder.

There are steps to go down...

and steps to go up.

 

But, the view...

at the top...

is so...

worth it!

Isn't it?

All along the trial is beautiful scenery to take in. The stream babbles and falls, which gives you plenty of little waterfalls to see. There was one very interesting spot for DH and I. It was a HUGE boulder on the side of the mountain that the top part of it was on the opposite side of the trail from the boulder. The top part was sheared off by the torrential rain and winds of Hurricane Hugo, which our DD was born in the middle of.

The Hugo Boulder.

One of the little falls.

The stream falling and babbling along making for a peaceful sound.

Going to see the waterfall was worth the hard climb, but I wouldn't recommend it with little children. I would wait until they were 10 or older before taking them on such a hike. Children should also be of the age where they will listen and mind on a hike like this one. Several people have lost their lives in this area, because of silly mistakes. So just use caution and be careful if you decide to visit some day. 

Once again marveling at the simple beauty created by God's hands!