I hiked from the Fawn Lake access of Dupont State Forest. In order to get there from the Hendersonville area, I drove on a 5 mile single lane dirt road which was quite a treat. I met only 2 oncoming vehicles. The entrance to Fawn Lake access is a massive stone gate and then a more conventional metal gate and nice sized parking area. This is a popular hiking and biking area. The access is located at the intersection of Fawn Lake Road and Conservation Road. I followed the Conservation Road toward the area known as the barn.
The roads are gravel and used by the Forest Service to get around the 12,500 acre state forest the state acquired in 1997.
Conservation Road crosses a landing strip on top of the first big hill. The building there has a "Summit 2800 ft" sign on it. The airstrip's pavement is cracked and deteriorated. My route continues to Shelter Rock Trail and then to Corm Mill Shoals Trail.
Shelter Rock
The first waterfall of Little River is most stunning. Bridal Veil Falls starts with a tall overhanging ledge drop. It is barely visible at the wood observation deck where horses and bicycles park. Once you are at the base of the waterfall, the first ledge drop is not visible. It was featured in the movie Last of the Mohicans. Then the water slides over this hump of granite before regrouping in the plunge pool below.
Today I counted 276 blooms in this area. My previous visit netted 284 blooms. So it is still a healthy colony. Biggest display I have ever seen.
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