Pinnacle Falls, NC – Jim Welch Property

IMPORTANT: Since the Welchs have graciously arranged for keeping us fueled and hydrated, please let us know if you will be attending. RSVP to Rita via text, email or phone by August 5th. Check the August newsletter for contact info.

Jim and Ceille Welch and Grady and Kathleen Nance, members of SCAN and residents of
Pinnacle Falls, are pleased to be hosting the Regional Directors Special Event of SCAN on
Saturday, August 12, from 10:30 AM to 4PM at the 350 acre Ridge and Valley community
nestled between Pinnacle Mountain, Hammond Mountain, and Huckleberry Ridge in Henderson County, North Carolina.

The national park like setting features streams, waterfalls, hiking trails, ponds and massive rock features. The main waterfalls on Cabin Creek form the headwaters of the stream that tumbles down the valley to its junction with Joe Creek, Lake Summit, Green River, Lake Adger and eventually joining the Broad River on its way to the Atlantic Ocean.

Trails lead from the meadows at 3,000 feet down the slopes to the valley floor at 2,200 feet and from the tranquil waters of the lower Cabin Creek to the trail terminus at Pinnacle Falls with spur trails leading to other features including the summit rocks of Huckleberry Ridge and long smooth sliding rocks and deep pools in Cabin Creek.

The mature forest of large white pines, chestnut oaks, red maples, Fraser magnolias, sweet
birch, hickory and white oak offer inviting walks which are cool, green and shady. There are dense clumps of mountain laurel, rhododendron, horse sugar, sweet shrub, and on the forest floor dense carpets of running cedar, partridge berry, and galax. Other plants observed are clethra, beaked hazelnut, witch hazel, pink lady slippers, jack in the pulpits, trilliums, violets and so many more.

The secluded mountain setting in the heart of the Blue Ridge is located just five miles from Flat Rock, ten miles from Hendersonville and 30 miles from Greenville.

Directions:
From I-26 take Exit 54 in NC to highway 25 South.
Take Exit 5, Tuxedo/Flat Rock/ 225. Turn left onto S 225 to Tuxedo.
Drive approximately 1.7 miles, passing Lake Summit on the left, and then passing the Fire
Department on your right. At Camp Greystone on the left, turn right onto Mount Olivet Road.
In 0.1 mile, immediately after you pass under the bridge, Mount Olivet Road makes a sharp left. Follow the road 3.3 miles to the top of the mountain where road ends at a “T”. Mount Olivet Baptist Church will be on your left at the top.
Turn left on Pinnacle Mountain Road. Go 0.1 mile, turn left onto Pinnacle Falls Lane gateway.

The distance from I-26 is about ten miles and it takes 15-20 minutes driving time.
From Greenville: via US 25 take Exit 3 just across the SC/NC line, turn right and then left on 225. Opposite Camp Greystone, turn left onto Mt. Olivet Road. In 0.1 mile immediately after you pass under the bridge, Mount Olivet Road makes a sharp left. Follow the road 3.3 miles to the top of the mountain where road ends at a “T”. Mount Olivet Baptist Church will be on your left at the top. Turn left on Pinnacle Mountain Road. Go 0.1 mile, turn left onto Pinnacle Falls Lane gateway.

We will meet at the gate at 10:30 and park at the lodge.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Spartanburg,+South+Carolina/35.2364752,-
82.4778341/@35.2350475,-82.4778086,15.75z/data=!4m9!4m8!1m5!1m1!1s0x88579e19a697460b:0x5b8b2838cada7ec9!2m2!1d-81.9320482!2d34.9495672!1m0!3e0?hl=en-US

Agenda:
We will meet at the Amick Lodge to discuss the day’s plan. Coffee will be available. Our
morning nature observation walk will begin at Welch’s cabin on Lot 135 where we have at least 30-40 different plant species including a few more rare than others. It is a short walk from there to Cabin Creek where we will see so many other plants. The morning walk is about 1.3 miles to the main waterfalls along Cabin Creek and back over to the lodge for lunch. Their hospitality committee is planning a grand luncheon to be served in the main lodge by the Pinnacle Falls trail. Sandwiches, subs, salads and drinks will be served at 12:45.

After lunch we will take the main trail from the meadows trailhead that leads down the
mountain slope with more species to survey along with butterflies, dragonflies, damsels and assorted lizards. Jim has been hiking here since 1982 when they bought 32 acres on the slopes of Huckleberry Ridge. Ceille’s grandfather bought the original tract of 50 acres in 1917. Pinnacle Falls was developed in 2005. The landowners combined to preserve over 300 acres in trust. There may be an occasional spot of poison ivy, although not much. Jim has yet to see any copperheads or timber rattlesnakes although they may be here. They do have black bears which are wonderful to watch, along with the chipmunks, woodchucks, rabbits, deer, bobcats and other mammals. This section is approximately 1.2 miles.

We will end the day at the lodge for refreshments, desserts, coffee, beer and wine at 4PM.
Since the Welchs have graciously arranged for keeping us fueled and hydrated, please let us know if you will be attending. RSVP to Rita via text, email or phone by August 5th.
If you want something heavier before heading home, Hubba Hubba BBQ in Flat Rock is just 6 or 7 miles away or Green River BBQ in Saluda is about 20 minutes from Pinnacle Falls. Both are excellent.

Contact info:
Rita Zollinger – see August 2017 newsletter
The Pinnacle Falls Amick Lodge phone: 828.693.0607
Cell phones work on top of the mountain but there are spots on the way up and down where the signal is lost.