Yellow Branch Falls

Date: Saturday, December 4, 2010
Map: Link
Trails: Yellow Branch Nature, Yellow Branch Falls
Distance: 3.0 miles
Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Rating: 3 out of 5

On Saturday morning I headed to the Yellow Branch picnic area north of Walhalla on Hwy 28. It only took me 35 minutes to get there from my house. This is one of my most favorite places to hike. The weather was overcast and cold, in the lower 40's. More "gloomy" weather. When I arrived, mine was the only car in the parking lot, but a couple more cars arrived after me.

I started on the Nature trail from the parking lot. There are 3 stream crossings, then a turnoff onto the Falls trail. There is a bridge, and then another stream crossing. After this, the trail leaves the stream. There are two more footbridges, and you will comes to the Falls about 15 minutes after crossing that second bridge.

The water volume in the falls was pretty low, but really it is never a disappointment when you get here. I crossed in front of the cascade to a well-worn bench and took a rest there for a few minutes. Very relaxing.

I headed back to the parking lot the way I came, except I turned right at the junction with the Nature trail to finish out that loop. I was moving a little slowly today; I had started at 10:30am, and returned at 12:00 noon.

Yellow Branch Falls is always a good option for a hike in this area!