48 degrees. Glittering golden leaves. Carolina Blue sky and a mountain view that doesn’t stop. 

We took an afternoon break from packing-up to head south, and enjoyed our last hike of the season, to The Cascades. A short 30-minute walk along a well-maintained trail leads to the beautiful falls located in E.B. Jeffress Park at mile marker 272 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, near Deep Gap.  You hear the it before you see it.  Falls Creek looks deceptively serene until you reach The Cascades which are roaring down a steep rock-face stretching as far down as you can see.  Eventually the water will meet the Atlantic Ocean at Winyah Bay, SC.

Of note:  The 600 acre E.B. Jeffress Park has picnic and bathroom facilities at The Cascades parking area.  Markers with information about the trees and foliage are placed all along the trail; unfortunately about 75% of the descriptive plaques are missing.