More Alum Cave Trail

Here's what the path looked like for much of the trail. Shady and forested.

The cave is actually a concave bluff about 80 feet high and 500 feet in length. But it feels like a cave, as your voice echoes. Here we are looking up at the roof of the cave. And going back down now.

Hiking Alum Cave Trail

Last day! We decided to hike the Alum Cave Trail at the recommendation of the park ranger. Wish we could go back and thank him! We hiked gently uphill next to this stream for quite a ways. The rhododendrons were everywhere, forming a canopy high above us much of the time. They were not in bloom, but I bet in spring it is a sight to see. We crossed over many footbridges like the one below.

We had a little trail guide from which I read, from time to time. There were lots of these trees that looked like they were on stilts. I think it's some kind of birch which can grow on a rotting log, and then when the log is all gone, it looks like this. Here I am just getting ready to go through Arch Rock, where the trail actually goes through a rock. This is looking up some stairs they have made there. And here we are on the other side.

Cade's Loop Road

Thursday afternoon, we drove over to Cade's Cove with Laura & Jon. There wasn't time enough for the hike we had planned, so we took an auto tour around Cade's Cove. The area has been preserved to look much like it did in the 1800's, and we were able to visit several old churches and homesteads.

Hike to Laurel Falls

Thursday morning, 5 of us hiked to Laurel Falls, which I have read is the most popular destination by trail in the entire park. And it's true - there were a lot of people there! But it was a nice walk in the woods with a 75 foot waterfall at the end.