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Spring at Tallulah Gorge State Park

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Tallulah Dam To close out our trip, last Sunday Luc and I set out back to our Orlando home via a more scenic route (taking two days to get there). I had planned the trip so that Tallulah Gorge State Park was along the way. Located in Tallulah Falls, GA, the park has several trails, most of which allow dogs (except for those on the gorge floor). There is a $10 fee for a day pass to the park. Luc and I walked the North Rim Trail. Although it is only about 1.5 miles out and back, we spent about an hour walking, including several stops for views and photos. The trail is a combination of rubberized mulch, wood mulch, bare ground, asphalt, and boardwalks. There are some relatively mild grade changes and several areas with steps. There are six overlooks on the North Rim Trail (including #1 and #1A). Luc and I stopped at most of them except for one that had metal steps that I did not want to try to negotiate with Luc. Overlook #1 features the North Wallenda Tower (now on its side), where in 19...
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Spring in Konehete Park

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Pedestrian bridge to Konehete Park Today, Luc and I again parked at the trailhead off of Thomas Street, but this time it was to visit the trail in Konehete Park. There is a cool pedestrian bridge that crosses the Valley River from the trailhead to the park. The park has an asphalt trail that follows along the river. I wasn't sure if this was "officially" part of the Murphy River Walk, but it turns out this was actually the first section of the River Walk to be built, and I did notice some of the same informational sign posts along it. Less "natural" than the first segment of the River Walk I posted about, this trail is a good option if you prefer asphalt and more of a park setting. It is lined with trees of various size and species, including river birch, poplar, dogwoods, and many more.  While most dogwoods in the area have already finished blooming this year and are flush with new leaves, I did see one small tree filled with flowers. I learned is a kousa dogwo...
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Spring at Chatuge Dam Trail

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  Located in Hayesville, NC, the Chatuge Dam Trail is another favorite that we visit often. It has a wide asphalt trail along the top of Chatuge Dam. There are gravel shoulders on either side (in case your dog prefers that, as Luc does). This portion of the trail provides great vistas of Lake Chatuge as well as surrounding mountains.  Chatuge Dam is part of Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA's) hydroelectric infrastructure in western North Carolina. You can see elements of the system both in the lake and on the downstream side of the dam: At the start of the trail is a map showing TVA's extensive dam system in the region: The trail narrows up somewhat as it transitions to a wooded area - a nice respite from the sun on warmer days. The trail then passes by a popular campground and on to a park. Today Luc and I turned around at the campground. It took us about one hour total as we were walking slowly with several "sniffari" stops. Chatuge is another location that is ...
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Spring at Murphy River Walk

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  Luc Luc is my ten year old (very soon to be 11) Jack Russell Terrier. I'm spending this week with just him up in the Murphy, North Carolina area as part of a quiet getaway. With the various walks planned over the next few days, I figured now is as good a time as any to start documenting our journey. And what better place to start than with the Murphy River Walk? Gravel and boardwalk paths on the Murphy River Walk Stretching for miles along the Valley River, the River Walk varies between gravel paths, asphalt, and boardwalks. It is beautiful in any season, but today it was stunning with vibrant and endless shades of fresh green, bright flowers, crisp cool air, and the peaceful sights and sounds of the river flowing alongside. Luc and I typically limit our walks to around 30 minutes to an hour. The River Walk has many different segments and stop/start points so we can mix it up, but today we walked the portion we do most often. We parked off of Thomas Street across the river from K...
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