September 29, 2026
Bartram Trail: Wallace Branch to Wilkes Knob
You should have joined us, because it really was a "great day for a hike" with bright, sunny skies, temperatures in the 60s, and a trail in very good condition. The trek up to William's Pulpit was moderately difficult due to a continuous steep climb, and it became significantly more strenuous as we hiked the additional 1.2 miles to Wilkes Knob. However, the scenic, sweeping view from William's Pulpit was fantastic and absolutely worth the effort. Pushing on to Wilkes Knob was great for the extra exercise, but there was no view at the top. Along our path, we spotted just a few late-season wildflowers and a beautiful array of colorful fungi. This is clearly a popular route judging by the several other hikers we encountered along the way. A big thanks to everyone in our group who was willing to take on this challenging but rewarding climb!
Today's Hikers: Johnna Garish, Jenny Bell, Matt Henderson & Toby, Renée Corbett, Gerald Richardson, Bobbie Broussard, Pam Hembree, Shelby Fricks & Mike Bell ... more
The route
7.0 mi · 1,935 ft climbing · 4h 40m out, 4h 3m walking · 1.7 mph moving
Elevation
Hover over the profile to see the elevation and steepness. Your position will be shown on the map.
- Steepness
- Gentle under 5%
- Moderate 5–10%
- Steep 10–15%
- Very steep over 15%
23 photos are shown on the map where they were taken — click one to see it full size.
Photos (23)
We caught a beautiful peek of the foggy valley below on the way up to William's Pulpit before the fog burned off. Today's hikers (L-R): Mike, Johnna, Jenny, Matt & Toby, Renée, Gerald, Bobbie, Pam & Shelby Getting ready at the trailhead. And off and UP we go. Nice trail though. First stop, Ray Cove Falls, a 35-foot, multi-tier waterfall on a tributary to Wallace Branch. Hum. I know there isn't a lot of water flowing today, but is anybody looking at the waterfall? Still going up and they're still smiling. That's good. We follow along Wallace Branch and take a short side trail to Wallace Branch Falls, quite a bit smaller than Ray Cove Falls. But Toby likes this and any water feature. Can you spot what's wrong with this campsite we passed by.? Hint: We did see some bear scat further up the trail. These wildflowers were seen throughout the hike. UL: Goldenrod; UR: Blue wood aster; LR: White wood aster and LL: Lobelia. Today's fungi collection. Whew! William's Pulpit at last. A nice view to the southwest on a very clear day. Continuing UP for another 1.2 miles to Wilkes Knob Just a solitary bloom on this Yellow false foxglove. Hey, we made it (L-R): Shelby, Gerald, Renée, Matt & Toby, Pam & Mike. No view here. Doll's Eyes of White baneberry. Looks like a storm got its way with this uniquely shaped tree. Toby is ready to finish this hike. Fall colors are coming as this bloodroot leaf shows. They are smiling only because we are near the end of our hike. A final look at Ray Cove Falls.