hiking | All I Need

Today I realized just how easy it is to miss some pretty incredible things in our world when we don’t change our perspective from time to time.

Last weekend I took a solo hike to Rainbow Falls in Jones Gap State Park. I hiked two miles in and two miles out. It was full of water elements, moss, flowers, and rocks which were absolutely beautiful. I took my time photographing things near and far. I took the same hike in and out today with my husband and a couple of our friends again seeing the same incredible landscape and taking more photographs. But it wasn’t until our way back (my fourth time on this particular path in a week!) that the mushrooms appeared. Could it possibly be that we fell down a rabbit hole and into a lovely little wonderland of fungi?

I think not! I was just not paying attention! Well thank goodness for someone elses perspective because today a very curious new world was opened up to me!

The Crew

Sassafras Tree leaves! Taste and smell like Froot Loops!!! I swear!

Not the rabbit hole! Thank goodness!!

Pretty rainbow trout!

If you’re looking for a place to go out into our great outdoors to refresh, unwind, or just be, I found it!

A day trip to Jones Gap State Park was just what the Dr. ordered. With a PB&J, my trusty Nikon, and some water stowed in my backpack I was off on a solo hike to Rainbow Falls.

Though the hike is only about 4 miles round trip, it will get you sweating and your heart pumping with a total accent of 1,171 feet. Your treat is waiting for you at the end of your climb with a gorgeous 100 foot free-falling waterfall, spraying mist and roaring onto the rocks below. Apparently, when the sun is out and hits the falls just right, the mist creates a beautiful rainbow effect, hence the name.

The falls, however, are not the only treat on the trail. Most of the hike is along the Saluda river or other streams leading to it, so the lovely sound of flowing water is never far away. There are also many rock formations, moss, ferns, flowers, and an endless canopy of green to enjoy as you traverse the trail. When you’re ready for a break, the rocks in the Saluda River are a great place to rest your bones, eat a PB&J, and take it all in.

This is definitely what I call soul food!