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• Bridal Veil Falls (pg. 59) has suffered a major rockslde. According to reports, the left side of the rock face sheared away from the main body of the cliff.
  
• Dismal Falls Update: The directions contained on page 78 "Lower and Upper Dismal Falls" are in error. These directions do lead to two waterfalls (what I thought were Lower and Upper Dismal Falls). In fact the falls I found are on an unnamed tributary. One of my readers advised me that he was not able to find the pathway to these unnamed falls. On my 1999 hike to these falls I cut and flagged a wide pathway across the French Broad River to the lower tier. (This is now overgrown.) As well, the photo on page D listed as Upper Dismal Falls is in fact the upper falls found on this unnamed tributary. I apologize for any inconvenience.
  
  New Directions to Dismal Falls
  
  At this location, park on the east shoulder of the road, in the space provided. Directly across the road (west) is a gated logging road that serves as the trail (N 35 11.289 W 082 57.215).
  Initially, the route is rutted and somewhat rugged. As well, it crosses and recrosses a meandering creek 4 or 5 times and passes through several wildlife openings. At .5 of a mile look for a side path to the right. This leads 450' to the base of the first of three unnamed waterfalls seen enroute to Dismal Falls.
  Even though there is not alot of water here, this is a beautiful waterfall that falls from a bold, 60'-wide rock edifice. At the time of my last visit, there was a hemlock atop the lower tier that hung precariously over the creek, before shooting straight up.
  Back on the main trail continue westerly. After crossing the just visited fall’s branch the roadbed hugs the tree line on the high (or right) side of a wildlife opening.
  Please pay close attention here... Just shy of a mile, pass under a power line (N 35 11.301 W 082 58.110). If you’re not attentive, this small power line could be easily missed. (Pay no attention to a path which is soon encountered on the left.) Twelve hundred feet from the power line, amongst a stand of white pines (N 35 11.266 W 082 58.321) the pathway to the falls makes a 90 degrees left to head south towards the West Fork of the French Broad River. (This turnoff is 150' beyond a creek, which is crossed 1050' (.2 of a mile) from the power line. Also preceding this turnoff, on the left side of the old roadbed is an earth berm and a small, 3-4' deep wash at its west end. The pathway atop the old roadbed peters out here as well.) There really aren’t any defined paths through the woods heading towards the river, but once at the river’s edge (180' away) look for an obvious opening in the rhododendron. (Actually there are two openings in this vicinity, both have shallow crossings and will get you where you need to be.) Cross the river (more like a creek than river) and the paths soon converge slightly downstream. In less than 100' the route turns southwesterly and ascends. In .1 of a mile (1.35 miles into the hike) a side path leads right, for 50', to a very nice 35' waterfall.
  Spilling from ledge to ledge in a three-tier dance down the bedrock, its sounds are soothingly hypnotic. Its waters collect briefly at the base then are channeled to the right into a narrow chute and spill downstream. This waterfall and another one that lies 700' upstream are on a small, uncharted creek one hollow west of Dismal Falls. With the easy part behind us, when you’re rested we’ll carry on.
  Backtrack 50' and look for a steep path that distantly parallels the left side of this creek upstream. This leads to Dismal Falls. Soon (1.4 miles) pass by some rather large boulders to the path’s left side. One of them has a huge, rockhouse-like overhang. Explore them on the way out. At 1.5 miles, with the steep ridgeline looming ahead, the pathway levels slightly (N 35 11.089 W 082 58.439). Look for a slim path on the right (more like a bushwhack) that leads 200' to a beautiful, 60' showering waterfall.
  Back on the main pathway, the route now turns sharply left (more easterly) to round the ridge and enter the drainage of Dismal Creek, where it turns south and steepens. At 1.6 miles pass by and atop an outcrop of rather large boulders. From this point, with all the leaf litter, the pathway is easily lost but generally heads south southwest and to the Dismal Creek side of the ridgeline. At 1.8 miles, the ridgeline levels somewhat then abruptly steepens (N 35 10.901 W 082 58.486). Access to the base of Dismal Falls is located here. (The not too distant falls can be heard from this location in winter.) Look almost 90 degrees left (generally southeast) down the steep slope for a hole in the rhododendron. With your hands free, descend this steep slope for approximately .1 of a mile to the base area.
  
