The Eno River "Swinging Bridge" is a cable suspension bridge spanning the Eno River a short distance behind the Visitor Center. There is evidence of an earlier bridge near this spot as well. Our hike kicked off here and ended here. The bridge goes over the river to access the Cox Mountain Trail. We were not hiking on that side of the river, so we did not cross the bridge. Our hike was on the Buckquarter Creek, Ridge, Fieldstone and Holden Mill trails.
In September of 1994, Hurricane Fran dumped up to 16 inches of rain in interior North Carolina. The resulting floodwater reached the bottom of the bridge. During the last few months, storms have caused highwater events, scouring the riverside in several areas. The bridge is located next to Fews Ford, a historic river ford. That area has recently been scoured and is quite muddy.
We watched this guy fishing for a few minutes and saw it catch a 6 inch fish crosswise, reposition it so it could be swallowed. It took a few seconds for the fish to make its way down that long neck.
We saw many many robust Hackberry trees during the day. Of note, were the large American Hornbeam trees which were right along the water's edge.
This is a 3 foot drop. The river through the park is fairly lively with many intermittent rapids, much different that its rather lazy flow through nearby Hillsborough.
The Anthony Cole house, located off Buckquarter Creek trail was built about 1823 just after Anthony married Savanah Browning. They raised 14 children in this home. The original structure was hand hewn logs jointed together. Weather boards were added later. The roof is tin but was likely wood shingles to start. The purlins look original. There are chimneys on both ends. The structure has a second floor. There are several collapsed building right behind the house. One may have been the kitchen and possibly connected to the home.
Nearby is the Cole sisters house according to park maps. It, too, is hand hewn log construction but no sign of a chimney is found. Gaps between logs are filled with tree bark. In its current state, not much could be gleaned from this ruin.
Over by the group campground, we found these ruins of a two chimneyed cabin/home. The fireplace sides of these chimneys are not facing each other.
From those ruins, we walked through the woods to get on the Fieldstone Trail. We speculated why the trail was named that. Then we saw a large number of rock piles indicating the area must have been a field and the stones were stacked to provide pasture space.
Shortly thereafter, we visited the Holden Mill ruins (built c1811) along Eno River. This mill utilized a long race from an upriver stone dam. Am interpretive sign mentioned a stone and earthen dam but we only saw remnants of a stone one. Above, Will scrambles up the actual mill ruins.
This sign is just above the mill ruins on an old road which connects to St Marys Road. Just after passing the mill, it fords the river.
Holden descendants were influential, particularly William Woods Holden, a newspaperman turned Republican Governor (1868). Of course he was impeached after picking a fight with the Klu Klux Klan. Shortly thereafter President Grant appointed him Raleigh postmaster. President Garfield removed him to appease local Democrats. One Hundred and twenty years after his death, the North Carolina Senate pardoned him in a 48-0 vote.
The mill race is clearly visible here beside the Eno. It is lined with rock walls. Water from the river entered the race below the rock dam just barely visible in the upper right of this photo.
The remains of the rock dam right beside the Eno. In August 1908 a hurricane dumped record amounts of rain on the North Carolina piedmont. The resulting high water event took out the dam and closed the mill for good.
The Holden Mill trail follows the Eno with many views like these. Just across the river is the Cox Mountain trail, equally scenic.
These rocks caught my eye. They are sculpted smooth and have a blue/gray color.
Near the park's Visitor Center is the renovated Piper Cox House. What struck me as unusual are the chimneys. Count them. There are 4 with 2 of them right next to each other. One is not visible in this photo.
