The Mountain Bridge Wilderness area connects Jones Gap and Caesars Head State Parks...and its chock full of hiking trails and a few waterfall hikes! Last Fall I hiked at the other end to Raven Cliff Falls. The song of the mountain is the river...it sang sweetly for me, bubbling and gurgling, dipping and scrambling, sliding and rushing around granite boulders all along the 2.2 mile length of the hike.The canopy was full of soft color with the trees dressed in their spring leaf finery!
Sometimes the trail was rocky and sometimes it was easier going...
Had to cross a few bridges--some of the wide open spaces are designated primitive camp spots..there are no rv or car camps here only pack it in and pack it out--awesome wilderness experience! This is camp spot #10
I enjoy hiking in these mountains because there is so much to see along the way--like wildflowers this is Pink Trillium--also saw blue violets, yellow violets, wood anemones, Indian Strawberry...and others.
And this one--- that I dont know the name --but if you do please let me know what it is...
LOTS of butterflies gathered in this spot...I think I see about 4 species in this shot!
(Red Spotted Purple, Zebra Swallowtail, the Spice Bush and the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail)
AND I'm always fascinated by the size of these large burls!
THEN finally after taking my time and taking photos of everything...lol I arrived at my destination, the waterfall!! Lucky me I had the whole place to myself-
The falls is a 50 ft Fan Class waterfall and its really a beauty..worth the hike! I sat down to eat my lunch on a rock and enjoyed the cool spray and the soothing sounds of the crashing water...
ONE more Video...the falls:
WELL I thought I was alone then I saw this guy...imagine living at the foot of this beautiful falls away from
After a small meet and greet I headed back, and at the Headquarters I relaxed on one of these chairs for a while ...
then headed back to civilization...reluctantly!!!
PEACE