• The interior color photo (pg. D) labeled as Cascade Falls is actually Cataract Falls.
• Parking for the Falls on the Horsepasture River has been relocated. The North Carolina DOT has eliminated all parking along NC 281. Parking is available at the Gorges State Park parking area, which is located on NC 281, 200' north of the gated road/trail (described in the book) that leads to the falls. This adds approximately .3 of a mile to the hike.
• The hike to the Falls on Yellow Branch, SC has been rerouted (at the half-mile point) on a newly constructed section of trail. This adds another half mile to the hike. Many thanks to Bob Klutts for the info.
• The old Cold Mountain access into Panthertown Valley, NC has been closed by the Forest Service and Duke Power. The new access is as follows: Drive Cold Mountain Road for 5.7 miles and turn left at the Canaan Land Retreat. (The road is gated here. Follow the Forest Service signs.). Travel .1 of a mile and turn right onto the Duke Power tower #70 access. The unmarked trail to Greenland Creek Falls is encountered immediately on the left (where the old gate stood). Continue for another .15 of a mile to the parking area and east access into the valley.
• On Oct. 3rd, 2000 the US Forest Service made the following announcement: "Chattooga Trail High Water Detours--When the river is high, two short sections of the Chattooga Trail are under water. Hikers using the trail during high water either scramble through the woods above the trail, or wade in the river. Neither is safe, and the former is causing erosion problems. We plan to construct high water detours around these trouble areas. The northern detour would be about 600 feet in length, the southern detour would be about 300 feet."
  On page 144 of Waterfall Walks and Drives in the Great Smoky Mountains and the Western Carolinas, The Northern High Water Detour is located just up river from the Big Bend Trail intersection.
  The Southern High Water Detour is located between the words "Chattooga" and "Rock Gorge" on the same hiking map.

New Locations:

• Access to Opossum Creek Falls, SC is once again available to determined hikers. This once beautiful waterfall was redecorated by a 1994 tornado that left its gorge littered with hundreds of massive, windfallen trees.

To reach the trailhead, consult the Long Creek Falls hike on pg. 132 and add the following directions.

From the intersection of Battle Creek Rd. and Turkey Ridge Rd., drive Turkey Ridge Rd. for approx. 2.25 miles and look carefully for the carsonite stake marking the Opossum Creek at Chattooga River Trail. Hike this moderate-difficult trail for 2.05 miles to river level. Once there, hike downstream for approximately 300' to the mouth of Opossum Creek. Hike the north side of the creek upstream for .3 of a mile +or- to the viewing area for the lower tier. The upper tiers are still not accessible. Hazards: heavy undergrowth; some fallen trees must be crossed; slick rocks.

• White Owl Falls, NC

An "8", .25 of a mile, moderate, heavy undergrowth near falls.

Please see directions to the Falls on the Horsepasture River and travel south on NC 281 an additional 2.7 miles to SR 1189 (Brewer Rd.) which is on the left. Park (on the shoulder) at the intersection of 1189 and an old logging road (which leads steeply uphill). Please do not block the gate. Watch carefully for 55 mph traffic while walking NC 281 in a southerly direction. In 730', at the north end of the 2nd guardrail (painted with the the numbers 202+20), look for a slim path that enters the woods and treads a concrete drainage flume for a short distance. The path then follows the base of NC 281's rip-rap covered slope and soon veers left and winds through the rhododendron and doghobble on its final approach of the falls. Carefully descend White Owl's steep slope to stream level. This is a beautiful spot with very few visitors. It is best photographed on an overcast day.

• John's Jump, NC

A "7", .1 of a mile, steep and tricky descent to base.

Please see directions to White Owl Falls (above) and travel south on NC 281 for an additional 1.3 miles and park on the left (east) side of NC 281. (If you pass Whitewater Church Rd. [on the right side of 281] you missed the correct spot by 400'.) Walk north to the south end of the guardrail and a lone power pole. Backtrack 50' and head northeast, passing to the right side of a mound-like boulder as you enter the woods. Follow the vague pathway a total of 240' to the top area. Once there, look for a steep and winding pathway to their base (another 100' or so). This is another beautiful spot. Like White Owl, it is best photographed on an overcast day.

Page updated 02-24-07