Getting Our Bearings – Mon, May 18, 2015

Summer Travel Map

Lake Powhatan Recreation Area

Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina

I had this post ready to upload from Live Writer to Blogger.
However, before I could post it, the rug got pulled out between the two.
So now, I attempted to do it in Blogger and it just doesn't work so well.
This may well be my last post if I can't figure out how to use Blogger:o(((

The weather forecast was calling for RAIN today, so we decided to hold off on hiking. 

Instead we did a car trip to try to get our bearings and see a few sites.

We left Lake Powhatan and headed south on Rt 191 to Rt 280 towards Brevard.

Before reaching Brevard, 

we made a right on Rt 276 and visited Davidson River Campground.

We were allowed to ride through the campground, but I forgot to take photos. 
 This campground is much easier to get in to than Lake Powhatan. 

I believe when we return, we will try to get sites here instead of Lake Powhatan as it seems more central to so many things in the area.

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We continued down Rt 276 to a left on Rt 275.

There we visited the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education and Fish Hatchery.

The Center's theme is "Mountain Streams-Where Water and Life Begin". 
The facility includes an interpretive trail with live and interactive exhibits, a film, an outdoor classroom, an amphitheater and raceway (fish) exhibits.

At the back of the parking area you will find a statute dedicated to Camp John Rock, the CCC camp where the the workers lived who built most of these structures and more in the area.

Also, you will find the trailhead to Cat Gap Trail.
This trail was a favorite of the Ranger we spoke with yesterday!!

Today was not a good weather day to do a 4 mile hike,

so we returned to Rt 276 and drove west toward the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Prior to reaching the parkway, we made several stops.

First Stop – Looking Glass Waterfall

You can see the fall from the road, but we got out for a closer look :o)

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Second Stop – Moore Cove Waterfall

All the literature said this was a 1 mile round trip hike to the falls.

In reality it is a 2 mile R/T hike… but worth the effort!!

Third and Last Stop – Sliding Rock

It was only about 70 degrees today and the water temperature was 55 degrees.

There were only a few folks brave enough to give it a try today!!!

We only spent a short time at Sliding Rock as the predicted rain started.

There was one more place we want wanted to check out before you reach the BRP.

The Cradle of Forestry

The Birthplace of Forest Conservation in America

Since the rain was coming down hard and there are both indoor and outdoor exhibits here,

we decided to come back on a nicer day to give this the time it deserves.

At this point, we reached The Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP)

where we headed north back to the campground.

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Not a very pretty ride, but we did pull into an overlook and enjoy our lunch:o))

We did find the parking area for the Mount Pisgah Trail.

If the weather clears tomorrow, we will be back here to hike to Mt. Pisgah Summit :o))

 

We continued north on the BRP,

through many tunnels,

to the exit for Rt 191 which is just a couple miles from the campground!!

Weather permitting, 

we will be right back up here tomorrow!!!