Waterfalls of the Blue Ridge: A Guide to the Natural Wonders of the Blue Ridge Mountains

Product Description
Discover the Best Waterfalls in North Carolina and Virginia
Waterfalls are nature’s most captivating wonders. These hidden spectacles seem to hold all the secrets of the forest. The hills of the Blue Ridge harbor an incredible number of waterfalls. Hundreds of named falls―and perhaps thousands more―wait to be discovered any time of year.
In Waterfalls of the Blue Ridge, expert hiker and veteran outdoors writer Johnny Molloy guides you to more than 140 of the region’s best waterfalls, ranging from 10 to 500 feet high. Some require no hike at all, while others can only be seen from the trail. When you add hiking to a waterfall, you double your pleasure. Most trails in this book could stand alone, but they are even better when combined with the chance to visit a waterfall.
Covering the mountainous region along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Waterfalls of the Blue Ridge takes you into two states, three national parks, three wilderness areas, four national forests, eight state parks, and more! The waterfalls are grouped together by location and appear in geographic order, north to south.
The full-color guide provides the information you need to choose which waterfalls to visit. Take a quick look at the hiking distance and the level of difficulty. Then read the hike description, so you know what to expect. Maps, driving directions, and GPS trailhead coordinates help you get there, and professional photographs offer glimpses of the beauty that you’ll encounter on the trail.
Waterfall hiking in the mountains of the Blue Ridge is a marvelous way to experience the great outdoors. With this guide as your reference, you can seek out a different waterfall every time or hike to your favorite falls, time and again.
Review
“Johnny Molloy is basically the father of Appalachian outdoor guidebooks... the descriptions include the kind of helpful detail that has made Molloy the standard in the guide book field.” ―George Brosi, Appalachian Mountain Books
About the Author
Johnny Molloy is a writer and adventurer based in Johnson City, Tennessee. His outdoor passion was ignited on a backpacking trip in Great Smoky Mountains National Park while he was attending the University of Tennessee. That first foray unleashed a love of the outdoors that led Johnny to spend over 4,500 nights backpacking, canoe camping, and tent camping over the past three decades. Friends enjoyed his outdoor adventure stories; one even suggested he write a book. He pursued his friend’s idea and soon parlayed his love of the outdoors into an occupation. The results of his efforts are over 75 books and guides. His writings include hiking guidebooks, camping guidebooks, paddling guidebooks, comprehensive guidebooks about a specific area, and books about true outdoor adventures throughout the eastern United States. Though primarily involved with book publications, Johnny writes for varied magazines and websites. He continues writing and traveling extensively throughout the United States, pursuing a variety of outdoor endeavors. Johnny is a Gideon and an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Johnson City. His non-outdoor interests include reading, ancient and American history, and University of Tennessee sports.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
OVERALL RUN FALLS and TWIN FALLS [6.8-mile out-and-back, strenuous]
Overall Run is Shenandoah’s highest falls. The cataract is complemented with a grand vista―and a warm-up fall along the way. Start with a pleasant mountaintop stroll on the Appalachian Trail, and wend your way down the slopes of Hogback Mountain, crossing many flats. Pass wide Twin Falls, and then come to Big Falls. From a rocky precipice, you can see the nearby cataract and a whole lot more in the distance.
From the parking area, join the Appalachian Trail and head south. Gently climb through lovely fern-carpeted woodland, passing a few rock outcrops. At 0.4 mile, turn right onto