I explored several miles near the headwaters of the South Mills River on Saturday, beginning in the Pink Beds area just past the Cradle of Forestry Visitor's Center on Hwy 276. It's a beautiful and well-maintained loop trail (FS118) that connects to the South Mills River Trail (FS133) near the gaging station.
Note that for the clave we will likely pass by the Pink Beds and the headwaters and drive on for a few miles, parking just east of the gaging station at the terminus of FS road 476 to the FS133 trailhead. (Of course, there are many entry routes including (for Crazies) parking at Mt. Pisgah and walking straight downhill for a day or so
).
Tour of the headwaters, walking the south route of the Pink Beds Long Loop
The river is barely a bold creek here, with many interesting and well-maintained crossings. Thanks to the FS, Land 'O Sky TU and others
There are occasional dry open places, not many
Portions of the river are meandering and almost swamp-like as it tries to decide where to go
Two miles or so in the tribs have increased the flow considerably, though the drought levels are still evident with sandy banks
It begins to look like "real" trout water
There were miniature "thickets" everywhere
A spider's web in a hidey-hole
and bratwurst-sized bear scat
This bridge is part of the Mtns-to-Sea Trail system which crosses the Pink Beds Loop on it's way to NC's Outer Banks.
I'm hiking through the mid-section of FS133 in the next few days spotting campsites and will post up. But Looking Glass Falls on Hwy 276 is always worth a look on your way driving in or out
I fished the Davidson briefly on my way out until I lost the spool retaining screw on my Young 2-3/4 reel (Ron has found one for me). The D is looking almost it's normal self these days, I fished at a pulloff a couple of miles below the Hatchery