Waterfall Hero

[Waterfall Hero @Waterfall_Hero]

Early morning crepuscular rays cutting through the haze in Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. #JoyceKilmerMemorialForest #NantahalaNationalForest #Crepuscularrays

[Waterfall Hero @Waterfall_Hero]

Pretty yellow bear’s foot lighting up the woods at Durant Nature Preserve this morning. Those big, lobed leaves are hard to miss once you know what to look for #DurantNaturePreserve #NCWildflowers #RaleighHikes #BearsFoot #RaleighParks #Smallanthusuvedalia

[Waterfall Hero @Waterfall_Hero]

Quick stop at Baby Falls on the Tellico River after Bald River Falls. Scrambled down to the base for a closer look. Its small but scenic and a nice contrast to the bigger falls nearby. Perfect little detour before hitting the Bald River Trail. #BabyFalls #TellicoRiver #Hiking

[Waterfall Hero @Waterfall_Hero]

Amaroq among the giants of Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest 🌲 Nothing quite like an early morning with a bold husky and 400-year-old tulip poplars. #husky #huskylife #amaroqthebold #joycekilmermemorialforest #nanthalanationalforest #hikingwithdogs

[Waterfall Hero @Waterfall_Hero]

Middle Bald River Falls, about a half-mile up Bald River Trail. Very scenic cascade tucked in the gorge, but tough to capture the whole thing in one frame, but worth the stop. #MiddleBaldRiverFalls #BaldRiverGorge #CherokeeNationalForest #Hiking

[Waterfall Hero @Waterfall_Hero]

Mushroom haul from Umstead this weekend - a dense carpet of tiny golden Xeromphalina covering an old stump, hundreds of little trumpets. And a big, wavy cluster of pale oyster mushrooms on a nearby log… and right next to them, the same oysters in full melt mode

[Waterfall Hero @Waterfall_Hero]

Carved wildlife log/bench at Durant Nature Preserve, a solid local stand-in now that the similar piece on Umstead’s Graylyn Trail has been removed due to decay. Harper checked it out, Amaroq gave it a polite sniff, and we all appreciated the craftsmanship (and the shade).

[Waterfall Hero @Waterfall_Hero]

@Turtle_Fluent It's a hiking only trail so I let him be after a picture. I only move them on roads or bike trails

[Waterfall Hero @Waterfall_Hero]

Trail surprise on Sycamore this morning at Umstead. This little box turtle was just hanging out right in the middle of the path #UmsteadStatePark #BoxTurtle #NCWildlife #RaleighHikes #ncstateparks

[Waterfall Hero @Waterfall_Hero]

These wavy, tan-capped mushrooms were fruiting from a well-decayed log, most likely mature Panus conchatus (lilac oysterling) or a close cousin. The lilac color fades fast and leaves these ruffled, irregular shapes. #DurantNaturePreserve #RaleighHikes #MushroomSpotting #NCNature

[Waterfall Hero @Waterfall_Hero]

Found this little 12-foot waterfall about a quarter-mile before the end of Bald River Trail. Stopped for lunch with Amaroq and scrambled around on the rocks for a few photos. Quiet, scenic, and one of those unexpected highlights that make wilderness hikes special #BaldRiverGorge

[Waterfall Hero @Waterfall_Hero]

Early morning light on Bald River Falls, one of my favorite waterfalls on #waterfallwednesdayCrossed the bridge and scrambled down to river level for a closer look. Perfect start to a day exploring Bald River Gorge #BaldRiverFalls #CherokeeNationalForest #TennesseeWaterfalls

[Waterfall Hero @Waterfall_Hero]

After the rain let up, we stopped at Hooper Bald on the Cherohala Skyway for a short hike to the top. The grassy bald at 5,429 ft with a wide-open view down into the Snowbird Creek drainage. #HooperBald #CherohalaSkyway #NantahalaNationalForest #AppalachianViews

[Waterfall Hero @Waterfall_Hero]

Quick stop at Lake View Overlook on the Cherohala Skyway after a great day in Bald River Gorge. Layers of mountains stretching toward the Smokies #CherohalaSkyway #LakeViewOverlook #SouthernAppalachians #ScenicByway

[Waterfall Hero @Waterfall_Hero]

Morning light on Bald River Falls and a quick scramble down to Baby Falls with Amaroq 🐾 One of my favorite spots in the Cherokee National Forest, the water was running strong and the gorge felt peaceful. #husky #amaroqthebold #BaldRiverFalls #CherokeeNationalForest

[Waterfall Hero @Waterfall_Hero]

Rainy greenway magic 🌧️ Ephemeral waterfall on House Creek tributary after the storms. Worth every soggy mile! #RaleighGreenways #HouseCreekTrail #CrabtreeCreek #RaleighHikes #EphemeralFalls

[Waterfall Hero @Waterfall_Hero]

Beautiful trail-side wildflower on the Bartram: Woodland Phlox lighting up the woods with these vibrant purple clusters. Always a treat spotting these after the big climbs, a pollinator favorite and classic Appalachian understory charm. 🌸🏔️ #WoodlandPhlox #Wildflowers

[Waterfall Hero @Waterfall_Hero]

The newly accessible Cover Falls near Andrews, NC. Short, sweet half-mile trail to this beautiful ~40-ft cascade, perfect lighting and a fun scramble around the rocks #waterfallwednesday #CoverFalls #AndrewsNC #Nantahala #WaterfallHiking

[Waterfall Hero @Waterfall_Hero]

Trail treasure on the Bartram near Bartram Falls: a beautiful cluster of Golden Chanterelles popping through the leaf litter! Bright, wavy, and classic Appalachian summer foraging finds. Always a thrill spotting these after the big climb to Cheoah Bald. 🍄🏔️ #Chanterelles

[Waterfall Hero @Waterfall_Hero]

Sunflower glow at Dorothea Dix even after the storms 🌻🐝 Raleigh summer adventures continue! #DorotheaDix #RaleighHikes #Sunflowers #husky #amaroqthebold