March 28, 2023
Winding Stairs Trail from Cherry Hill
near Mountain Rest, SC
A nice hike with great weather. The trail was in excellent condition, not wet and easy on the feet. While the path was a constant decline going out and incline on return, neither was all as steep as expected. The only real challenge was the final scrambles down to the three falls we visited, Miuka, Lower Miuka and Secret. These falls are really quite nice, but could be difficult to see when the vegetation is more dense in the growing season. We were unable to find Crane Falls. I have since found some reviews indicating it can be accessed from the south side of Crane Creek. A number of wildflowers were coming out today, but only one Trillium was spotted. Might be able to reach Crane Falls from the south side of Crane Creek.
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The route
6.0 mi · 1,220 ft climbing · 4h 11m out, 3h 24m walking · 1.8 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%
25 photos are shown on the map where they were taken — click one to see it full size.
Photos (29)
Miuka Falls, the first of three falls seen today. Today's hikers (L-R): Vic, Beth, Jack, Dave, Ken, Rich, Gary, Matt, Ray, Jenny, John, Renee, Gerald, Lynn, Don, Doris, Mike, Jane and Squirt in front. Well marked trailhead. Nice trails too! More violets with the one at the lower right being an Arrowleaf Violet Plenty of Dwarf Iris today! A distance view of Lake Cheohee to the southeast from the trail. An interesting large rock formation just off a switchback. There were numerous Bloodroots too. Some type of sedge in bloom. . . we think??? Robin's Plantain, a.k.a. Daisy Fleabane, is not always this healthy looking. Beth taking a pic of Miuka Falls from above. I decided to get below Miuka Falls for a better picture. It was worth the scramble to the bottom of the falls with a steep "slide" continuing on below. A cluster of several Native Azaleas just off the trail. This example of a Carolina Silverbell was actually a young tree bent over toward the trail by a fallen tree. Lower Miuka Falls took a bit of scrambling down a steep side path to view. Again another steep slide from below Lower Miuka Falls. Waiting for everyone to get a look at Lower Miuka Falls. Them jugs, them jugs, them brown jugs! Of Wild Ginger, of course. Pretty clumps of Foam Flower along a drainage area. A single example of Eastern Bluestar was a great find. Secret Falls was another steep side trail and while we could not get close to it, it was quite large and worth the effort. Folks taking a break before climbing back up the side trail from viewing Secret Falls. It was disappointing we could not access Crane Falls from this side of the creek. This is somewhere above the falls. Finally, time for a break and snack. Catsby's Trillium . . . the only blooming Trillium seen today. Thanks Beth. Pussytoes in bloom. Headed home. Not as bad a climb as expected.