Trip Report: Ramsey Cascades Trail

Ramsey Cascades Trail-3/4/11

Greenbrier, GSMNP

8 mi roundtrip

The trail up to Ramsey Cascades is one of those hikes that is good no matter how many times you've been there. Caitlin and I wanted to get some trail time in Friday, but didn't want to drive all over the world to get there. All the recent rain, plus the trailhead being practically down the street made the decision to hike Ramsey's pretty easy.

Near the Trailhead

Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River

While the Cascades are the big ticket item on this hike, the old-growth forest are what make it worth doing again and again.

Caitlin's favorite spot on the trail

The "three sisters," some of the largest Tulip Poplar trees in GSMNP

The trip up to the falls just doesn't seem to take nearly as long as it used to. I can remember hiking this trail as a kid and thinking we were NEVER going to make it. Caitlin and I were having a conversation along this same vein when we hit the last half-mile, this section of trail is so steep and rough we quickly relearned why we have memories of this trail being such a beast.

Kickin' back at the falls

Nobody but the two of us at the falls 

Instead of dragging me to the mall, Caitlin drags me out onto the trails for our days off together. She's getting to be a pretty speedy hiker too. We made it up and back in less than four hours.