Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.

Henry David Thoreau

Lewis Falls-An Adventure

Wednesday-Thursday May 30-May 31, 2018                                                 Recent Posts:
Big Meadows Campground                                                                              Foggy Meadow and Moving On
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia                                                               Laurel Prong



IMG_4234Most of yesterday was spent moving into the site here in Big Meadows Campground and checkiing with the rangers and neighbors to see if anyone had my Tommy Bahama beach chair or knew anything about it.  The neighbor to our right said he’d seen it there on Sunday around noon when they left which would have been right after I left to walk down to the meadow.  He said he noticed it wasn’t there at 1:00 when they came back.  So that means someone came around just after noon check out time and took it not leaving anyone who might have left it time to come back and get it.


Rain started Tuesday evening and it rained most of the day yesterday.  I had the F CODE on the Norcold Refrigerator again in the morning.  It has developed a pattern the last two weeks of showing up on Wednesday and Thursday  mornings and then it takes a break for 5 days.   The rain stopped for long enough that I could do about 4000 steps just walking around the many loops of the campground.  I also went down the mountain for groceries which is a 50 mile round trip.  I was really lucky to get back before it started pouring.  No rain or fog at the bottom of the mountains in Ruckersville, Virginia but the dense fog started as I climbed the mountain back up.

The rain was torrential over night and filled up a 3 gallon bucket I keep outside as a rain gauge.  I learned this morning that 2 people were killed in Ivy near Charlottesville in a flash flood.  A third man swam to safety.  

Lewis Mountain’s internet is not strong but Big Meadows has none period.  You have to walk or drive up to the lodge to get a signal and if the fog is dense, that’s not certain.  So that’s one reason I’m so far behind on posting.  Couldn’t do anything Wednesday night but read.


Killers of the Osage MoonSolar StormsI’m almost finished with the Killers of the Flowers Moon by David Grann.  It’s about the Osage Murder Terror in the 1920’s and 30’s when members of the tribe were being murdered to get their land and mineral rights in Oklahoma.  True story.   The corruption is just amazing.  The author says this case was the real birth of the FBI.   Very interesting book though not as well written as one written previously on the same subject by Native American writer Linda Hogan entitled Solar Storms which is one of my all time favorite books



IMG_4236On Thursday despite the fact that the trails are no doubt muddy and slick, I really had to get out and do some hiking.  Two days of little to no exercise isn’t good for me.  I prefer not to have to drive to trail heads but most campgrounds only have a trail or two that you can access directly.  Here, one of those trail heads is up in the picnic area above the campground.  It goes to Lewis Spring Falls.  I walk up there, pass the really nice amphitheater and head down, you guessed it, the AT.  Lewis Spring Falls trail goes off the AT.

I walk about a mile down the AT before turning right and heading down the Lewis Spring Trail and it is DOWN.


IMG_4242


At first, it’s a gentle down.  Very nice, not muddy, not even wet..  Great I think.

IMG_4245


However, that doesn’t last long and  it gets rockier and muddier as I go.  In some spots the trail is a stream in others there are little pools deep enough to reflect..  Very glad I have my hiking pole



IMG_4260




The trail is narrow and rugged.  Large rock faces line some sections.  Large leather looking leaf like lichens, which I think are rock tripe, drip water.  Pour water is probably more accurate.


IMG_4262



IMG_4267


Yes that tiny little brown rock line is the trail.

IMG_4268


At points, Mountain Laurel lines the trail.  It is bright and beautiful in person to see it ahead of me on both sides but the pictures don’t do it justice.






Such an intricate design.  Magnificent!   These Appalachian mountains have the most gorgeous bushes in the Mountain Azalea, the Mountain Laurel and the Rhododendron.  You have to see it to believe the beauty.

IMG_4274


IMG_4275The trail is described in hiking books as a 3.3 mile “moderate to challenging” loop. I’ve also seen it listed in a book with the title Easy Hikes.  I find that pretty not helpful.  Is it moderate or challenging? It is DEFINITELY not easy.  But once you hike it, you see that this part of the loop is the challenging part and the part after the falls is the moderate though pretty straight up.  So, if you don’t want the challenge you just go in and out the other end of the loop.  Neither is easy.  Neither is good for small children.  And the loop is more than 3.3 miles.  It was over 6 miles from my campsite.  Also you’d  better have hiking pole/s so you can be careful not to fall off the mountain on these rocky edge trails.


Should be plenty of rose hips in the fall.


Mini falls come down the mountain and over and/or down the trail along the way.



The trail is actually a lollipop.  The cement post indicates that the return route is to the left and up while the falls are straight ahead and down some more.  When it’s wet and slippery, down is my less favorite direction.

IMG_4292


Here I am at the rather over grown top of the falls.  Today it is over run with water.  The rocks one normally can just walk right across are under fast moving water.  The cement marker points across the water which is way overflowing its banks and has apparently moved some of these downed tree pieces to new locations.

IMG_4295


IMG_4296


What to do?  What to do?   Do I try it?   While I debate in my mind whether to take the risk, two couples have come down behind me and they decline.  But the real view of the falls is down at a rock ledge viewpolnt.   I have a beautiful view of the overflowing Hawksbill Creek tumbling down at the top but no real view the 81 foot falls.

IMG_4301


IMG_4305


IMG_4306


What I do have views of to the right of the creek are the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains


IMG_4307


Perhaps they will be today’s prize for my effort.

