Saturday, March 17, 2018

Pearson's Falls

I have done so much hiking and exploring around Saluda, North Carolina over the years that I've lost count of the number of times I've been in or close to the town. However, for one reason or another I have managed to never see Pearson's Falls located on the edges of the city limits.

Maybe it's because of the $5.00 admission charge and the fact that the property is in private hands and no part of our public lands. I can't recall why I have passed it by to visit other places in the area, but I have.

Today Carole and I visited the Pearsons Botanical Preserve and paid the $5.00 admission fee and it was certainly money well spent. Pearsons Glen is the location of the waterfall and the Garden Club that owns and administers to acreage has done a more than admirable job of providing access and infrastructure for visitors to see the land and the waterfall that is its centerpiece.

The trail that leads to the falls is excellent work worthy of the best of the CCC trails that are in our National Parks and National Forests. It follows the stream which cascades down the rocks and boulders and offers an unending music to those who visit.

And what a great waterfall! Pearson's Falls is said to be 90-feet high and it does seem to be that tall. It is an especially striking a photogenic waterfall. Carole and I hope to go back in the spring with the various wildflowers will be showing their color. I highly recommend a visit!

Hiking the short trail to Pearsons Falls.

A picnic pavilion near the parking areas.

Standing near the base of the falls. No trespassing beyond the chains! (Seriously. Don't. The owners will prosecute.)

Decaying log at the bottom of the falls, alive with moss and new growth.

Carole along the way.

A bridge across the creek.

One of the picnic spots on the way to the falls.

A new blossom on March 17.
Carole and I get a kick out of Saluda. It's a nice and popular village.

2 comments:

Marti said...

We'll be in the area in April and this looks like a potential. How long? We generally like a 2-3 hour hike/outing. Staying at Lake Powhatan. Thanks - Marti

James Robert Smith said...

This hike is barely half a mile round-trip. It quite actually only takes a few minutes to hike up to the falls. 1/4 mile. But it is beautiful. One of the most photogenic waterfalls I've visited in NC. You'll enjoy it.

There are several other waterfalls very nearby to Pearson's falls. Big Bradley Falls and Bradley Falls. They're much longer hikes but still well within your time limits.

Here's a description of the hikes at the wonderful NCWaterfalls database.

http://www.ncwaterfalls.com/big_bradley1.htm