The Hunt for More Waterfalls: Catawba Falls, North Carolina

The good thing about taking time between sharing bits of a vacation is that you get to relive it for that much longer. I'm still enjoying every last bit of the autumn leaves here, getting outside as much as I can. Though in the blink of an eye the last leaf will have fallen, and I'll have to wait another year for this burst of color. That's when I'll get to look at all of these posts about our outdoor adventures from our weekend in North Carolina with joy and anticipation of experiencing it in person again!

Last time you joined @dksart and I on our trek around DuPont State Park, but this adventure features Catawba Falls. There were so many options for hiking spots from our weekend base of Asheville, but this one looked like an easy one to get to, with some great scenery to enjoy on the journey up to the falls. The day was chilly, but sunny. Perfect to hit the trails with a packed lunch and our cameras in hand!

Quite a few other people had the same idea, so the parking lot was fairly busy. Luckily, while not as quiet as our hike the previous day, it never got so crowded we couldn't enjoy the experience or get our turn to snap some great shots. The hike was a moderate 2.5 mile hike (roundtrip). The trail was well maintained, but there was some good climbing to challenge the legs and lungs (and some clambering near the top).

Not far into the hike was an old hydroelectric power plant. As with many of the areas rivers, they used to (or still do) harness the power of the water to create electricity with dams. A nice spot to stop and take in a bit of history. At this point we crossed a bridge to continue along the trail.

Along the way you can catch glimpses of the falls to come. There were quite a few spots where you could go off the main trail to get closer in to the water and enjoy the scenery. That sound of water flowing down over the rocks never gets old. Always so peaceful, yet energizing.

@dksart playing in the trees

You definitely had to watch your step on the trail. Lots of rocks and roots, but nothing so strenuous the average healthy person couldn't navigate with relative ease. There were no benches along the way as there are on some trails, but plenty of places to stop and catch your breath if needed. I tend to just power on through until I get to the top, too eager to slow down. Except for pictures.

One more smaller set of falls before the big reveal...

We made it! Plus in exchange for taking photos of some other people, we got the only non-selfie picture of the two of us from the trip. The top part of the trail gets a bit more treacherous, as you have to climb over the rocks to really be able to get a good view of the falls. Makes all the exercise in the gym worthwhile to put it to use as our bodies should be able to move in the wild! I think this picture below gives a little bit better of an idea the terrain.

We took our turn to get even closer, as you could make your way up to the side if you dared.

Using trees and stones for handholds, it was totally worth it to get to this...

And because one picture of this moment wasn't enough, this...

Just breathtaking. We took a few moments to take it in before relinquishing our spot to the next explorers. Just like the day before, those trees behind the falls were just gorgeous. I am still so thankful we timed our visit that well.

On the way back down my head was still in the clouds, but @dksart spotted this little gem in the side of the trail. An adorable little woods gnome. Love hidden treasures like that. Just puts a smile on your face. Not that I had any trouble smiling on such a beautiful day. Especially knowing we were hiking back down to a packed lunch.

This hike was a bit shorter than the one the day before, but it was perfect for the day given that we were finally going to downtown Asheville later on to explore the city. The drive back on I-40 was gorgeous, to boot. I tried to get a few photos in the car, but none that truly captured driving up and down through the colorful trees.

I'll leave you with a little gem inside the old power plant. A nice reminder this time of year when the holiday stress starts to set in...

Banners by @woman-onthe-wing and @dksart