Laurel Falls

We did a hike today that I had wanted to do a long time.  Laurel Falls near Hampton, Tennessee is a well known waterfall that is one of the most spectacular in the area.  Seven of us hiked in today from the Hampton trailhead.  It was a good trail, but had a rock ledge that had to be negotiated about 2 tenths of a mile from the falls.  There were lots of sights and sounds along the trail which meandered beside Laurel Fork, a stream that gushed out of the gorge, bordered at times by huge rock walls.  There was lots of lush foliage too, mountain laurel, Watauga rhododendron, which was beautiful, and honeysuckle and wild roses that smelled divine.  We enjoyed the hike and want to return.

Difficult to capture the size of the falls.

Beautiful hike along Laurel Fork

Watauga Rhododendron

Buffalo Mountain Park

Only four of us headed to Buffalo Mountain Park in Johnson City, Tennessee.  The park is nearly in the city itself which seemed odd.  When we arrived, it was 55 and windy outside.  We had expected a bit nicer of a day, but except for a few very windy spots, it was good hiking weather.  The trail was a 4.5 mile loop around the mountain, which afforded us various views and a variety of habitats.  We experienced rocky, sandy areas, and mossy, wet areas.  I was pleasantly surprised at the variety of wildflowers we saw.  Locust, azalea, mountain laurel, wild geranium, ladyslippers, to name a few.  It was a nice hike with a bit of everything!

Pink Ladyslipper