Three Forks Trail

This was a pleasant weather day for a hike . . . except the last 10 minutes of the hike when we were soaked by a heavy shower. Oh well, it was forecast that way. The trail is in decent shape except for a few large mud holes on the first section of the trail which is an old road bed. Thereafter, the trail is mostly packed soft leaves and pine needles. The last mile of the trail approaching Three Forks is downhill and the last 0.2 mile of that mile is steep and a bit slippery. To access a decent viewing point of Three Forks, you must take a side trail to the left at the bottom of the hill and scramble through a low bramble of Mountain Laurel and Rhododendron to a large rock outcropping. Three Forks is a convergence of three creeks, Big Creek, Overflow Creek and Holden Creek forming the West Fork of the Chattooga River. Big Creek has a very impressive cascade just above its merge with Overflow Creek. Yep, the climb out of Three Forks is steep for the first 0.2 mile. We did mistakenly take a wrong turn onto "Oops Trail," at Waypoint #1 on this map, but later discovered on a topo this could have also led us to Three Forks making a short loop along Overflow Creek. A few wildflowers and a black snake (exact type debated) was spotted just of the trail near the end of the hike. Definitely worth a return visit!

Today's Hikers: Jack Treadman., Shelia Getman, Ken Kellerman, Matt Henderson, Jack Wintle., Terre Pratt, Don Pratt, Alicia Morris, Jenny Bell, Vic Robson, Terry Morris & Mike Bell.