IMG_4308


While I’m taking the pictures of the views, another couple comes down, looks around and heads over the creek.  He’s ahead of her and I’m just quick enough to get a picture of her as she crosses.  Now granted they are younger than either me or the other two couples both of whom were also younger than I am.   She takes her time and makes it look doable.

IMG_4310


I debate some more and then decide, yes I’m alone, but at least they are down there if I fall and I have an id bracelet on with names to contact.   I’m in the last years of my hiking life and I’ve come this far so I’m going for it.  

It’s very scary but I do it.  Without a hiking pole, no way!
I’m rewarded with a much better view of the tumble over the top.


IMG_4313


It falls over the top, flattens out and falls again.

IMG_4314


A short distance on is the metal hand rail to help with the steep drop at this point.

IMG_4316


IMG_4317


I’ve arrived at the stone viewing platform which I’m pretty sure is a CCC creation.


IMG_4319


The view from the close edge seems far away.   I’m sure there must be a trail to the bottom of the falls but not from here.  I suspect you would have to investigate what the locals in Madison County know about going up some county roads until they dead end into the park and become gated fireroads on what were once the displaced residents’ roads of transportation.  I wonder if I’ll remember to ask about that at the visitor center?

IMG_4318


By moving along the wall, I get a little longer view.  But no view of the bottom.

IMG_4320


Zooming in gives a better idea of the size.

IMG_4324


That’s a  mighty lot of water falling over those rocks.

IMG_4328


I turn around and head back up getting a slightly different view of the top of the falls.

IMG_4329



The creek looks a little less wild on the way back except for all those wet slippery rocks I’m going to have to stand on.


IMG_4332


Climbing up the trail along side the creek seems easier at first.

IMG_4337


IMG_4338


It’s nice to be facing the water as it is flowing downhill and I’m climbing up.

IMG_4339


IMG_4340



After I cross over here, I’ll be hiking away from the creek.


IMG_4341


Looks a little more sketchy up close than from a distance. 

IMG_4343


The water changes by the second it seems.  But I manage.

IMG_4345IMG_4346


As the trail continues on the other side, I see many Solomon’s Seal.   Their little flowers are darling.

IMG_4356


IMG_4357


The trail continues to be a constant uphill through more rocky terrain.  I’m near the junction with the AT when I pass by this locked door in the side of the hill.  I can hear gushing water behind it. 

Having done this hike before I know it’s the spring which is the principal source of water for all of Big Meadows and the source of Hawksbill Creek which forms Lewis Falls before flowing on to Luray Virginia and eventually to the Shenandoah River.   It’s fun hearing so much water behind a closed door.

IMG_4363


The last section of my hike begins with a puddle when I turn left onto the AT and climb some more back up to the Big Meadows Amphitheater.

IMG_4365


Steadily up hill but not at such an incline as the Lewis Spring Falls trail.

IMG_4368


IMG_4370


Along the way are more views of the Shenandoah Valley

IMG_4371


IMG_4372



IMG_4375


Only a small puddle left back at the campground but I have a visitor in my backyard shortly after I return.

IMG_4379


IMG_4382


I have done this hike previously and at that time there was much less water.  It seemed like a lot of work for little reward.   I probably would not have done it again had it not been for the increase in water in all the falls and that I could do a challenging hike without driving to the trail head.

Because the view of the falls is at such a distance and is not complete and because the trail is a difficult hike under most conditions, I can’t unreservedly recommend it.  That said, it was a good way to spend this one of many days I have here in Shenandoah National Park.


13 comments:

  1. "Lot of work for little reward" is the exact way I would describe this hike even without the muddy conditions. You can't get close enough to the water fall for all of the work and I always feel like I am about to slide off the cliff in that really rocky section. It's interesting to see it with higher water though. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Just glad you were able to do it without an accident!!! We too like a reward when we hike. However, more and more, I just find it therapeutic to wander around in such beautiful places:o))

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yeah, maybe not. I probably would have chosen to do something else. It always amazes me that you can manage to find beauty on these kind of rough, slippery, rocky, steep, not much of a view, wet kinds of trails. More power to ya, Sherry!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sometimes when there is no reward or we get lost or get off track or there is an obstacle, we just console and convince ourselves that we are getting at least a work out and outdoors. Glad that you made it through bravely and safely.

    ReplyDelete
  5. You definitely earned that view!! Glad you stayed safe. Looks like a tricky trail, but beautiful nonetheless. Great pictures! I love all the water, even if it does make the trail slick and muddy. Beautiful sounds.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hmmm...I'd have to agree that one was a LOT of work. Rocky, muddy, slippery, steep, wet, and not much of a view. :-( But you did find beauty along the way, as you always do. And there's always a sense of satisfaction in just getting a good workout. Still, I think I'll pass on this trail. Your rain gauge bucket is hilarious. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. That's a bummer to lose that nice chair. Glad you didn't let it ruin your wonderful hike (with all the muddy trails). You can find a silver lining in the foggiest conditions with all the beautiful flowers you found. ;c)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Remember this hike well ... remember also thinking that it was too much work for little entertainment value because of the resticted view of the waterfall. Regardless, did it a couple of times when we lived in VA for the exercise value.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Nice falls at the end of a nice hike.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I get that need to get out but sometimes you just amaze me. I'm mostly a fair weather hiker. It's all gorgeous, the green, dripping, and waterfalls. Does the door hold the water back? ;)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Now that I have Internet again I can get caught up with all your wonderful posts. Aren't the waterfalls wonderful when they're so full?? You were brave to take on that wet crossing, but I agree it always helps to see someone else do it first :-)

    ReplyDelete

Your comments are the best part of this blog for me.
I LOVE hearing from you!