Spoonauger Falls - SC (2 falls)

9/7/2014 - got up fairly early (for a Sunday!) and drove just across the Chatooga River to do the short hike to Spoonauger Falls on Spoonauger Creek.  The trail is described as easy to moderate, which is about right.  It starts out very easy, nearly level...but when you cross Spoonauger Creek, the bank down to the creek is low and easy, but the opposite bank is higher and nearly straight up.  You have to step carefully on roots and rocks sticking out of the bank.  Then you turn uphill on the trail to the base of the falls.  There is a metal verticle sign that says "Spnauger Falls"

At the first switchback there is a short trail to a small falls.  Then the trail switchbacks 3 or 4 times to Spoonauger Falls.  The trail is steep, but not too difficult and right before the end there is a seep that had the trail mushy and wet, but there were rocks to step on.

I don't know how this falls got its name, but in case you're wondering...a "spoon auger" (aka: spoon drill) looks like this:


(from: http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/chairmakersspoonbitset.aspx)

They can actually have several shapes, including a pointed oval shaped (more like an eating spoon, but a lot sharper!) but I couldn't find a good picture of one of those.

GPS: 34.97502°N 83.11118°W (lower falls)

Spoonauger Falls

GPS: 34.97476°N 83.11019°W

Directions and Information: from Clayton, Ga

• east on Warwoman Road
• south on GA 28
• north on Burrells Ford Rd (this gravel road is easy to miss, if you get to the river you've missed it)
• continue until road crosses Chattooga River
• park at sign on left for the Chattooga River Trail

Anna Ruby Falls (3 falls)

9/5/2014 - my knees are doing a lot better with the physical therapy I'm doing, and the weather is not QUITE as hot as it's been...so I took advantage of being off and went to Anna Ruby Falls.  Along the way, I also got a roadside falls on Smith Creek that I had known about but not had a chance to get before.

8/22/2010 - Anna Ruby Falls is one of the "big 3" showpiece waterfalls of North Georgia - along with Amicalola Falls and Dukes Creek Falls.  Like Dukes Creek Falls it is a double falls at the confluence of two creeks.  And, again like Dukes Creek Falls, there is one big, spectacular waterfall and another lovely, but smaller one.

These falls are at the convergence of Curtis Creek and York Creek, which together form Smith 
Creek

Falls on Smith Creek
GPS: 34.75306°N 83.71166°W

Anna Ruby Falls

GPS: 34.76348°N 83.71217°W

http://www.jjanthony.com/waterfalls/falls/annaruby3.html

Directions and Information: can be found at http://www.unicoistatepark.org/anna-ruby-falls.html

Note: the falls are accessed from inside Unicoi State Park, but are not part of the park.  There is a fee, and if you have a State Park pass it will not be any good.

Mooney Falls - NC

8/30/2014 - since Mooney Falls is close to the trail to Big Laurel Falls, I drove up to this one too.  It is distantly visible from the road and a little further up the road, there is a trail to the base, which I ws told is steep.  I was too tired to try it, so I just got what I could from the road.

The book I used for directions says there is a sign for Mooney Falls, but I did not see it.

GPS: 35.02802°N 83.49816°W (roadside view)
GPS: 35.02892°N 83.49769°W (trailhead)

Directions and Information: from Franklin, NC

• west on US 64
• south on W.Old Murphy Rd
• at Wallace Gap, south on FS 67 (sign for Standing Indian Campground)
• at the fork at entrance to the campground, continue to the left on the FS road
• drive past the trailhead for Big Laurel Falls, for about 3/4 mile

Big Laurel Falls - NC

8/30/2014 - took a drive up southwest of Franklin, NC to the area above Standing Indian Campground.  Hiked the trail to Big Laurel Falls.  The book I was using rated this as easy, but I would call it more like moderate.  It starts out easy, but once it starts up the mountain it goes steadily uphill in "bumps" - longish uphills, then short down-hills, then uphill-downhill again.  Maybe 3 or 4 such "bumps."  My GPS made it 1/2 mile from the trailhead sign to the falls...but it felt like 2 miles!

GPS: 35.01823°N 83.50652°W

Directions and Information: from Franklin, NC

• west on US 64
• south on W.Old Murphy Rd
• at Wallace Gap, south on FS 67 (sign for Standing Indian Campground)
• at the fork at entrance to the campground, continue to the left on the FS road
• park at trailhead for Big Laurel Falls - there is a good big sign at the start

Mossy Creek falls

8/22/2014 - got bored sitting around the house after work and after looking around on the map, I found a state area labled "Mossy Creek State Park" - but when I checked the state parks website, there was no such park.  So I took a drive out to see it.  Turns out it's not a state park, but a small state owned area that is a put-in for canoes and kayaks where Mossy Creek flows into the Chattahoochee River in White County.

I did see several trail heads, but as far as I can tell they all are short and lead either to the creek or the river.  I followed one that went out from the top of the parking area and found a small falls.

GPS: 34.49639°N 83.67393°W

Directions and Information: from Gainesville, GA

• north on I985/GA 365
• west on GA 52
• north on Skitts Mountain Rd
• south in Skitts Mountain Dr
• bear left on Home Place Rd (sign might say Rattler Dr, the map shows both names)
• follow to parking area at the end of the gravel road